What is forward DNS?
A forward DNS is a DNS query where a client asks a DNS server to return the IP address associated with a specific domain name. It is the opposite of a reverse DNS lookup, where the query seeks to find the domain name associated with a given IP address. In short, a forward DNS translates domain names to IP addresses, while a reverse DNS translates IP addresses back to domain names.
Forward DNS requests should not be confused with the practice of DNS forwarding. DNS forwarding is the act of referring a received DNS query to another server — for example, when the receiving DNS server cannot find the corresponding IP address in its cache.
It’s important not to confuse forward DNS queries with DNS forwarding, which is the act of referring a DNS query to another server if the current server cannot resolve the request from its cache.
See also: DNS cache, DNS filtering, DNS flushing, DNS hijacking, DNS over HTTPS, DNS port, DNS query, DNS record, DNS redirection, DNS resolution, DNS sinkhole
How forward DNS requests work
When a user enters a domain name (for example, by typing a URL into a web browser), their device translates this input into a DNS query (the eponymous forward DNS) for an IP address. The device then sends this query to the network’s assigned DNS server, which either responds with the requisite IP address or refers the request to another DNS server.
Forward DNS requests are based on forward DNS entries, which are stored in DNS records and provide the mapping between domain names and their corresponding IP addresses.
Why use DNS forwarding for external addresses?
DNS forwarding for external addresses helps improve efficiency and speed by directing unresolved DNS queries to external DNS servers, reducing the workload on the internal server. It also allows better management of DNS traffic, optimizes query resolution times, and enables filtering or logging of external requests for security purposes.
DNS forwarding for internal addresses
DNS forwarding for internal addresses allows an organization to route DNS queries for internal resources to specific internal DNS servers. This improves network efficiency by ensuring that internal queries are handled locally, reduces the load on external servers, and enhances security by keeping internal address resolutions within the organization's network. It also helps in managing internal domains and resources more effectively.
