Which DNS server provides the address of the domain's nameserver?

• A. The root server
• B. The TLD server
• C. The DNS cache
• D. The authoritative server for the domain

Answer: (B)

DNS lookup follows a chain of delegation. To discover who is responsible for a domain’s zone, you start at the top and move down: root servers point you to the appropriate TLD servers for that domain’s top-level domain, and those TLD servers carry the delegation for that domain by providing the NS records that identify which servers are authoritative for the domain. Those NS records, and the addresses of the domain’s nameservers, are supplied by the TLD during resolution. The root server doesn’t directly provide the domain’s NS addresses; it only directs you to the correct TLD. The authoritative servers for the domain hold the actual zone data, but locating them begins with the TLD’s delegation.