Routers play a crucial role in connecting your devices to the internet, and DNS (Domain Name System) is an integral part of this process.
Understanding Router DNS
Essentially, your router acts as a middleman between your devices and the internet, translating human-readable website addresses (like google.com) into numerical IP addresses (like 172.217.160.142) that computers understand. This translation is done through DNS.
How Router DNS Works
When you type a website address into your browser, your device first sends a request to your router.
The router then checks its own DNS cache for the corresponding IP address.
If the IP address is found in the cache, the router sends it back to your device, and you're connected to the website.
If the IP address isn't in the cache, the router forwards the request to the DNS server specified in your router's settings.
This DNS server then performs the translation and sends the IP address back to your router.
The router then passes the IP address to your device, and you're connected to the website.
Benefits of Router DNS
- Faster web browsing: By storing frequently accessed website addresses in the cache, your router can quickly resolve them without needing to contact an external DNS server each time.
- Enhanced privacy: Using a custom DNS server can help protect your privacy by preventing your ISP from tracking your online activity.
- Improved security: Some DNS servers offer additional security features, such as blocking malicious websites and preventing DNS hijacking.
Example
Let's say you want to visit facebook.com. Your device sends a request to your router, which checks its DNS cache. If the IP address for facebook.com is not found, the router sends the request to the DNS server specified in your router's settings. The DNS server then translates facebook.com into its corresponding IP address (e.g., 172.217.160.142). The router then sends this IP address back to your device, allowing you to access Facebook.
Changing Router DNS Settings
You can usually change your router's DNS settings through its web interface. This allows you to choose a different DNS server, such as a public DNS server like Google Public DNS or Cloudflare DNS.
