What occurs if the DNS resolver does not have an answer to a DNS query?

When a DNS resolver does not have an answer to a DNS query, it will reach out to the name server system on the global internet for an answer. This is an important function of DNS resolvers, which operate as intermediaries between clients and DNS servers.

The DNS resolver begins the resolution process by checking its local cache for the requested domain name. If the answer is not cached, the resolver initiates a series of queries, usually starting with the root DNS servers and working its way down through the DNS hierarchy, querying authoritative name servers until it finds the information needed or determines that the domain does not exist. This process allows the resolver to obtain a fresh response to the query by contacting other servers on the internet.

This behavior serves to ensure that DNS queries can be resolved accurately and that the information returned is current, even if it was not previously stored in cache.