What type of DNS query is made when a DNS resolver recursively searches for an answer?

A recursive query is a type of DNS query where the DNS resolver takes on the responsibility of finding the requested information on behalf of the client. When a recursive query is made, the resolver will either return the answer directly to the client or an error if it cannot find the answer. The resolver will go through the necessary steps to retrieve the answer from one or more DNS servers, potentially querying multiple servers in the process. This mechanism simplifies the DNS process for the client, as it only needs to interact with the resolver instead of multiple DNS servers.

In contrast, other types of queries serve different roles in the DNS ecosystem. For instance, an iterative query allows the client to receive the best answer available from a DNS server, which may include a referral to another DNS server if the requested information isn’t in its cache. A forwarding query occurs when a DNS server forwards the query to another specified server rather than resolving it on its own. Lastly, a secondary query typically refers to queries made by secondary DNS servers to update their records from a primary server. Understanding these distinctions helps clarify why a recursive query is the correct response in this context.