Explain how a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) is used to locate a resource on the World Wide Web

(WWW) and the role of the Domain Name Service (DNS)

Qu: A computer user keys in the Uniform Resource Locator (URL) of a web page into a web browser.
Describe how the browser uses the Domain Name Service (DNS) to display the web page. [4]

• URL is a reference address to a resource on the Internet. • The URL is passed to the nearest
Domain Name Server (by browser software). • DNS server stores a database / list of URLs and
matching IP addresses. • DNS (Name Resolver) looks for the URL in its database. • Finds the matching
IP address and returns it to the originator. • Or if it cannot find it, it forwards to another Domain
Name Server at a higher level. • (Original) DNS server adds the returned IP address to its cache. •
(Original) DNS server returns the IP address to the browser.

Qu: A user requests a web page by keying the Uniform Resource Locator (URL) into the address bar
of their web browser. The requested page contains a client-side script. Describe the sequence of
steps leading to the display of the web page on the computer screen. [4]

• The browser parses the URL to obtain the Domain Name • The browser software passes the
Domain Name to the nearest Domain Name Server (DNS) • The DNS stores a list of Domain Names
and matching IP addresses • The DNS Name Resolver looks for the Domain Name in its database • If
found the corresponding IP address is returned to the originator • If not found the request is
forwarded to another higher level DNS • The original DNS adds the returned IP address to its cache •
The original DNS returns the IP address to the originator • The browser uses the IP address to
request the required web page from the web server • The web server retrieves the page and
delivers it to the originator • The browser software interprets the script and displays the web page

Qu: The following sequence of steps (1 to 5) describes what happens when someone uses their
personal computer (PC) to request a web page. The web page consists of HTML tags and text content
only. Four of the statements from A, B, C, D, E and F are used to complete the sequence. [4]

1. The user keys in the Uniform Resource Locator (URL) into the browser Software.

2. The Domain Name Service (DNS) uses the domain name from the browser to look up the IP
address of the web server.

3. The web server retrieves the page

4. Sends the web page content to the browser

5. Browser software renders the page and displays

Qu: A website can be accessed using either the Uniform Resource Locator (URL) or the IP address.
Describe how a URL is converted into its matching IP address. [3]

• URL is parsed to obtain the Domain name • Domain name is sent to the nearest Domain Name
Server (DNS) • DNS holds a list of Domain names and matching IP addresses • DNS name resolver
searches its database for the Domain name • If DNS does not find the Domain name, the request is
forwarded to a higher level DNS • If the Domain name is found, the IP address is returned • If the
Domain name is not found, the request is passed to a higher level server • If the Domain name is
finally not found, an error message is generated
Qu: The web page 9608.html is accessed from the URL:
https://www.cambridgeinternational.org/9608.html
An employee of the company states, “A Domain Name and an IP address are exactly the same thing”.
State whether this statement is true or false and justify your choice. [3]

• IP address is (physical) address of the server • A domain name is a memorable form for an IP
address • cambridgeinternational.org is the domain name • An example of an IP address is
198.162.2.1 • Each domain name is linked to an IP address • A Domain Name Server/Service (DNS) is
used to translate a domain name into its corresponding IP address • Domain name does not change
but IP address could change (dynamic) • IP address can be used to address server directly, • The
domain name needs translation before server can be assessed

Qu: Gopal types the Uniform Resource Locator (URL) of a website into a web browser. (a) The
following sequence (1 to 5) describes the steps that take place. There are three missing statements.

1 Gopal types into the web browser

2 Web browser sends URL to Domain name Service (DNS)
3 DNS looks up URL in a table
4 DNS finds corresponding IP address
5 DNS returns IP address to web browser

Qu: Ava needs to view a website and she knows the Uniform Resource Locator (URL). (a) Complete
the series of steps that take place. Write the letter of the appropriate statement in each space.

1 Ava types the URL into a web browser

2 Web browser sends URL to Domain Name Service (DNS)
3 DNS looks up URL in table
4 DNS finds corresponding IP
5 DNS returns IP address to web browser

Qu: Joshua visits a website by entering its Uniform Resource Locator (URL). Describe how the URL is
converted into a matching IP address.

• The browser parses the Uniform Resource Locator (URL) to obtain the Domain Name • The domain
name is looked-up in the locally cached list of corresponding IP addresses. If it is not found… • The
domain name is sent to the closest Domain Name Server (DNS) • The DNS stores a table of Domain
Names and corresponding IP addresses // searches its database of Domain Names and
corresponding IP • If the DNS finds the Domain Name, it returns the IP address • If it cannot find the
Domain Name, it sends the request to a higher DNS / upstream server • If the Domain Name is not
found, an error is returned

Qu: Complete the following paragraph that describes the sequence of events when a user requests a
page from a website.

The user enters the Uniform Resource Locator (URL) into the address bar of the (web) browser. The
domain name is taken from the URL and sent to a Domain Name Service (DNS). This stores an
index/a list/a table of domain names and their matching IP addresses. If it finds the domain name, it
sends the IP address to the (web) browser. If it does not find the domain name, it sends the request
to a higher level/another DNS.
– URL = uniform resource locator
– reference address to a resource/website on the Internet
– includes protocol used /includes domain name
– browser software sends URL to DNS

– DNS = Domain name system // Domain name service // Domain name server
– the true domain name (e.g. cie_exams.co.uk) is resolved/turned into an IP address by DNS
– DNS server stores a database/list of URLs with matching IP address
– a DNS server may need to pass a request onto another DNS server, (if URL not in its database)
– DNS server adds returned IP address and URL to its cache/database
– DNS server may return an error message if requested domain name is invalid or does not exist
– the DNS service has a hierarchy/or by example – DNS server returns IP address to browser