ICANN

What is ICANN?

ICANN is the global, non-profit, private-sector coordinating body performing on behalf of public interest.

ICANN makes sure that the DNS continues to work efficiently - by supervising the distribution of unique numeric IP addresses and domain names.

ICANN also manages the processes and systems that ensure that each domain name maps to the correct IP address.

ICANN is responsible for managing and coordinating the DNS to ensure universal resolvability.

What happens to a user's request to reach at icann.org?

The request is first sent to a local resolver. The resolver splits the request into its component parts. It finds the .org registry and forwards the request over to the .org registry to find the IP address of icann.org. This answer is forwarded back to the user's computer.

Why do we need the resolvers? There is a reason why we can't we use the root servers directly even though they contain almost all of the same information.

Performance is the reason why. The root servers will not be able to handle billions of requests coming its way every day and thus would slow users down.

Now we will talk about the remaining part of the complicated name… www.icann.org. To begin with the DNS is a hierarchical system.

First, the resolver finds the IP address for the .org registry, then asks that registry to find the IP address for icann.org and lastly goes on to a local computer at that address to find the final IP address for www.icann.org.

The root servers play an important role storing information about the unique root. There would be much confusion if there were multiple TLDs with the same name. How would we know which the user intends to use.

However, the beautiful architecture of the Internet ensures that is a unique and authoritative root to avoid confusion.

What can ICANN's do?

ICANN's mission is to protect and preserve the stability, integrity and utility of the global Internet community, the DNS and the authoritative root ICANN was actually established to manage.

ICANN truly has no responsibility towards the alternate roots as long as to do not destabilise the DNS or harm the strength of the authoritative root.

However, what ICANN does do is educate and inform us about threats to the Internet's reliability and stability.

ICANN is therefore a unanimous development body for the global Internet community.

It's focus is the development of consesus policies relating to the single authoritative root and the DNS as well those that allow the systematic introduction of new TLDs.

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