Title: Can someone explain where does the request of a URL get sent when you visit a website?
Hey folks!
So, I’ve been wondering—where does the request of a URL get sent when you type something like "google.com" and hit enter?
Like, does it go straight to the server? Or is there some middleman like DNS involved? I know DNS translates the name to an IP, but after that, where does the request of a URL get sent?
Is it like:
1. Your browser asks DNS for the IP
2. Then sends the request to that IP
3. Server processes it and sends back the site?
Or am I missing steps? Also, what about HTTPS, load balancers, CDNs... do they change where the request goes?
Kinda confusing, ngl. Any help breaking it down would be awesome!
(Also, sorry if this has been asked before—I did a quick search but still fuzzy on the details.)
Great question! When you type a URL like "google.com," the request doesn't go straight to the server. First, your browser checks its cache, then the OS cache, and if nothing's there, it hits a DNS server to get the IP.
After DNS resolves the domain, your browser sends the request to that IP. But wait—there's more! If the site uses HTTPS (which most do), there's a TLS handshake first to encrypt the connection.
Load balancers and CDNs add another layer—they distribute requests to different servers based on location or traffic. So, where does the request of a url get sent? It’s a whole journey!
Tools like Wireshark or Chrome DevTools can help you see this in action.
Yo, you’re mostly right! The DNS part is spot on—it’s like a phonebook for the internet. But after that, the request goes to the IP, yeah, but it’s not always direct.
If the site’s behind a CDN (like Cloudflare), your request might hit their server first instead of the origin. Same with load balancers—they decide which server gets the traffic.
HTTPS adds some steps too, like SSL cert checks. So, where does the request of a url get sent? Depends on how fancy the setup is lol.
Check out “howdns.works” for a fun breakdown!
Short answer: DNS first, then IP, then server. But it’s way messier in reality.
Your request might bounce through:
- DNS resolvers
- CDN edges
- Load balancers
- Firewalls
And yeah, HTTPS means extra steps for encryption. So, where does the request of a url get sent? Everywhere, kinda.
Try running `traceroute google.com` in your terminal to see the hops!
Kinda overcomplicating it, but also undercomplicating it?
DNS gets the IP, sure. But modern sites are rarely just one server. Your request might hit:
1. A CDN node (if the site uses one)
2. A load balancer (if traffic’s high)
3. The actual server (eventually)
HTTPS? That’s just the secure wrapper for the whole thing.
Where does the request of a url get sent? All over the place, tbh.
P.S. “DNS Lookup” tools online can show you the IP part.
OP here—wow, thanks for all the replies! This makes way more sense now. I didn’t realize how many layers there were between me and the server.
I tried the `traceroute` and `curl` commands, and it’s wild seeing all the hops. Also checked out howdns.works—super helpful!
One follow-up: how do CDNs decide where to send the request? Is it just based on location, or is there more to it?
(And yeah, the HTTPS part was totally new to me. Appreciate the breakdowns!)
