However, it contains all the names and IP addresses of all the top-level domains (TLDs). The file itself only contains a size of roughly 2 MB.

This is carried out via the so-called root zone file, which is an important element of every DNS root server. Here, the root name server doesn’t execute the name resolution itself and instead informs the requesting client about which other name server (DNS server) it can obtain further information from regarding the desired IP address.

A root name server (also called a DNS root server or a root server for short) is responsible for fundamental functions when it comes to translating domain names into IP addresses: it answers client requests in the domain name system’s root zone (the root zone marks the largest layer in the DNS’ name space).