What happens when you type a URL
What happens when you type a URL is an interactive experiment in Networks & the Internet, a free simulation from StudyFi Lab that runs right in your browser.
First the browser needs an IP address: the DNS resolver finds it by asking the root server, the .com server and the authoritative server in turn. Then it opens a TCP connection to the web server (SYN, SYN-ACK, ACK), agrees on TLS encryption and sends an HTTP GET request. The server answers 200 OK with HTML and the browser renders the page. Every message hops across several routers.
Try this: Count how many messages are sent before the browser even sends its GET. Which steps would disappear if the address were already cached?
Frequently asked questions
What does the “What happens when you type a URL” experiment show?
First the browser needs an IP address: the DNS resolver finds it by asking the root server, the .com server and the authoritative server in turn. Then it opens a TCP connection to the web server (SYN, SYN-ACK, ACK), agrees on TLS encryption and sends an HTTP GET request. The server answers 200 OK with HTML and the browser renders the page. Every message hops across several routers.
How do I try “What happens when you type a URL”?
Count how many messages are sent before the browser even sends its GET. Which steps would disappear if the address were already cached?
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