What is the Difference Between Reverse Lookup Zone and Forward Lookup Zone?

The main difference between a reverse lookup zone and a forward lookup zone in the Domain Name System (DNS) lies in the way they map IP addresses and domain names:

• Forward Lookup Zone: This zone contains a mapping between host names and IP addresses. When a computer requests an IP address for a specific host name, the forward lookup zone is queried to get the result. It typically converts a name to an IP address or another name at some point, eventually resolving the name to an IP address in most cases.
• Reverse Lookup Zone: This zone contains a mapping between IP addresses and their corresponding domain names. It is used when a computer requests a host name for a specific IP address. The reverse lookup zone is queried to get the answer, and it contains PTR records that point the IP address to a host/domain name.

In summary:

• Forward lookup zones resolve names to IP addresses.
• Reverse lookup zones resolve IP addresses to names.

Comparative Table: Reverse Lookup Zone vs Forward Lookup Zone

The main difference between a reverse lookup zone and a forward lookup zone in DNS is the type of queries they are used for. Here is a table comparing the two:

In summary, a forward lookup zone is used to resolve forward lookup queries, where a client requests an IP address for a specific host name. On the other hand, a reverse lookup zone is used for resolving reverse lookup queries, where a client requests a host name for a specific IP address.