The Internet is a global communication platform that connects millions of devices. At the core of this vast, invisible infrastructure are the root servers. These servers are categorized into 13 types, each designated by a letter from A to M-A-Root, B-Root, C-Root, and so on – corresponding to the first 13 letters of the English alphabet.
Thanks to Anycast technology, there are more than 1500 physical instances of the root servers operating in over 130 countries. This technology enables multiple servers in different geographic locations to share the same IP address, allowing user requests to be answered by the nearest available server, improving speed and reliability.
The management of root servers is decentralized and carried out by 12 independent organizations, following the multi-stakeholder model of Internet governance.
The proper operation of root servers is overseen by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) through the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA).
