Definition
TTL (Time to Live) is a network parameter that specifies the duration or number of hops a data packet is allowed to exist in a network before being discarded or not forwarded. It is commonly used in various internet protocols, including DNS (Domain Name System) and routing protocols.
Function
The main function of TTL is to prevent infinite loops in network routing and to control how long information is stored in cache systems. In DNS, TTL indicates how long a DNS record can be cached by a resolver or client, which impacts the frequency of DNS queries and overall network traffic. By setting an appropriate TTL value, administrators can balance the trade-off between the freshness of data and the load on servers.
Related Terms
- DNS (Domain Name System): The system that translates domain names into IP addresses and determines TTL for each record.
- TTL (Time to Live): This is the duration that DNS records are cached by servers and clients before being refreshed.
- Caching: A mechanism for temporarily storing data to reduce the time to retrieve it, which interacts with TTL settings in DNS.
Here is the Wikipedia Article
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