To resolve FQDNs to binary IP addresses, resolvers contact which type of TCP/IP application server?

To resolve Fully Qualified Domain Names (FQDNs) to binary IP addresses, resolvers utilize the Domain Name System (DNS). DNS acts as a directory service on the internet, translating human-readable domain names into machine-readable IP addresses. When a user attempts to access a website using its FQDN, the resolver queries a DNS server to obtain the corresponding IP address, allowing it to connect to the desired server.

DNS is specifically designed for this purpose, providing a hierarchical and distributed database structure that is crucial for domain name resolution. It facilitates not only the translation of names to addresses but also various other functions, such as load balancing and email routing through different record types.

Other types of servers, such as FTP, HTTP, and SMTP servers, are designed for specific applications and tasks. FTP servers manage file transfers, HTTP servers handle web traffic, and SMTP servers send and receive emails, but none of these are responsible for name resolution like DNS. Thus, DNS is the correct choice due to its pivotal role in mapping domain names to their respective IP addresses.