Which DNS lookup method provides partial answers and directs the client to continue querying other DNS servers as needed?

The iterative lookup method is designed to provide partial answers to a DNS query and guide the client toward other DNS servers when necessary. In this process, when a DNS resolver receives a query for a domain name, it may not have the complete resolution or the answer cached. Instead of performing a full recursive search, the resolver will return the best information it has at that moment, which could be a referral to another DNS server that is more responsible for the domain in question.

For instance, if the resolver is looking for the IP address associated with a domain, it might point the query to the authoritative DNS servers for a higher-level domain (like .com or .org) if it does not have the required information. This allows the client to continue its search with the guidance from the first DNS server, enabling a distributed querying system where each server only needs to provide partial information rather than complete answers.

The other methods are distinct in their functioning: recursive lookups involve a DNS server fully resolving the query before returning the answer to the client, while forward lookups specifically translate domain names into IP addresses. Cached lookups reference previous queries stored to speed up resolution times but do not inherently direct clients to other servers. Thus, the iterative method's unique ability to