---
id: "root-server-system"
kind: "glossary-term"
title: "Root Server System"
language: "en"
category: "DNS and technical foundations"
updated: "2026-10-04T14:01:23Z"
canonical: "https://tldlog.com/glossary/root-server-system/"
translations:
  es: "https://tldlog.com/es/glosario/sistema-servidores-raiz/"
  de: "https://tldlog.com/de/glossar/root-server-system/"
  fr: "https://tldlog.com/fr/glossaire/systeme-serveurs-racine/"
  it: "https://tldlog.com/it/glossario/sistema-server-radice/"
  pt-BR: "https://tldlog.com/pt/glossario/sistema-servidores-raiz/"
  ru: "https://tldlog.com/ru/glossariy/sistema-kornevykh-serverov/"
  zh-Hans: "https://tldlog.com/zh/cihui/gen-fuwuqi-xitong/"
---

# Root Server System

The whole system that answers questions about the root zone, the top of the DNS. Its 13 named root server identities, lettered A to M, are run by 12 independent organizations. Each identity is served from many anycast copies around the world. ICANN's Root Server System Advisory Committee advises on how the system works.

## related terms

- [root zone](https://tldlog.com/glossary/root-zone/)
- [root server](https://tldlog.com/glossary/root-server/)
- [RSSAC](https://tldlog.com/glossary/rssac/)
- [anycast](https://tldlog.com/glossary/anycast/)
- [RSS](https://tldlog.com/glossary/rss/)