Apple Certified Support Professional (ACSP) Practice Exam 2026 - Free ACSP Practice Questions and Study Guide

The distinction between forward lookup and reverse lookup lies in the direction of the mapping between IP addresses and hostnames. In forward lookup, the process involves searching for an IP address that corresponds to a given hostname. This means that when you enter a hostname, the DNS (Domain Name System) will return the associated IP address, enabling the connection to the desired server.

Conversely, reverse lookup performs the opposite action; it translates an IP address back to its corresponding hostname. This function is useful in various scenarios, including verifying the identity of a server and for logging or security audits.

The clarity of this relationship underscores why the first choice correctly identifies the two functionalities: forward lookup deals with finding an IP from a hostname, while reverse lookup finds a hostname from an IP. The other options do not accurately capture the key difference in the mapping processes central to these terms. Specifically, the second choice about speed, the third about security purposes, and the fourth about interchangeability do not reflect the fundamental definitions related to DNS lookups.