Name resolution : matches/translates a content name to locators of providers/sources that can provide the content. Content discovery : routes the content request towards the content either based on its name or locator. Content delivery : transfers the content to the requester.

The Name Resolution Service (NRS) in ICN is defined as the service that provides the name resolution function translating an object name into some other information such as locator and another name that is used for forwarding the object request. In other words, the NRS is the service that shall be provided by ICN infrastructure to help a consumer to reach a specific piece of content, service, or host using a persistent name when the name resolution is needed. The name resolution is a necessary process in ICN routing although the name resolution either can be separated from the content discovery as a standalone process or can be integrated with the content discovery as one combined process. The former is referred as standalone name resolution approach, the latter is referred as name based routing approach in this document.