What is a Domain Name System? (DNS)

DNS (Domain Name System) is a system that translates human-readable domain names, like www.example.com, into IP addresses, which are used by computers to identify and communicate with each other over the internet. Essentially, DNS acts as the "phonebook" of the internet, enabling users to access websites by typing easy-to-remember domain names instead of complex numerical IP addresses.

DNS is crucial for the functionality of the internet as it ensures that users can easily navigate websites and online services. When a user enters a domain name in a browser, DNS servers quickly resolve the name into the corresponding IP address, allowing the browser to load the correct website. This system enables seamless online navigation, making it a foundational component of the internet’s infrastructure.