What is DNS?

Domain Name System (DNS) is a decentralized system that translates human-readable domain names into computer-readable IP addresses. It is a key component of the internet, as it allows users to access websites using easily remembered names rather than having to remember the numerical IP addresses of the servers hosting the websites.

DNS functions as a directory service that maps domain names to IP addresses. When a user types a domain name into their web browser, the browser sends a request to a DNS server to resolve the domain name into an IP address. The DNS server responds with the IP address of the server that hosts the website, and the browser then sends a request to that server to retrieve the website.

DNS is a distributed system, meaning that it relies on a network of servers located around the world to resolve domain names. When a DNS server receives a request to resolve a domain name, it checks its own records to see if it has the IP address for the domain. If it does not, it sends a request to other DNS servers to try to resolve the domain name. This process continues until the domain name is resolved or it is determined that it does not exist.

Overall, DNS plays a crucial role in enabling users to access the internet and navigate to the websites they want to visit.