Introduction to Domain Name System (DNS)

The origins of DNS

A contact list lets you look up a number by name. DNS offers a similar convenience for network applications. In this hypothetical example, the name example.com maps to the IPv4 address 192.0.2.10. These are documentation values, not a claim about a live lookup. Unlike a personal contact list, DNS distributes responsibility across many servers.

What is DNS?

The Domain Name System (DNS) stores typed records associated with domain names. Address lookup is one common use. When a browser needs an uncached address, it or the operating system asks a configured resolver, receives the relevant answer, and then uses the address to establish a connection to the destination.