DNS (Domain Name System)

The Domain Name System (DNS) is often called the phonebook of the internet. It translates human-readable domain names (like example.com) into numerical IP addresses (like 192.168.1.1) that computers use to identify each other on the network. Every time you visit a website, your browser performs a DNS lookup to find the correct IP address. DNS operates through a global network of servers organized in a hierarchy. When you type a domain name, your computer first checks its local cache, then queries a DNS resolver (usually provided by your ISP), which then queries authoritative DNS servers until it finds the correct IP address. This process typically takes milliseconds but can significantly impact website loading times. DNS also supports various record types including A records (IPv4 addresses), AAAA records (IPv6 addresses), CNAME records (canonical names/aliases), MX records (mail servers), and TXT records (verification and security).