What is DNS?
DNS, or Domain Name System, is the internet’s address book. It translates website names like example.com into IP addresses that computers use to find each other.
In more detail
DNS, or Domain Name System, is a service that helps your device find the right website or online service when you type a name into a browser.
Instead of remembering a string of numbers called an IP address, you can use an easy-to-read name like google.com. DNS looks up that name and points your device to the correct server, much like a contact list translates a person’s name into their phone number.
This matters because it makes the internet easier to use and helps websites load correctly. Without DNS, you would need to know the exact IP address for every site you visit.
DNS is used every time you open a website, send email, or use many apps and online services. If DNS has a problem, a site may fail to load even when your internet connection is working.
Examples
- Typing example.com in your browser and being sent to the right website.
- Your email app finding the mail server for your account.
- A game connecting to its online servers using a domain name instead of a number.
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