What Is DNS?
DNS stands for Domain Name System. It is a matchmaking service between the domain names that humans use to identify websites and the IP addresses that computers use to identify websites. When you type a domain name like google.com into your web browser, the DNS system translates that name into an IP address, such as 172.217.6.174, that identifies the computer server that hosts the website. The DNS system is the backbone of the internet because it enables users all over the world to find and access websites quickly and reliably.
DNS operates in a hierarchical structure that starts with the root zone, which contains information about the top-level domains (TLDs) like .com, .edu, and .org. Each TLD has its own set of authoritative name servers that maintain information about the individual domain names that belong to that TLD, such as google.com or wikipedia.org. These authoritative servers are responsible for answering queries from other DNS servers and resolving domain names to IP addresses.
The process of resolving a domain name to an IP address involves several steps, including recursive queries, caching, and DNSSEC verification. Recursive queries are when a DNS server asks another DNS server for information, and caching is when a DNS server stores recently-used information to speed up future queries for the same information. DNSSEC verification is a security feature that helps prevent attacks on the DNS system by verifying the authenticity and integrity of DNS responses.
Overall, DNS is a critical component of the internet infrastructure that enables users to access websites quickly and reliably. It operates behind the scenes, but its impact is felt every time you visit a website.