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DNS (Domain Name System) is like the internet's phone book. It translates human-friendly domain names (like google.com) into IP addresses (like 142.250.191.14) that computers use to connect. You don't need to remember numbers — just type the name!
How It Works:
- You type a domain name (e.g., example.com)
- Your computer asks a DNS server: "What's the IP for example.com?"
- DNS server responds with the IP address
- Your computer connects to that IP
DNS Hierarchy:
- Root servers: Top of the DNS tree
- TLD servers: Handle .com, .org, etc.
- Authoritative servers: Know the actual IP addresses
- Recursive resolvers: Your ISP's DNS servers
Why It Matters:
- Human-friendly: Remember names, not numbers
- Flexibility: Change IP addresses without changing domain names
- Load distribution: One domain can point to multiple IPs
- Essential: The internet wouldn't work without it
FAQ
What's a DNS record?
A DNS record maps a domain name to information. Common types: A (IP address), CNAME (alias), MX (mail server), TXT (text data).
What's DNS propagation?
The time it takes for DNS changes to spread across all DNS servers worldwide. Usually takes a few hours to 48 hours.