Domain Name System (DNS)

The Domain Name System (DNS) is an Internet protocol used to identify various parameters associated with a domain name, including the IP (Internet Protocol) address of a web server hosting a particular domain. It works by performing a “lookup” of the domain name information in an array of databases distributed across various hosts (e.g., local registrars and root servers) to find the related information. In short, the DNS allows Internet users to reach websites by typing in web addresses (e.g., www.example.com) instead of having to remember the associated numerical IP address (e.g., 199.168.0.1) of that particular site.

The DNS system is organized into hierarchical zones, with each zone being composed of two or more name servers that provide authoritative answers to lookups. At the root of this hierarchy are what are known as root servers, which are responsible for providing answers to user queries concerning domain name information. The Domain Name System is distributed across two networks (the Internet and the Intranet), making it highly versatile and secure.

Essentially, the Domain Name System is the Internet’s addressing system and is the common denominator standing between domain names and IP addresses. Without it, we would not be able to access websites using domain names but rather would have to remember and type in numerical IP addresses each time. It is also essential to the function of email, since email addresses (e.g., [email protected] ) correspond to specific domains and MX records (mail exchanger records) contain domain name information that allows them to be sent to the correct destination.

The Domain Name System in its present form began to gain widespread acceptance in the early 1980s. It has since been modified and added to by organisations such as the IETF (Internet Engineering Task Force) in order to ensure it remains secure, efficient, and capable of accommodating the increasing demands of the online world.