Domain Name System (DNS) Overview

The Domain Name System (DNS) translates domain names into IP addresses. For example, when you type google.com into your browser, DNS finds the IP address of the server hosting that website.

Why DNS is important

Without DNS, users would need to remember numerical IP addresses for every website. DNS makes the internet easier and more convenient to use.

How DNS works

• User enters a domain name in a browser
• The browser asks a DNS server for the IP address
• The DNS server responds with the correct IP address
• The browser connects to the server
• The website loads