What is DNS and How Does It Work?

Summary:
DNS (Domain Name System) acts like the phonebook of the internet. When you type a domain such as example.com into your browser, DNS translates it into an IP address (e.g., 192.0.2.1) that points to the web server.

Key Terms

  • DNS Resolver – The service that looks up DNS records.
  • Nameserver (NS) – A server that holds your DNS records.
  • DNS Records – Individual records that direct internet traffic (web, email, subdomains).