What is DNS?

DNS (Domain Name System) is a hierarchically subdivided designation system in a mostly IP-based network for answering queries about domain names (name resolution).

The DNS works similar to a telephone directory assistance. The user knows the domain name (the name of a computer on the Internet that can be remembered by humans) - for example ’example.org’. He sends this as a request to the Internet.

The domain name is then converted there by the DNS into the corresponding IP address (the address of a device on the Internet) - for example, an IPv4 address of the form ‘192.0.2.42’ or an IPv6 address such as ‘2001:db8:85a3:8d3:1319:8a2e:370:7347’ - and thus leads to the correct computer.

So-called Domain Name Servers, which are also abbreviated “DNS”, are responsible for the requests concerning the conversion of domain names into IP addresses.

See also:
Wikipedia: DNS