What is DNS?
DNS, or Domain Name System, is like the internet's phonebook. Instead of remembering a website's IP address (like 192.168.1.1), you can simply use its domain name (like www.example.com). DNS translates those domain names into the IP addresses computers use to find each other on the internet.
How Does It Work?
- You type a domain name: You enter www.example.com into your browser.
- Your browser asks a DNS server: Your browser sends a request to a DNS server to find the IP address associated with www.example.com.
- DNS server responds: The DNS server looks up the IP address (let's say 93.184.216.34) and sends it back to your browser.
- Your browser connects: Your browser uses the IP address to connect to the server hosting the website.
Types of DNS Servers
There are different types of DNS servers:
- Root Servers: These servers know where to find the top-level domain servers (like .com, .org, .net).
- Top-Level Domain (TLD) Servers: These servers handle domain names ending in .com, .org, .net, etc.
- Authoritative DNS Servers: These servers hold the actual DNS records for a specific domain.
Understanding DNS is crucial for anyone interested in how the internet works!