Summary
The Domain Name System (DNS) is a hierarchical and distributed network protocol that serves as the "phonebook" of the internet. Its primary function is to translate human-readable domain names (e.g., google.com) into machine-readable IP addresses (e.g., 142.250.190.46) to facilitate communication between computers [https://www.cloudflare.com/learning/dns/what-is-dns/] [https://www.fortinet.com/resources/cyberglossary/what-is-dns].
Key findings
- Core Functionality: DNS performs "name resolution," which is the process of mapping hostnames to IP addresses and vice versa [https://ubuntu.com/server/docs/explanation/networking/configuring-networks/].
- Hierarchical Structure: The system is organized in an inverted tree structure. At the top of this hierarchy is the Root Domain, represented by a dot (
.) [https://cloudinertrastructureservices.co.uk/what-is-dns-hierarchy/]. Below the root are Top-Level Domains (TLDs). - System Scalability: The DNS operates in a distributed manner across the global internet, allowing it