DNS, or Domain Name System, is like the phonebook of the internet. It converts human-friendly domain names, such as www.example.com, into machine-readable IP addresses, like 192.0.2.1.
When you type a website address into your browser, DNS servers help find the corresponding IP address so your device can connect to the right server and load the website. Without DNS, we would have to remember complex numbers instead of simple names.
For example, when you enter a URL in your browser, DNS resolves that URL to an IP address, allowing your browser to retrieve the website content from the correct server.
Example
Entering www.example.com in your browser connects to 192.0.2.1.
Want to use DNS in real work?
WeCode workshops are built around AI coding tools. Pick a tier, or browse more glossary entries to get the lay of the land.