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An Introduction To How DNS (Domain Name System) Works

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You may not be aware of it but the internet won't work without the Domain Name System or DNS. In the simplest of terms, DNS is an immense database of internet protocol addresses and network names that compose the lifeblood of the web. It's a translation system that converts technical data online into content that can be understood by an online browser. Without the system, it would be very difficult if not impossible to navigate through the internet. Because it serves as the ultimate guide through the web, DNS is often referred to by experts as the phonebook of the internet.

Think of the DNS as the mediator between you and a box of unfathomable data. For you to be able to understand the data in front of you, you are going to need the DNS to translate the data into words and phrases that you can clearly understand. The whole process can take just a few seconds. Keep in mind that computers communicate with each other using numbers and codes. You can't make sense of these numbers and codes without the help of the DNS. In a nutshell, the DNS is one of the most important components that allow the internet to function.

For illustration purposes, let's say that you want to visit the site webhostinggeeks.com so you type type the address into your browser. What the DNS does is translate what you typed into the internet protocol address associated with the address. Your computer will then connect to the webhost and display to you the homepage of the requested address. It sounds very simple but it involves a lot of data-crunching on the side of the DNS. Another essential function of DNS is its role in making sure that content delivery networks and cloud services provide fast response times. In conclusion, without DNS, the internet would be a humongous mess of senseless numbers and codes.


Posted May 13, 2016 at 10:20pm