What is DNS and how does it work?

DNS stands for Domain Name System. It is a fundamental element of the internet infrastructure that translates human-readable domain names into numerical IP addresses. In simple terms, it acts as a phonebook for the internet. When a user enters a domain name in their web browser, the DNS servers are responsible for resolving that domain name into the associated IP address, which points to the correct server hosting the website. This process involves multiple steps. Firstly, the browser checks its local cache to see if the IP address is already stored. If not, it contacts the nearest DNS resolver server which iteratively queries the hierarchical DNS system to find the authoritative DNS server. Once found, the IP address is returned to the browser, allowing it to connect with the requested website and display its content. DNS plays a critical role in ensuring smooth internet navigation by efficiently routing users to the correct online destination.