DNS (Domain Name System) is a hierarchical and decentralized naming system for computers, services, or other resources connected to the Internet or a private network. It is responsible for translating human-readable domain names into numerical IP addresses, and vice versa.
DNS operates on a client-server model, where clients, such as a web browser or email client, initiate requests to resolve domain names to IP addresses. The requests are sent to a local DNS server, which either resolves the domain name to an IP address or forwards the request to another DNS server closer to the authoritative server for the domain.
The authoritative server for a domain maintains the DNS records for the domain, including information such as the IP addresses of the domain's web and mail servers, and the server responsible for resolving any subdomains of the domain.
DNS allows the Internet to be easily navigated by humans, while also providing a scalable and flexible infrastructure for the resolution of domain names to IP addresses, enabling the smooth operation of the Internet and the resources it connects.