What is Domain Name System (DNS)? How the DNS server works?

Short Answer

The Domain Name System (DNS) is like a phone book for the internet. When you type a website name, like www.quescol.com, DNS helps your computer find the right address to visit that site. DNS servers act as guides. They take the name you type and find the matching number (IP address) for the computer you want to reach. The “com,” “edu,” and “gov” at the end of website names help organize the internet. They tell us what kind of organization owns the website. For example, “com” is for commercial sites, “edu” is for educational institutions, and “gov” is for government entities. These suffixes help make the internet easier to navigate.

Detailed Answer

Understanding DNS

The Domain Name System (DNS) acts as the internet’s phone book. It translates website names that people use, like www.quescol.com, into numbers (IP addresses) that computers use to connect to each other. This system is vital because it helps us find websites without memorizing complex numbers.

How DNS Works

1. Query: First, when you enter a website name in your browser, your computer sends a question, or “query,” asking for the website’s IP address.
2. DNS Lookup: Next, your request goes to a DNS server. Think of it as asking a librarian for a book in a huge library. The DNS server looks through its records to find the matching IP address.
3. Answer: Once the DNS server finds the correct IP address, it sends it back to your computer. Now, your computer knows where to go to find the website you want.

The Role of Suffixes

Suffixes like “com,” “edu,” and “gov” organize the internet into categories. They help us quickly understand what type of organization we’re dealing with:

• .com is for commercial businesses. It’s the most common and used by companies worldwide.
• .edu is reserved for educational institutions. Schools and universities use it.
• .gov is for government entities. Only government websites can use this suffix.

These suffixes make the internet easier to use and help guide our searches.

Examples

• www.school.edu tells you it’s an educational site, likely belonging to a school.
• www.shop.com indicates a commercial site, probably selling goods.
• www.usa.gov informs you it’s an official government site.

Importance of DNS

Without DNS, we would have to memorize IP addresses to visit websites, which would be challenging. DNS makes the internet user-friendly and efficient. It also helps in managing and organizing the vast amount of websites on the internet, making it easier for us to find what we’re looking for.

Conclusion

In essence, the Domain Name System is crucial for navigating the internet easily. It translates website names into IP addresses, allowing computers to connect with each other. Suffixes like “com,” “edu,” and “gov” play a vital role in organizing the internet, making it simpler for us to understand the purpose of a website at a glance. This system ensures that the internet remains accessible and user-friendly for everyone.