What is DNS and how does it work?

Domain Name System, commonly referred to as DNS, is an essential component of the internet that serves as a directory to convert human-friendly domain names into the numerical IP addresses required to identify and locate devices on a network. When a user enters a web address, such as www.example.com, the DNS is responsible for translating that address into an IP address, such as 192.0.2.1, which allows the user's device to locate the desired server and establish a connection. The process begins with a DNS query, where the user's device contacts a DNS resolver, typically provided by their internet service provider. The resolver then checks its local cache to see if it has the corresponding IP address for the requested domain. If the address is present, it returns the result to the user's device, permitting the connection to proceed. If not, the resolver will query other DNS servers, starting with the root DNS servers, followed by top-level domain (TLD) servers, and finally reaching the authoritative DNS server for the specific domain. Once the authoritative server responds with the correct IP address, the resolver caches that information for future use and returns it to the original requester. This system allows for efficient and rapid domain resolution, enabling users around the world to navigate the internet smoothly and with ease.