What does DNS stand for in networking?

DNS stands for Domain Name System. It is a crucial component of the internet that translates human-friendly domain names, such as www.example.com, into IP addresses that computers use to identify each other on the network. By converting domain names into IP addresses, DNS facilitates the process of locating and accessing resources on the internet, allowing users to navigate websites without needing to remember complex numerical IP addresses.

The significance of DNS lies in its functionality; it simplifies the user experience when interacting with the internet, as people can use easily memorable domain names instead of a series of numbers. Additionally, DNS serves other roles, such as providing redundancy and load balancing, enabling more resilient and efficient systems. Understanding how DNS operates is fundamental for troubleshooting network issues and managing domain names effectively.