2006-07-20 19:23:18 · 4 answers · asked by sarika s 1 in Computers & Internet ➔ Computer Networking
Depending on who you ask it is the
Domain Name Server
Domain Name System
Domain Name Service
They all describe it in different ways, but basically, what it does is convert a domain name (like www.yahoo.com) to an IP address (like 209.73.186.238). It works like a phone book for the internet. Your computer queries the DNS using then name of the server you want to contact (like you would look up the name of your friend you want to call) and the DNS returns the numerical address (like you would find the phone number of your friend).
There's several top level DNS servers, which, when the DNS of a particular domain name updates, update other DNS servers around the world. For this reason, after a domain name is registered, it can take up to 48 hours for the domain name to be accessible from around the world.
2006-07-20 19:34:56 · answer #1 · answered by Shaun B 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's like a phone book for the internet. Your IP Address is listed in the DNS "phone book" and when someone wants to look you up, they say where can I find this computer blahblahblah and DNS says, it's number is 12.34.56.78.
A more concise, detailed explanation can be found here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dns
Excerpt from the wikipedia entry:
The domain name system (DNS) stores and associates many types of information with domain names, but most importantly, it translates domain names (computer hostnames) to IP addresses. It also lists mail exchange servers accepting e-mail for each domain. In providing a worldwide keyword-based redirection service, DNS is an essential component of contemporary Internet use.
Useful for several reasons, the DNS pre-eminently makes it possible to attach easy-to-remember domain names (such as "wikipedia.org") to hard-to-remember IP addresses (such as 207.142.131.206). Humans take advantage of this when they recite URLs and e-mail addresses. In a subsidiary function, the domain name system makes it possible for people to assign authoritative names without needing to communicate with a central registrar each time.
2006-07-21 02:26:52 · answer #2 · answered by lwcomputing 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Domain Name Server or Domain Name System
2006-07-21 02:26:22 · answer #3 · answered by phishycoding 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Domain Name System, it maps names to IP addresses
2006-07-21 02:29:47 · answer #4 · answered by Christopher C 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋