DNS is an abbreviation for Domain Name System. It is the protocol that makes the internet easy to use and clear. The main function of DNS is translating Domain Names into IP-Addresses. But what is it exactly? And how does it work?
Firstly a user types in a domain name in his browser, when he presses enter his request will go to a DNS-server. This server is probably run by the user’ provider but can also be a DNS-server run by a private company like Google or Cloudflare. This DNS-server divides the domain name in different pieces: the Top-Level-Domain (for example, .com), the Second-Level-Domain (for example, yourbusiness) and possibly a Third-Level-Domain (for example www).
The DNS-Server will contact the Nameserver responsible for the TLD, so in this case Verisign. This company owns the .com domain extension. Verisign will give a new IP-address, the one of the nameservers for the domain name. This nameserver is managed by the hosting provider or the owner of the website. Because this nameserver is in your management you can add, modify or delete records.
Your nameserver will then reply with the correct IP-Address for the requested domain. Your computer will now know which IP-Address should be contacted. This process happens in (often) less than a second.
