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The domain name system, often abbreviated as DNS, is a hierarchical and decentralized naming system for computers, services, or any resource connected to the Internet or a private network. It is essential for the functioning of the internet as we know it. DNS translates human-readable domain names, such as "www.example.com," into the numerical IP addresses, like "192.0.2.1," that computers use to identify each other. This translation process is crucial because humans are better at remembering names than long strings of numbers.

The DNS operates through a distributed database that is managed by a global network of DNS servers. When a user types a domain name into their web browser, their computer queries a DNS resolver, which then searches for the corresponding IP address. This search might involve querying multiple DNS servers, starting with root servers, then top-level domain (TLD) servers, and finally authoritative name servers for the specific domain. Once the IP address is found, it is returned to the user's computer, allowing the browser to connect to the correct server and retrieve the requested information.

Without DNS, users would have to memorize the IP addresses of every website they wanted to visit, making internet navigation significantly more challenging. The system is designed to be scalable and resilient, ensuring that domain name resolution is a reliable and efficient process. Various records within DNS store different types of information, including IP addresses (A and AAAA records), mail server information (MX records), and text information (TXT records). The ongoing management and evolution of DNS are overseen by organizations like the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN).