DNS - GCSE Computer Science Definition

DNS stands for Domain Name System, and it's a crucial part of how the internet works. Essentially, DNS is like the internet's phone book, translating human-friendly domain names like "www.example.com" into numerical IP addresses that computers use to identify each other on the network. When you type a website address into your browser, DNS servers get to work, quickly finding the correct IP address so you can access the site. This system allows users to connect to websites using easy-to-remember names instead of complicated numerical codes. For GCSE Computer Science students, understanding DNS is important because it highlights how data is routed on the internet and demonstrates the efficiency of modern networking.