What Is DNS?
DNS, the Domain Name System, is what lets you type whatsmyipv4.com instead of a string of numbers. It quietly turns names you can remember into the IP addresses computers actually use.
You rely on it for every site you open, yet it runs completely in the background until something goes wrong.
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What DNS does
Computers find each other by IP address, but nobody wants to memorise those. DNS bridges the gap. When you enter a web address, your device asks a DNS resolver for the matching IP, then connects to that address.
How a lookup works, step by step
- You type a domain into your browser.
- Your device checks its own cache. If it already knows the answer, it stops here.
- If not, it asks a DNS resolver, usually run by your ISP or a service like Cloudflare or Google.
- The resolver works its way through the DNS hierarchy until it finds the authoritative answer.
- The IP comes back, your device caches it for a while, and your browser connects.
Why DNS matters
- Speed: a fast resolver shaves a few milliseconds off the first connection to every new site.
- Reliability: if your DNS is flaky, sites fail to load even when your internet is fine.
- Privacy: your resolver can see every domain you visit, so the one you choose matters.