How the Domain Name System (DNS) Works

How the Domain Name System (DNS) Works

The Domain Name System (DNS) is an important part of the internet, providing a way to map names (a website you’re seeking) to numbers (the address for the website). Anything connected to the internet - laptops, tablets, mobile phones, websites - has an Internet Protocol (IP) address. Your favorite website might have an IP address like 93.184.216.34, but this is obviously not easy to remember. However, a domain name such as example.com is something people can recognize and remember. DNS maps domain names with IP addresses enabling humans to use memorable domain names while computers on the internet can use IP addresses.

Let’s explore what keeps billions of internet users and 341.7 million domain names* connecting—and how Verisign helps to make it happen.

* Verisign Domain Name Industry Brief, Volume 19 – Issue 1

Scroll down to see how it all works

This whole process might seem complicated, but really takes very little time at all. In fact, Verisign processes more than approximately 239.5 billion transactions daily, and is continuously working to help ensure the world’s online connections are secure, stable and resilient.

To register a domain name, search availability or find a registrar.

To find out more about internet technology, trends and the future, check out the following resources:

The Domain Name System (DNS) is an important part of the internet, providing a way to map names (a website you’re seeking) to numbers (the address for the website). Anything connected to the internet - laptops, tablets, mobile phones, websites - has an Internet Protocol (IP) address. Your favorite website might have an IP address like 93.184.216.34, but this is obviously not easy to remember. However, a domain name such as example.com is something people can recognize and remember. DNS maps domain names with IP addresses enabling humans to use memorable domain names while computers on the internet can use IP addresses.

Let’s explore what keeps billions of internet users and 341.7 million domain names* connecting—and how Verisign helps to make it happen.

Download our How DNS Works infographic

* Verisign Domain Name Industry Brief, Volume 19 - Issue 1