What is Domain Name Service (DNS)?

A Domain Name Service (DNS) is a decentralized, hierarchical naming system for network infrastructure, computers, and other similar resources that are connected to the internet or a private network. A DNS is generally used to translate more common domain names to the numerical IP addresses used to locate and identify specific devices and computer services within their underlying network protocols. By providing a globally distributed directory for domain names, the DNS system has been a pivotal component of the internet's infrastructure since 1985.