DNS (Domain Name System) translates human-readable domain names like google.com into IP addresses like 142.250.185.14. Without DNS, you would need to remember the IP address of every website you want to visit.
When you type a domain name in your browser, your device sends a DNS query to a resolver (usually provided by your ISP or a public DNS service). The resolver looks up the IP address and returns it to your browser, which then connects to the web server.
| Type | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| A | Maps domain to IPv4 address | 203.0.113.42 |
| AAAA | Maps domain to IPv6 address | 2001:db8::1 |
| MX | Mail server for the domain | mail.example.com |
| CNAME | Alias for another domain | www → example.com |
| TXT | Text records (SPF, DKIM, verification) | v=spf1 include:... |
| NS | Nameservers for the domain | ns1.example.com |
| SOA | Start of Authority – zone info | Primary nameserver |
| PTR | Reverse DNS – IP to hostname | 42.113.0.203.in-addr.arpa |
Standard DNS queries are unencrypted – your ISP can see every website you visit. DNS-over-HTTPS (DoH) and DNS-over-TLS (DoT) encrypt DNS queries to protect your privacy. Modern browsers support DoH natively.
The Domain Name System (DNS) is one of the most fundamental components of the internet. It translates human-readable domain names into machine-readable IP addresses. Every time you visit a website, your device performs a DNS lookup. DNS record types like A, AAAA, MX and TXT serve different purposes – from pointing domains to servers to configuring email and verifying ownership.