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The DNS System

The Domain Name System (DNS), created in 1984, is one of the fundamental tools for the functioning of the Internet which resolves domain names into IP addresses (whether in IPv4 or IPv6) and vice-versa.

This system ensures two main objectives:
  • The possibility it gives to people of becoming oblivious to IP addresses which are difficult to memorise, while allowing changes to those IP addresses without the user having to be aware of that change in order to continue using the service;

  • The assurance that the machines and their names are managed hierarchically and distributed with the global Root Server at the top of the hierarchy and with the information distributed throughout thousands of existing name servers on the Internet, a key factor to its success as a global network, as it is not necessary to contact a central entity whenever a change is made or new devices are added on the internet.