Network foundations · Lesson 1 of 5
From a name to a destination
The Domain Name System, or DNS, helps applications find information associated with a domain name. A common use is resolving a website name to an IP address.
A name becomes a destination
Simplified lookup for the fictional name training.example.
- Your device
Asks for an address associated with training.example.
- Recursive resolver
Uses a valid cached answer or asks DNS servers.
- Address returned
Example answer: 192.0.2.40. Your device can then attempt a connection.
Read the visualDoes getting an address mean the website is trustworthy?
No. DNS resolution finds records associated with a name. It does not endorse the site or its requests.
Names and addresses are different
A domain is a human-friendly name. An IP address identifies an endpoint in the network addressing system.
Resolvers do the lookup
A recursive resolver can ask other DNS servers for an answer, then cache that answer for a limited period.
A result is not a trust decision
Finding an address does not establish that a website or its content is safe.
Put it in context
You enter training.example. Your browser needs an address before connecting. A cached answer may save another lookup, but it does not tell you whether the training is legitimate.
DNS helps you find a destination. It does not decide whether you should trust it.
Read the sources
Make it stick.
Try one short question to check your understanding and save this lesson to your progress.