How do domain names work?

Domain names function as a navigation system for the internet by associating easy-to-remember addresses with the IP addresses used by computers to talk to one another. When you type a domain name into your browser, a request is sent to a Domain Name System (DNS) server. The DNS server looks up the IP address linked to the domain name and returns it to your web browser. The browser then uses the IP address to connect to the web server hosting the website and requests the content of the website. This process makes it simpler for users to access websites without needing to memorize numerical IP addresses.

Suppose you want to visit the website www.example.com. When you type the domain name into your browser, it sends a request to a DNS server to resolve the domain name. The DNS server finds the associated IP address (e.g. 192.0.2.123) and returns it to your browser. Your browser then connects to the web server located at 192.0.2.123 and requests the content of the website. Finally, the web server sends the content back to your browser, which displays the webpage for you.

Consider a domain name as the title of a book in a library. The title makes it simple for readers to find and identify the book they want to read. The library's catalog system serves as the DNS server, associating the book titles with their physical locations (i.e., the IP address) on the library shelves. When readers search for a book, they use the catalog to find its location and then retrieve the book from the designated shelf. In the same way, domain names simplify internet navigation by associating memorable website addresses with the IP addresses that computers use to communicate.