What is the primary function of the Domain Name System (DNS)?

The primary function of the Domain Name System (DNS) is to resolve domain names to IP addresses. This process is crucial for the functioning of the Internet, as it allows users to access websites using easily memorable domain names rather than having to remember numerical IP addresses, which are not user-friendly. When a user types a domain name into a web browser, DNS translates that name into the corresponding IP address of the server hosting the website. This translation process enables the browser to locate and connect to the desired website or resource on the Internet.

In addition to its primary function, DNS plays a role in load balancing and redundancy by providing multiple IP addresses for a single domain name. However, its core purpose remains the resolution of human-readable names into machine-readable addresses, facilitating communication over networks.