Imagine if you had to remember a unique number every time you wanted to visit a website. Instead of typing ranjan.info, you’d need to remember something like 93.184.216.34.
That would be overwhelming, right?
Thankfully, the Domain Name System (DNS) handles that complexity for us — quietly, efficiently, and almost instantly.
Let’s break it down in simple terms.
📘 What is DNS?
DNS stands for Domain Name System.
Think of it as the phonebook of the internet. Just like you look up a person’s name to find their phone number, your browser uses DNS to find the IP address behind a website’s name.
So when you type www.ranjan.info in your browser, your computer says:
“Hey DNS, what’s the IP address of ranjan.info?”
And DNS responds with the server address (e.g., 93.184.216.34), so your browser can go fetch the website.
🧭 Why is DNS Important?
DNS does a lot more than just save us from memorizing numbers. Here’s why it matters:
1. Makes the Web Usable
Without DNS, you’d have to type IP addresses directly. DNS makes browsing intuitive and human-friendly.
2. Enables Website Flexibility
Website owners can change their server IPs without affecting visitors. As long as the DNS records are updated, users can keep using the same domain.
3. Supports Scalability
Big websites (like Google or Netflix) use multiple servers worldwide. DNS helps direct users to the nearest or fastest server automatically.
4. Helps with Email and Services
DNS doesn’t just help with websites. It also routes emails, subdomains, and other services correctly by using special records (like MX, CNAME, TXT).
🔄 How DNS Works – Step by Step
Here’s what happens behind the scenes when you type a domain like ranjan.info:
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Your browser checks if it already knows the IP (from cache).
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If not, it asks your local DNS resolver (usually from your ISP).
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That resolver queries a root DNS server to start the search.
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The root server points it to a TLD server (like
.info). -
The TLD server points it to the authoritative server for
ranjan.info. -
That server replies with the actual IP address.
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Your browser uses the IP to load the website.
All this happens in milliseconds.
🛡️ DNS and Security
Modern DNS also includes technologies like:
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DNSSEC (DNS Security Extensions) to prevent tampering
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DNS over HTTPS (DoH) or DNS over TLS (DoT) for encrypted DNS lookups
These upgrades help protect users from spoofing and spying.
⚙️ In Simple Words…
DNS is what lets us use the internet by name instead of numbers.
It’s invisible to most people, but absolutely essential to everything we do online — from visiting websites to sending emails.
Next time you load ranjan.info, just remember: DNS is silently doing its job to make that possible.