Tag Archives: Internet Protocol

How does a domain name work?

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To understand why you need a domain name you first need to know how a domain name works.
A domain name is an addressing construct, used for finding and identifying computers on the Internet. Computers use Internet Protocol (IP) Addresses, which are a series of numbers used to identify each other on the Internet; however, many people find it hard to remember IP Addresses.

Because of this, domain names were developed so that easily remembered names and phrases could be used to identify entities in the Internet instead of using an IP Address.

For example, the domain name M6.net identifies the company M6.net. When a user types the domain name M6.net in their browser or sends an email to M6.net, the Domain Name System (DNS) will translate the domain name into IP numbers. These are then used by the Internet to connect the user to M6.net’s web presence.

What is DNS?

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This is a question I’m often asked, so here’s my attempt to explain DNS without getting too technical…

DNS stands for the Domain Name System which is an essential element in the system which makes it possible for Internet users to find their way from site to site.

Every computer connected to the Internet has a unique number – somewhat similar to a telephone number. Each of these numbers is referred to as an “IP Address”, the “IP” standing for “Internet Protocol”.

You know that it’s hard to remember every one of your friends’ telephone numbers. So soon after the World Wide Web was born someone had the bright idea of adding a bit of cosmetic in order to make remembering the IP Addresses much easier.

That bit of cosmetic is the Domain Name.

Remembering names is so much easier than numbers.

For example, having to remember 66.102.9.104 would be a real bore. So much simpler this way:
google.com

Every time you point your browser to a web site or click a link, or send an email message, the domain name system works hard behind the scenes translating the name into the correct IP address. This is called “resolving the domain name.”