The Domain Name System is a hierarchical, distributed naming system for computers, services, or any other resource connected to the internet or a private network. Whenever you need your browser to locate and connect to a computer service or device, the DNS works behind the scenes to translate an easily-memorized domain name into the numerical Internet Protocol (IP) address for that resource. You could think of the DNS as the internet’s phone book: It was created to enable people to easily identify by name all devices and services connected to the internet.