Domain Name System (DNS)

Abstract

Every device connected to the Internet has a unique address – just like a telephone number – which is a long string of numbers called IP addresses (IP stands for “Internet Protocol”) that are hard to remember. Domain names were created to make it easier to remember and type the address in a browser. So, instead of typing the IP address 66.116.138.39 in your browser, you can type domainmart.com. Ensuring a wide adoption of the mapping of a domain name to its IP address requires secure storage facilities and an efficient mechanism to retrieve the information. To that effect, the management of this system (i.e., DNS) has been delegated to a single entity, ICANN, but not without a controversy.