What does DNS stand for in networking?

The term DNS stands for Domain Name System, which is a fundamental component of the internet's functionality. It serves as a directory that translates human-friendly domain names, like www.example.com, into machine-readable IP addresses, such as 192.0.2.1. This translation is essential because while humans prefer easily memorable names, computers and networking devices communicate using numeric IP addresses.

The Domain Name System plays a critical role in enabling the accessibility and usability of the internet. When you enter a web address in your browser, the DNS is responsible for resolving that address into an IP address, allowing your computer to locate the server hosting the website and establish a connection.

Understanding this process is crucial for network administration and management, as DNS issues can lead to website inaccessibility and other network problems. The other terms presented do not accurately represent what DNS is or its function in networking.