# What Is the Domain Name System?  ## Metadata - Author: [[Boot.dev]] - Full Title: What Is the Domain Name System? - Category: #articles - Summary: The Domain Name System (DNS) acts like the internet's phonebook, translating easy-to-read domain names into IP addresses for computers. ICANN manages DNS, ensuring that domain records are accessible through root nameservers. In simple terms, DNS helps users find websites by linking human-friendly names to computer-friendly addresses. - URL: https://www.boot.dev/lessons/c2f99380-1ba7-4298-96f8-c58bd5e6fc2e ## Highlights - [ICANN](https://www.icann.org/) is a not-for-profit organization that manages DNS for the entire internet. Whenever your computer attempts to resolve a domain name, it contacts one of ICANN's ["root nameservers"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Root_name_server) whose address is included in your computer's networking configuration. From there, that nameserver can gather the domain records for a specific domain name from their distributed DNS database. If you think of DNS as a phonebook, ICANN is the publisher that keeps the phonebook in print and available. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01jvqpm1x0kap9acrp1vtyye0m))