DNS

How it is used

Spelled out letter by letter. Engineers talk about DNS servers, DNS records, DNS lookups and name resolution. When a website doesn't open by name but works by IP address, DNS is the usual suspect, which is why engineers joke that 'it's always DNS'.

Example sentences

1. Users can reach the portal by IP address but not by name, so let's check DNS.

2. We changed the DNS record last night, but some offices are still seeing the old address.

Common collocations

• DNS server
• DNS record
• DNS lookup
• DNS resolution
• DNS propagation

Related terms

• IP addressA unique numerical label given to every device on an IP network so that data can be sent to it, for example 192.168.1.20 in IPv4.
• DHCPShort for Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol: a protocol that automatically gives devices an IP address, subnet mask, default gateway and DNS servers when they join a network.
• protocolA set of agreed rules that defines how devices format, send, receive and check data, so that equipment from different vendors can talk to each other.
• UDPShort for User Datagram Protocol: a simple, fast protocol that sends data without setting up a connection and without checking whether it arrived; used for voice, video, DNS and gaming.
• hostAny device on a network that has an IP address and sends or receives data, such as a computer, server, phone or printer.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

• DNS · Software Engineering
• DNS · Web Development
• DNS · Cloud Computing & DevOps

More terms: Protocols and Services

• TCP/IP
• TCP
• ARP
• ICMP