public:learn:dns
What is DNS?
DNS (Domain Name System) is the internet's phone book. It turns names like grafana.example.com into IP addresses so browsers know where to connect.
How a lookup works (simplified)
- Your device asks a resolver (often your router or a local DNS server)
- The resolver finds the authoritative answer (or caches a recent one)
- Your app connects to the returned IP
Record types you'll see
| Type | Purpose |
|---|---|
| A | Name → IPv4 address |
| CNAME | Alias → another name |
| TXT | Metadata (email verification, etc.) |
At home: a local DNS server (e.g. Pi-hole) can block ads and map custom names like server.home.lan to local machines. On the public internet: services like Cloudflare publish how the world reaches your domain.
Analogy: DNS is contacts in your phone — you tap a name, the phone dials the number.
public/learn/dns.txt · Last modified: by 127.0.0.1