The Domain Name System, or DNS, is a fundamental component of the internet that translates human-friendly domain names, like www.example.com, into IP addresses, which computers use to identify each other on the network. This process allows users to access websites without needing to remember complex numerical addresses. DNS operates through a hierarchical structure, consisting of various types of records that provide information about domain names. These records include A records for IPv4 addresses, AAAA records for IPv6 addresses, and CNAME records for aliasing. By efficiently managing these translations, DNS plays a crucial role in the functionality of the internet.