ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Internet Storage Name Service

Imagine you have a big box where you keep all of your toys, but you don't remember where each toy is located inside the box. That's where your mom comes in. She knows where each toy is and helps you find them whenever you need them.

Similarly, on the internet, there are many websites and files stored on different computers around the world. The internet storage name service, also known as DNS, is like your mom helping you find your toys.

When you want to visit a website, like www.google.com, you type the address into your computer or phone. But your device doesn't know where to find that website on the internet. That's where DNS comes in.

DNS is a service that helps your device find the right computer that stores the website or file you want to access. It does this by translating the website address into a numerical address that computers can understand. This numerical address is a series of numbers separated by dots called an IP address.

Instead of asking your mom where your toys are located, your device asks DNS where to find the website you're looking for and it gives your device the IP address for that website. Your device then uses that IP address to connect to the computer that stores the website or file you want to access.

So, in summary, DNS is like your mom helping you find your toys by translating a website address into a numerical address so your device can connect to the computer that stores the website or file you want to access.