The age of the internet has given rise to endless possibilities but has also created massive confusion between many of the new terms that have been rolled out.
In the worldwide web, these two terms are often brought up here and there.
So, in simple terms, a domain name is the name that the user puts in to reach a specific IP address.
Now, DNS’s full form is Domain Name System, and as the name suggests, it helps the user get to a specific IP address on the basis of the domain name that he has put in first.
To further make it clear enough, here’s an example for you. DNS is like a dictionary or a phonebook.
Whereas, a domain name is a keyword that helps you get to the meaning of that word or that phone no. that you are trying to get at.
Key Takeaways
- A domain name is an alphanumeric identifier that represents an internet protocol (IP) address, while DNS is a system that translates domain names to IP addresses.
- The primary function of a domain name is to provide an easy-to-remember identity for a website. At the same time, DNS enables the internet to function seamlessly by resolving domain names into IP addresses.
- While a domain name is registered with a domain registrar, DNS operates through a network of servers that maintain a database of IP addresses and domain names, allowing them to communicate.
Domain Name vs DNS
The difference between Domain name and DNS is that domain name is basically the user puts in the search bar of a browser so that we can reach that specific webpage.
DNS is nothing else but a system that recognizes this domain name and translates it to the machine which understands the command.
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Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | Domain Name | DNS |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | A domain name is a registered name in DNS. | Acts as a phonebook for translating the human hostnames to the internet addresses. |
| On the basis of Convenience | Easy to remember and thus user-friendly. | Difficult for an average user to understand the machine language. |
| On the basis of practicality | It is more practical for the user. | It is not practical for the user. |
| On the basis of time | It’s a shortcut and hence saves up a lot of your valuable time. | It’s time-consuming for the user if they do the job of a DNS on their own. |
| On the basis of functionality | Smaller process. | Very lengthy process. |
| Examples | amazon.com hostinger.com google.com myntra.com | 192.0.2.44 100.90.80.70 |
What is a Domain Name?
A domain name is a shortcut that we use to get to the specific web address that we want to. Domain name primarily consists of two things.
One is the website’s name, such as askanydifference.com, and the extension followed by that name such as .com or .org and the list goes on.
So, when the user types in the search bar, the domain name, such as askanydifference.com in this example.
Then, based on that name DNS also known as Domain Name System picks up the domain name to locate the respective IP address and load the required web page.
A website needs a web server and a domain name to exist and function. So, it goes without saying that a domain name plays a very pivotal role in a website.
If domain names didn’t exist, then the users had to put in the whole IP address to reach a specific webpage.
This not only makes it a herculean task for the user but also would’ve discouraged and diminished the online presence of many. After all, convenience wins the heart of many consumers.
What is DNS?
It helps the machine understand the human put domain names, and eventually converting them into readable IP addresses which takes one to the desired webpage.
In layman’s terms, DNS is a guide which routes you to the location where you want to reach.
It’s like an encyclopedia that has the explanation of multiple things. When a user puts in a request for reaching a particular web page by typing in a domain name, then this is called a query in technical terms.
To breakdown, the process of DNS, here are few steps in sequential order that will help you understand it even better. So, without any further ado, let’s get started:
- You type a domain name and press enter. For e.g: askanydifference.com, amazon.com, google.com, flipkart.com.
- This request is automatically routed to a DNS resolver.
- Now, this request is routed to a DNS route name server.
- Now, the ISP DNS resolver routes the request to the TLD server for .com domains.
- The process goes on and on till the machine understands exactly where to take you.
Main Differences Between Domain name and DNS
- A domain name is the name of the website along with its respective suffix.
- DNS is the system that caters to the client’s query by diverting them to the webpage they wish to load on their screen.
- It’s very easy to type in a domain name in the search bar.
- Definitely, not an easy job to remember or to find the exact IP address on your own and type it in the search bar.
- DNS acts as an intermediary between the user’s input and the machine.
- Whereas, a domain name is simply the codeword that triggers the DNS to come into action and get the things going.
- https://www.usenix.org/legacy/event/usenix02/full_papers/mao/mao.pdf
- https://dl.acm.org/doi/abs/10.1145/52324.52338
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Sandeep Bhandari holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Computers from Thapar University (2006). He has 20 years of experience in the technology field. He has a keen interest in various technical fields, including database systems, computer networks, and programming. You can read more about him on his bio page.
