DNS and ICANN
Domain Name System and Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers
A domain name is the address that a users types in that will direct them to any website. Some recognizable examples of domain names are google.com or amazon.com. A domain name can be any combination of letters and numbers followed by any extension, like .com, .net, and more. The DNS or also known as Domain Name System is responsible for associating domain names like www.google.com with their corresponding IP addresses. The computer uses the DNS to look up domain names and get the IP address, which is then used to connect it to its destination on the internet. One main DNS server is not enough, so they are connected in a distributed hierarchy divided into zones. The zones are split up and overlook major domains like .com, .org, and .net. Since the DNS was originally made to be an open public communication protocol, it is prone to cyber attacks, like spoofing.
Why are domain names and DNS important?
Without the domain name, IP addresses are the only other thing associated with websites. Because the IP addresses are a series of numbers, Internet users will have a hard time remembering these numbers. Domain names make it easier to identify things on the Internet instead of IP addresses. Each website has their own IP addresses that most Internet users never notice or disregard. Luckily, the DNS connects the domain names with the address. Without the DNS, users would have to memorize each unique IP addresses for each domain.
What is the ICANN?
ICANN is an abbreviation for the organization Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers. ICANN is an organized non-profit corporation that handles the upkeep and many procedures of dataspaces, both name and number, on the Internet. They do not control the Internet; their focus it so simple maintain the Internet Protocol and the DNS.
Why is the ICANN important?
Through everything they do, the ICANN provides Internet users a safe and secure connection to the network. They continually make sure that the network is stable and operational.
