DNS (Domain Name System) translates domain names (like example.com) into IP addresses, allowing users to access websites easily. It involves four servers: recursive resolver, root nameserver, TLD nameserver, and authoritative nameserver. DNS lookups typically involve 8 steps, with caching improving speed by storing past queries. Recursive queries require the resolver to find records, while iterative queries allow servers to provide referrals. DNS caching occurs at the browser and OS levels, enhancing performance.
