What is a key characteristic of the Domain Name System?

One of the fundamental characteristics of the Domain Name System (DNS) is its ability to resolve host names to IP addresses. This functionality is crucial because it allows users to access websites and other online resources using human-readable names (such as www.example.com) instead of having to remember numerical IP addresses (such as 192.0.2.1). The DNS acts as a directory service for the internet, translating these easy-to-remember domain names into the corresponding IP addresses that computers use to identify each other on the network.

The design of the DNS incorporates a hierarchical structure that facilitates efficient querying and resource location, enabling seamless navigation across the internet. This characteristic highlights the practicality and user-friendliness of the internet, making it accessible to non-technical users.