A name server refers to the server component of the Domain Name System (DNS). The most important function of DNS servers is the translation of human-readable domain names and hostnames into corresponding unique IP addresses.
Although it’s typically used about the DNS, it may also from time to time be used in computer applications that implement a network service.
A simple way to imagine what name servers are is using the analogy of a phonebook. The phonebook has the names and numbers of all people within a certain region. It makes it possible for anyone to call someone else without having to memorize the telephone.
Likewise, the DNS contains the domain names and IP addresses of websites on the Internet.
Why Are Name Servers Important?
Because name servers help browsers to make the connection between a URL and a website, they are incredibly important for the proper functioning of the Internet. In other words, if it weren’t for name servers, everyone would have to memorize the IP addresses of their favorite websites to access these.
Likewise, email uses DNS to resolve the IP address from the domain name in the email address.
For this reason, name servers are important when businesses create a new website. In simple terms, businesses want people to be able to find their website on the Internet, and name servers help people with this process.
To do this, a business must point their domain name to their web hosting platform using its name servers.
It could also happen that a business decides to change web hosting companies and will then have to point their domain name to the name servers at the new hosting provider.
It could also happen that a business decides to change web hosting companies and will then have to point their domain name to the name servers at the new hosting provider.
How Do Name Servers Work With DNS?
When the user types a URL into the address bar of their browser, their computer uses DNS to retrieve the current name servers for that website. The computer then asks the name servers for the A record for the website.
The name servers then respond with the IP address for that website. The computer then sends a request to that IP address along with the page that the user is requesting. The web server which holds the website then responds and sends the requested page to the web browser.
