What is the function of DNS in networking?

The function of DNS, or Domain Name System, in networking is to translate human-readable domain names, such as www.example.com, into machine-readable IP addresses, such as 192.0.2.1. This translation is essential because while users prefer easy-to-remember domain names, computers communicate using numerical IP addresses. When a user types a domain name into a web browser, the DNS system queries a distributed database to find the corresponding IP address, allowing the browser to connect to the desired server hosting that website. This process is critical for navigating the internet, ensuring that users can access websites and services with ease without needing to remember complex numerical addresses.

Other options, like secure data transmissions, monitoring network traffic, and assigning MAC addresses, cover different aspects of networking but do not accurately describe the primary role of DNS, which centers around the conversion of domain names to IP addresses for efficient network communication.