DNS

DNS (Domain Name System) is a global distributed database that translates human-readable names (e.g. gmail.com) into computer-readable IP addresses (e.g. 142.250.185.165). Briefly about the main points:; It's a hierarchy: A request goes from the 'root' (.) to/through the domain zone (.com) to a specific domain owner (google.com).; It's a balancing tool: As you noticed in Wireshark, DNS is the first echelon of load balancing. It gives you different IP addresses of the same service to direct you to a less loaded or closest 'entrance' (balancer).; It's a caching system: To avoid running to the 'roots' of the internet with every click, IP addresses are remembered everywhere: in the browser, in Windows/Linux, in the router, and at your provider.; This is just a 'navigator': DNS only tells you where to go. The data itself (Gmail messages) is transferred directly between your device and the IP address assigned by DNS. A simple analogy: DNS is like a contact book on a smartphone. You tap the name 'Mom', and the phone knows that behind this name is a long, complex number, which you should actually call.