What is the role of the Domain Name System (DNS) in networking?

The role of the Domain Name System (DNS) in networking is fundamentally to translate human-readable domain names, like www.example.com, into numerical IP addresses that computers use to identify each other on the network. This process is essential because while humans find it easier to remember and type in these domain names, the underlying internet infrastructure relies on IP addresses for routing data between devices.

By resolving a domain name into an IP address, DNS enables browsers to locate and connect to web servers. For instance, when you enter a web address in your browser, a DNS query is made to find out the corresponding IP address of that server. This function is crucial for the seamless navigation of the internet, as it allows users to access websites without needing to memorize complex numeric addresses.

The other options do not accurately describe the primary function of DNS. Assigning IP addresses to devices is the role of DHCP, while providing security certificates is related more to SSL/TLS protocols. Managing network traffic typically involves routing protocols and is not a function of DNS. Thus, translating domain names into IP addresses is the correct description of DNS’s role in networking.