AP® Cybersecurity glossary

Domain name system (DNS)

Also called: DNS

The system that translates domain names into internet protocol (IP) addresses, using DNS servers, authoritative name servers and DNS records.

Appears in the course and exam description (CED): 3.1.A.33.5.E.5

Why it matters in Unit 3

Devices trust DNS answers without checking them, which DNS poisoning exploits.

Example

A laptop asks its DNS server for school.example. The DNS server gets the record 198.51.100.20 from the authoritative name server and passes it on.

Learn it properly, with a checkpoint Addresses: MAC, IP, ARP, DNS and ICMP

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