Which service resolves domain names to IP addresses?

The service that resolves domain names to IP addresses is the Domain Name System (DNS). DNS acts like an address book for the internet, converting user-friendly domain names (like www.example.com) into numerical IP addresses (such as 192.0.2.1) that computers use to identify each other on the network. This translation is essential because, while humans prefer to use easy-to-remember domain names, machines communicate via IP addresses.

When a user enters a domain name in their web browser, a DNS request is initiated to find the corresponding IP address needed to locate the desired resource on the internet. This process allows for smooth navigation and access to web services without requiring users to remember complex numerical addresses.

Understanding the function of DNS is crucial for networking, as it plays a vital role in the usability and functionality of the internet and other networks. Other services mentioned in the question, like DHCP, NTP, or HTTP, serve different purposes: DHCP assigns dynamic IP addresses to devices on a network, NTP synchronizes clocks across network devices, and HTTP is the protocol used for transmitting web pages. Each of these services is key to networking, but they do not perform the specific role of resolving domain names to IP addresses like DNS does.