Which protocol is primarily used for resolving domain names into IP addresses?

The protocol that is primarily used for resolving domain names into IP addresses is the Domain Name System (DNS). When a user types a domain name, such as www.example.com, into a web browser, the browser relies on DNS to translate that human-readable name into an IP address, which is required to locate resources on the internet.

DNS functions by using a hierarchical system of servers that can handle this resolution process efficiently. It resolves domain names by querying various DNS servers and returning the corresponding IP address to the client, allowing it to establish a connection with the desired web server. This essential function makes DNS critical for the usability of the internet, as it allows users to remember easily understandable domain names instead of difficult-to-remember numerical IP addresses.

In contrast, other protocols listed serve different purposes. SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) is used for sending email messages between servers. DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) is responsible for dynamically assigning IP addresses to devices on a network, allowing them to communicate on the local network. ARP (Address Resolution Protocol) resolves IPv4 addresses to MAC (Media Access Control) addresses within a local network, which is a different function altogether. These distinctions highlight why DNS is specifically the protocol needed for the task of resolving domain names