DNS stands for Domain Name Server. It is the technology that translates a domain name (eg. yahoo.com ) into an IP address (eg. 69.41.248.20 ). Computers talk to each other via IP addresses. Unfortunately it is very difficult for humans to remember IP addresses. It is much easier to remember yahoo.com for example, than it is to remember 66.218.71.112. That is where DNS comes in.

When you type a web site address into your browser's address bar, the browser will pass the domain name part of the address to a DNS server. The DNS server will then lookup the domain to find the IP address associated with that domain, and pass it back to the browser. Your browser then locates and connects to the web site using the IP address.

A simple analogy is a phone number. Someone who knows your name (domain), but not your phone number (IP address), won't be able to call you until they look up your phone number in a telephone book (DNS).

It is therefore very important that you specify the right DNS server(s) for your domain. Most, if not all, registrars provide a way for you to change your DNS servers online through their web site, or you can call their support department to do it for you.

See the FAQ for more information on which name servers to use for your web site. For a more in-depth explanation of DNS, visit this link :

http://computer.howstuffworks.com/dns.htm