What is the role of a domain name?

A domain name serves as a human-readable address for accessing websites, which is essential for navigating the internet. Each website is associated with a unique numeric IP address, which computers use to communicate with one another. However, these numerical addresses can be challenging for users to remember. The domain name system (DNS) was created to resolve this issue by translating the numeric addresses into easily recognizable names, such as www.example.com. This functionality allows users to type in a simple name instead of having to remember a complex string of numbers, thus enhancing the overall usability of the web.

While cloud storage, web content optimization, and hosting online applications are important aspects of web services, they do not define the primary purpose of a domain name. Instead, those roles involve various aspects of internet functionality that operate behind the scenes or in conjunction with websites but are not directly related to what a domain name is designed for.