DNS, or the Domain Name System, operates at the application layer of the OSI model, also known as Layer 7. This layer is responsible for providing services to users and applications, and DNS plays a vital role in translating human-readable domain names into machine-readable IP addresses.
Here's why DNS is considered an application layer protocol:
- Functionality: DNS primarily focuses on resolving domain names, a process that requires higher-level logic and interaction with other applications.
- Protocol Interactions: DNS often collaborates with other application layer protocols like HTTP, SMTP, and FTP to facilitate network communication.
While DNS operates at the application layer, its functionality relies on lower layers for data transmission and network connectivity.
