What protocol is responsible for translating domain names into IP addresses?

The correct answer is DNS, which stands for Domain Name System. This protocol is essential for the functioning of the internet as it translates user-friendly domain names, such as www.example.com, into IP addresses that computers use to identify each other on the network. Since humans find it easier to remember names rather than numerical addresses, DNS plays a crucial role in facilitating user access to websites.

When a user enters a domain name in a web browser, the DNS resolves that name by querying its database to find the corresponding IP address, allowing the browser to connect to the correct web server. This process enables seamless communication over the internet and is fundamental for applications that rely on domain names.

Other protocols listed serve different purposes: SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) is used for sending emails; HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) is the foundation of data communication in the World Wide Web, responsible for transferring web pages; and FTP (File Transfer Protocol) is used for transferring files between computers on a network. While they are all important in their contexts, none serve the function of translating domain names into IP addresses as DNS does.