What does DNS stand for in the context of Internet protocols?

The correct answer is Domain Name Service. In the context of Internet protocols, DNS is a fundamental system that translates human-readable domain names, like www.example.com, into numerical IP addresses that computers use to identify each other on the network. This translation is crucial because while humans find it easier to remember names, computers can only communicate using numerical addresses.

The DNS operates like a phone book for the Internet, enabling users to access websites without needing to memorize complicated strings of numbers. It is an essential component of the Internet's infrastructure, ensuring efficient routing and accessibility for online resources.

Understanding the role of DNS helps clarify how the Internet functions at a basic level, making it a key concept in computer networking and Internet technology. The other options do not correctly define the system utilized for resolving domain names into IP addresses, which is why they are not the right choice.