# What is Nameservers?

It is a phone book that converts website names used by people into numerical addresses that computers understand.

## Overview
Every website on the Internet actually has a numerical equivalent called an IP address. Nameserver, when you type a name in your browser, directs this name to the relevant IP address, allowing you to reach the correct server. This is the internet's address book system.

*Analogy: It's like looking up a friend's name in the phone book and finding their real number; You know the name, the system finds the number.*

## How it works
When you type a web address, your computer asks the nameservers: What is the numeric address of this name? The nameserver returns the response and your browser connects to that address.

## Where it is used
It is located centrally in domain name settings and internet service providers' infrastructures.

## Commonly confused with
It can be confused with hosting; hosting is where your site's files are stored, and nameserver is the path to get there.

## Frequently asked questions
**What does changing nameserver settings do?**
Usually when you move your website to a different server, you update these settings so that traffic goes to the new location.

**What happens if the nameserver crashes?**
You cannot access websites by name because your internet browser cannot find where the site is located.


## Related terms
- [DNS Tunneling](/en/dictionary/dns-tunneling/)
- [Networking Stack](/en/dictionary/networking-stack/)
- [Gateway](/en/dictionary/gateway/)

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Source: TreScout Dictionary · https://trescout.com/en/dictionary/nameservers/