DNS

Abbreviation with 2 meanings

DNS
Stands forDomain Name System
Meanings2
CategoriesTechnology & Computing, Sports

DNS has two meanings. It stands for Domain Name System (networking) or Did not start (other sports).

Meanings of DNS at a glance

#DNS stands forContext
1Domain Name SystemTechnology & Computing › Networking
2Did not startSports › Other Sports

1. Domain Name System

Technology & Computing · Networking Abbreviations

The internet's distributed directory that translates names such as example.com into IP addresses. A resolver, usually run by an ISP or a public service such as 1.1.1.1 or 8.8.8.8, queries root, top-level-domain and authoritative name servers in turn and caches each answer for the period set by the record's TTL.

Example: The site was down for an hour because a DNS change pointed the domain at the old server.

Invented by Paul Mockapetris in 1983 (RFCs 882 and 883) to replace a single HOSTS.TXT file that every computer downloaded from the Stanford Research Institute. DNS normally uses port 53 over UDP and TCP. Sometimes expanded as Domain Name Server or Domain Name Service; strictly, the system is the Domain Name System and the machines are name servers. Changes do not appear everywhere at once because cached answers persist until their TTL expires, a delay usually called "DNS propagation".

2. Did not start

Sports · Other Sports Abbreviations

Result code for an entrant who was registered or qualified but did not begin the race or event, usually because of illness, injury or a late withdrawal.

Example: Results: Lane 4, DNS; the favorite withdrew with a hamstring strain.

Distinguished from DNF, which means the athlete started but did not finish. In multi-event competitions such as the decathlon, a DNS in one event ends the athlete's overall result. Motorsport results list cars that failed to take the start as DNS.

More networking abbreviations

  • CSMA/CD – Carrier-sense multiple access with collision detection
  • DDNS – Dynamic DNS
  • DHCP – Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol
  • DMZ – Demilitarized zone
  • DNSSEC – Domain Name System Security Extensions
  • DoH – DNS over HTTPS
  • DoT – DNS over TLS
  • EIGRP – Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol

See all 113 networking abbreviations →

More other sports abbreviations

  • BQ – Boston qualifier
  • DF – Double fault
  • DNF – Did not finish
  • DNQ – Did not qualify
  • DQ – Disqualified
  • DRS – Decision Review System
  • FIR – Fairways in regulation
  • GC – General classification

See all 63 other sports abbreviations →