What role does the Domain Name System (DNS) serve?

The Domain Name System (DNS) primarily serves the crucial function of translating human-readable domain names into machine-readable IP addresses. When a user types a web address into their browser, such as www.example.com, the DNS resolves that name to a corresponding IP address (like 192.0.2.1) that is used by the internet to locate the specific server hosting the website. This translation is essential because, while humans find it easier to remember and work with names, computers communicate using numerical IP addresses. The efficient functioning of DNS facilitates web browsing and other internet services by enabling quick and accessible connections to websites and resources across the network.

The other options pertain to different aspects of internet services. Website hosting services involve storing websites on servers and making them accessible on the internet. Managing users' data usually relates to data privacy and storage, which is separate from the core function of DNS. Lastly, securing online transactions involves encryption and security protocols, which do not fall within the purview of what DNS is designed to do.