What system is responsible for mapping hierarchical names to specific Internet addresses?

The Domain Name System (DNS) is the system that plays a crucial role in translating hierarchical names, such as website URLs, into specific Internet Protocol (IP) addresses that computers use to identify each other on the network. When a user enters a website address into their browser, the DNS serves as a directory that resolves this human-readable name into an IP address, allowing the browser to locate the server hosting the website.

DNS operates in a hierarchical structure, where domains can have subdomains, facilitating organized and easy navigation of the vast number of resources available on the Internet. This functionality is essential for the usability and accessibility of the Internet, as it allows users to remember simple and descriptive names rather than complex numerical addresses.

Other systems mentioned, like the Internet Protocol (IP), focus on the transmission of data packets across networks. The Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) is mainly responsible for dynamically assigning IP addresses to devices on a network. The File Transfer Protocol (FTP) is used for transferring files over the Internet but does not engage in the process of mapping domain names to IP addresses. Therefore, DNS is the definitive system responsible for this critical function in Internet navigation.