Domain Name System (DNS) is a hierarchical naming system that maps domain names to IP addresses. DNS maintains the domain namespace and provides translation between domain names and IP addresses using DNS name servers and a communication protocol. DNS refers to the data query service, system of mapping names to IP addresses hierarchically, and DNS servers that translate host names to IP addresses. Before DNS was invented, host name to IP address mappings were stored in a file. DNS was developed in the 1980s and the dominant DNS software, BIND, was introduced. Security vulnerabilities include cache poisoning, client flooding, and dynamic update vulnerabilities. Efforts are made to improve DNS security.