Paul Mockapetris

Paul Mockapetris is an American computer scientist best known for developing the Domain Name System (DNS) in the 1980s. DNS is crucial for the internet, as it translates user-friendly domain names (like www.example.com) into numerical IP addresses that computers use to identify each other on the network. This system makes it easier for people to navigate the web without needing to remember complex numerical addresses. Mockapetris's work laid the foundation for the modern internet, significantly enhancing how we access and interact with online resources. His contributions continue to impact the functioning of the internet today.