How does DNS assist internet users?

The correct answer highlights the critical role of DNS, or Domain Name System, in translating human-friendly domain names (like www.example.com) into IP addresses that computers use to identify each other on the network. This matching process allows users to access websites easily without having to remember complex numerical IP addresses.

When a user types a URL into their browser, the DNS system processes this request by looking up the corresponding IP address associated with that specific domain. This makes the internet much more user-friendly, as it allows people to utilize easy-to-remember names instead of needing to recall the numeric format of an IP address. Furthermore, DNS is essential for the seamless functioning of the internet, enabling smooth navigation and connectivity.

Other options, while related to web functionality, do not accurately define the specific role of DNS. For instance, assigning IP addresses for websites is the responsibility of internet registries and not a direct function of DNS. Encrypting web traffic pertains to security protocols like HTTPS, and improving browsing speed might involve various aspects of web optimization and caching, but is not a core function of DNS itself.