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🍵 Introduction
In this blog post, we’ll delve into naming systems across Web2 and Web3, more specifically we compare the similarities and differences between DNS (Domain Name System) and PNS (PulseChain Name Service).
📟 What’s DNS?
DNS (Domain Name System) is the current domain naming system used for everyday websites like Facebook, Amazon or Google. Everything on the internet has an IP address, from your laptop to the server that hosts information for your favorite website. DNS helps translate legible domain names into IP addresses. Instead of typing in or remembering an IP address, you can simply type in a domain name to access a website. DNS has two main benefits:
- Security: Easier to remember domains means fewer typos that take you to the wrong website
- Speed: Easier to remember domains means typing in website names and reaching the website quicker
💻 What’s PNS?
PNS (PulseChain Naming Service) is the Web3 version of DNS. In the world of crypto, everyone has a wallet address. Addresses can be difficult to remember and type. If you want to send your friend crypto or move your crypto off an exchange into your wallet, you have to type in a string of alphanumerical letters. PNS helps make crypto addresses on the PulseChain Blockchain a lot easier to remember and type. Instead of remembering a crypto address, you can buy the PNS domain and type that in instead. PNS has the same benefits as DNS:
- Security: Lower chance of messing up an address and losing your crypto
- Speed: Type your address in faster which improves the speed of making Web 3 transactions
- Marketing: Companies signal that they are embracing Web 3. By having a .pls address, you signal your bullish sentiment on the space.
🌱 Comparing the Two
Both PNS and DNS simplify a complex online address, whether it’s an IP address or crypto wallet address, into a simple, legible name.
- PNS simplifies your crypto address into a yourname.pls instead of something like 0x014875y31r4189f678954q718rfrw9574813f
- DNS simplifies a website URL into a www.yourwebsite.com instead of something like 198.06.218.21
Differences:
- PNS is decentralized, whereas DNS services are often centralized.
- With PNS, you have multiple computers verifying PNS, which means that there are multiple computers verifying that hellowolrd.pls is attached to your address e.g. "0x014875y31r4189f678954q718rfrw9574813f".
- With DNS, a centralized server could get hacked more easily.
Additional Features:
- PNS allows you to create your own Web3 profile with services like pls.fyi. Pls.fyi, serves as a frontend that reads information that you associated with your PNS name. More info on how to congiture your own Web3 Username here.
- PNS allows you to connect your decentralized websites to your PNS name, with services like PLS.TO. PLS.TO serves as a gateway that points to your IPFS website. More information on how to configure your own decentralized website via PNS here.
🧠 Why This Matters
Comparing DNS and PNS is important as it allows us to see how important naming services are when it comes to adopting new technology. No one wants to remember an IP address or an alphanumerical crypto wallet address. DNS and PNS allow us to rename these factors into more memorable names, improving the security of the space, increasing speed, and enhancing user experience. With global adoption of cryptocurrencies on the rise, decentralized domain name services like PNS will become increasingly relevant, and it's essential to understand the benefits it offers.
