What’s the Difference Between DNS and DHCP

DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) and DNS (Domain Name System) both work across the client-server architecture though they are different terms.

While DNS maps the name of the domain to the IP address, DHCP is a protocol that assigns the IP address to the host in a network either dynamically or statically.

DHCP

Not so long ago, network administrators were assigning the IP address for every individual device. This was not as practical as such, and it took a lot of time. But to make this process easier, DHCP (dynamic host configuration protocol) was therefore invented.

DHCP works in a centralized manner, using the server-client system. The DHCP server automatically and dynamically provides IP addresses to each new connected device.

DNS

Apart from DHCP, there’s what is known as the DNS (Domain Name System). DNS also works with the IP address for an individual’s convenience, though in a different manner. As noted earlier, each device that is on the internet consists of a unique address. The same also applies to websites or domains.

Human beings don’t want to remember a different combination of numbers for every site that they like. People would want to put the most natural thing – its name. However, it’s important to note that the name is not the address.

This is where DNS kicks in. DNS receives the name and subsequently searches the internet aiming to locate the name server, or where the information about the name is located.

DNS vs. DHCP

Below is a comparison table containing more important parameters about DNS and DHCP.

	DNS	DHCP
Purpose	DNS is usually used for resolving domains	DHCP is used for assigning IP’s to the host
Features	It translates the written names of domains to the IP addresses	DHCP provides the IP addresses of the router, host, name server, and the subnet mask of the computer
Purpose	You can use DNS for locating or finding the Active Directory domain servers	DHCP can provide IP to host for some limited time
Port that it uses	DNS uses port 53	DHCP uses port 67 and 68
Method of working	DNS works in a decentralized manner	DHCP works in a centralized manner
Benefit	DNS eliminates the need to keep in mind or remember all the IP addresses	DHCP is a very reliable method of assigning IP addresses