Domain names work by acting as a unique identifier for a specific website on the internet. They are stored in a central database called the Domain Name System (DNS), which functions as a sort of phone book for the internet.

When someone enters a domain name in their browser, the browser sends a request to the DNS server to look up the IP address of the website. The IP address is the unique address of the server where the website is hosted. The DNS server looks up the IP address and sends it back to the browser, which then connects to the server and loads the website.

The process of looking up the IP address of a domain name and connecting to the corresponding server happens in a fraction of a second and occurs automatically, allowing users to quickly and easily access the desired website.