What is ENS?

ENS (Ethereum Name Service) is a decentralized domain naming protocol built on the Ethereum blockchain that translates human-readable names like 'username.eth' into machine-readable identifiers including cryptocurrency addresses, content hashes, and metadata, creating a more accessible and user-friendly way to interact with blockchain systems.

Similar to how DNS converted numeric IP addresses into memorable website domains for the traditional internet, ENS transforms the complex hexadecimal addresses of blockchain into simple names that reduce errors, improve user experience, and enable the creation of persistent digital identities across Web3 applications and services.

Beyond simple address translation, ENS domains function as versatile digital identifiers that can link to multiple cryptocurrencies across different blockchains, store profile information like avatars and social media handles, connect to decentralized websites and content, and serve as usernames for various applications in the ecosystem.

ENS operates through a system of smart contracts that manage domain registrations, ownership records, and resolver functionality, with domains being represented as NFTs that users can purchase, trade, or transfer, creating a self-sovereign naming system where users truly own their digital identities rather than renting them from centralized providers.

As Web3 adoption grows, ENS has evolved into a fundamental infrastructure layer for the decentralized internet, with expanding functionality including subdomains, integration with traditional DNS, reverse resolution that connects addresses back to names, and growing adoption across wallets, exchanges, and applications that recognize these human-readable identifiers as standard elements of blockchain interaction.