Ethereum Name Service (ENS) is a decentralized naming system built on the Ethereum blockchain. Its main function is to convert long, complicated Ethereum addresses (like 0x1234abcd...) and other blockchain identifiers into human-readable names such as yourname.eth.
Key Features of ENS
- Human-Readable Addresses
ENS allows you to replace complex Ethereum addresses with easy-to-remember names likealice.eth. This reduces the risk of mistakes when sending funds and greatly improves usability. - Decentralized and Open Source
ENS operates on the Ethereum blockchain without a central authority. It is governed by a DAO (Decentralized Autonomous Organization), and users can participate in its governance using ENS tokens. - Similar to DNS
Just as the Domain Name System (DNS) translates IP addresses into website names, ENS translates blockchain addresses into.ethnames. ENS can also import existing DNS domain names. - Multiple Uses
ENS can be used not just for wallet addresses, but also for smart contract addresses, content hashes (like IPFS), metadata, and more. It serves as a naming system for various aspects of Web3. - NFT-Based Ownership
ENS domains are managed as NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens), which means ownership can be transferred and subdomains can be created and managed.
How ENS Works
ENS is mainly composed of two types of smart contracts: the Registry and the Resolver.
- Registry: Stores information about domain ownership and configuration.
- Resolver: Maps the domain name to actual addresses or other data.
This setup allows users to manage multiple blockchain addresses and services under a single, simple name like yourname.eth.
Summary
Ethereum Name Service (ENS) is a decentralized infrastructure that makes it easy to use and share blockchain addresses and information by assigning them simple, human-readable names. ENS is becoming the “domain name system” for the Web3 era, making blockchain technology more accessible and user-friendly.