Ethereum Name Service [ENS]

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 like alice.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 .eth names. 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.