The process of clearing locally stored Domain Name System (DNS) data on macOS is essential for resolving connectivity issues. This action removes outdated or corrupted information that a computer might use to translate domain names (like example.com) into IP addresses. For example, if a website’s IP address has changed, a computer relying on its cached DNS data may fail to access the site until the cache is cleared.
Clearing this data ensures the system retrieves the most current information, which can improve browsing speed, resolve website access problems, and enhance security. Historically, DNS caching was implemented to reduce network load and improve response times. Periodically, however, it’s necessary to update the cache to reflect changes on the internet.