What is the term for a domain name that provides a complete and precise address of a specific device or service within the DNS hierarchy?

The term that refers to a complete and precise address for a specific device or service within the DNS hierarchy is known as the Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN). An FQDN provides the entire path to a specific resource on the internet, including the hostname and the domain name.

For instance, in the FQDN "www.example.com," "www" is the hostname that explicitly identifies a device (like a web server), while "example.com" is the domain name. This full specification enables DNS servers to locate the exact resource being requested without ambiguity, distinguishing it from other resources that may exist in the same domain.

Understanding the concept of an FQDN is critical for network configuration and website accessibility, as it ensures that users and services can reliably connect to the correct system.