Which statement about the Hosts file is true?

Which statement about the Hosts file is true?

• A. Maps hostnames to IP addresses locally
• B. Stores browser cookies
• C. Configures firewall rules
• D. Logs DNS queries

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is how name resolution works on a host. The Hosts file is a simple text file that maps hostnames to IP addresses. The operating system checks this file first when resolving a name, so it can override or short-circuit DNS queries to provide a local mapping. That’s why the statement is true: you can map a hostname to an IP address locally, without asking a DNS server. This behavior is useful for quick testing, blocking sites by redirecting them to a local or unused IP, or pointing a domain to a test server. Cookies are stored by the browser in its own storage, not in the Hosts file. Firewall rules are configured in firewall software or devices, not via the Hosts file. DNS query logging is handled by DNS resolvers or server software (and OS DNS clients), not by the Hosts file.

The main idea here is how name resolution works on a host. The Hosts file is a simple text file that maps hostnames to IP addresses. The operating system checks this file first when resolving a name, so it can override or short-circuit DNS queries to provide a local mapping. That’s why the statement is true: you can map a hostname to an IP address locally, without asking a DNS server. This behavior is useful for quick testing, blocking sites by redirecting them to a local or unused IP, or pointing a domain to a test server.

Cookies are stored by the browser in its own storage, not in the Hosts file. Firewall rules are configured in firewall software or devices, not via the Hosts file. DNS query logging is handled by DNS resolvers or server software (and OS DNS clients), not by the Hosts file.