It resolves hostnames to IP addresses within small networks without a central DNS server.
mDNS is part of the Zeroconf (Zero Configuration Networking) protocol suite.
How mDNS Works
- Uses multicast UDP packets to query and respond to DNS requests.
- Each device on the network listens for mDNS queries and responds if it knows the answer.
Use Cases
-
Ideal for small networks like home or small office environments.
-
Commonly used in IoT devices, printers, and network services discovery.
-
Simplifies network configuration.
-
Automatic service discovery.
Implementations
Flutter
https://pub.dev/packages/bonsoir
Bonsoir is a Zeroconf library that allows you to discover network services and to broadcast your own. It’s based on Android NSD and on Apple’s popular framework Bonjour.