A hosts file is a computer file used to map hostnames to IP addresses. It is a plain text file that can be edited with a text editor. The hosts file is typically located in the following locations:
- Windows: %SystemRoot%\system32\drivers\etc\hosts
- Mac: /etc/hosts
- Linux: /etc/hosts
The hosts file is used to override the Domain Name System (DNS) when resolving hostnames to IP addresses. This can be useful for a variety of purposes, such as:
