====== Hosts File ======

  * [[DNS]]

When looking up a domain name, the DNS request returns an IP address that the site is located at.

You can override which IP address a domain is mapped to by editing your ''hosts'' file temporarily.

To do this on OS X, open a Terminal session and run this command:

<code>
sudo nano /etc/hosts
</code>

Navigate to the bottom of the file with your keyboard, and add a new entry, in this syntax:

<code>
1.2.3.4 domain.com
</code>

Save your hosts file by pressing ''Control-O'' on your keyboard and then ''Enter''.

You can exit the editor by pressing ''Control-X''.

**In some cases,** your web browser caches DNS lookups for domains, so you will need to **completely quit out of your browser** and restart it for the changes to appear.