# What is BNS? Bitcoin Name System (BNS) is a network system that binds Stacks usernames to off-chain state without relying on any central points of control. \ BNS-names form a human readably and secure alternative for hard to remember public keys (such as public Stacks addresses and/or Bitcoin addresses). Read more: --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://leather.gitbook.io/guides/bitcoin-name-system-bns/what-is-bns.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.