Whenever information about the network changes, instead of updating each client's local file, an administrator updates only the information stored by the network information service. This reduces errors, inconsistencies between clients, and the sheer size of the task. Although the chief purpose of a network information service is to centralize information, another is to simplify network names. A network information service enables workstations to be identified by common names instead of numerical addresses. This makes communication simpler because users do not have to remember and try to enter cumbersome physical addresses, such as 129.44.3.1 .
Names are also more flexible than physical addresses.
While physical addresses and networks tend to remain stable, the organizations that use them tend to change structure and nomenclature. A network information service uses software to map these changes to an unchanged physical network.