What is URL?
URL is a specific type of URI that provides the complete address to locate a resource on the internet, including the protocol, domain, path, and optional parameters.
Quick Facts
| Full Name | Uniform Resource Locator |
|---|---|
| Created | 2026-02-01 |
| Specification | Official Specification |
How URL Works
URL is the fundamental addressing mechanism of the World Wide Web, specifying both the location and access method for web resources. A URL consists of several components: the scheme (protocol like http or https), host (domain name or IP address), optional port number, path to the resource, query string for parameters, and fragment identifier for page sections. URLs enable browsers and applications to retrieve resources from web servers, making them essential for navigation, linking, and API communication across the internet.
Key Characteristics
- Specifies both resource location and access protocol
- Contains scheme, host, port, path, query, and fragment components
- Supports various protocols including HTTP, HTTPS, FTP, and mailto
- Domain names are case-insensitive while paths may be case-sensitive
- Query parameters use key=value pairs separated by ampersands
- Fragment identifiers reference specific sections within a resource
Common Use Cases
- Navigating to web pages in browsers
- Making HTTP requests to REST APIs
- Embedding images and media in web pages
- Sharing links to specific content
- Configuring webhooks and callback endpoints
Example
https://www.example.com/products/item?id=123&color=blue#reviews