Have you ever looked at your browser’s address bar and wondered what all those slashes, dots, and words actually mean? A URL—or Uniform Resource Locator—is the digital street address that tells your browser exactly where to find a specific page, image, or file on the internet.
Every time you click a link, type a website into your browser, or share a page with someone, you’re using a URL. Understanding how these addresses work isn’t just for developers—it helps you create better links, improve your website’s SEO, and make smarter decisions about link management and URL shorteners.
In this guide, we’ll break down what a URL is, explain every part of a web address, and show you why understanding URLs matters for your website, marketing campaigns, and everyday internet use.
TL;DR
- A URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is the address of a unique resource on the internet, such as a webpage, image, or file .
- Every URL has several parts: scheme, domain name, path, and sometimes parameters and anchors .
- The scheme (like HTTPS) tells your browser how to communicate with the website’s server .
- The domain name is the human-readable part that identifies the website, like “example.com” .
- URL parameters and anchors add extra functionality for tracking and navigation .
Key Takeaways
- A URL is the complete address used to access a specific resource on the internet—essentially, a web address .
- The main parts of a URL are the scheme (
https://), domain name (example.com), path (/blog/post), and optional parameters and anchors . - HTTPS indicates a secure connection, which is essential for protecting user data and building trust .
- The domain name includes a top-level domain (like .com, .org) that can signal the purpose or location of a website .
- URL paths organize content into folders, similar to files on a computer .
- URL parameters are used for tracking and filtering, while anchors jump to specific sections within a page .
What Exactly Is a URL?
A URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is the address of a unique resource on the internet . Think of it like a street address for your house—just as a postal address tells the mail carrier exactly where you live, a URL tells your browser exactly where to find a specific page on the internet .
URLs are one of the key mechanisms used by browsers to retrieve published resources, such as HTML pages, CSS documents, images, and so on . Every resource available via the World Wide Web has a unique URL .
In theory, each valid URL points to a unique resource. In practice, there are some exceptions, the most common being a URL pointing to a resource that no longer exists or that has moved .
Here’s a typical URL broken down into its parts:
While this might look complicated at first, each part has a specific purpose. Let’s explore each component in detail.
The Parts of a URL
Every complete URL is made up of several parts. Understanding what each one does will help you create better links, troubleshoot broken URLs, and make smarter decisions about your online presence .
Scheme (or Protocol)
The scheme is the first part of a URL and tells your browser how to communicate with the website’s server . It appears before the colon and double slashes.
- HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol): The original protocol for transferring web pages. Still used but considered less secure.
- HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure): The secure version of HTTP. It encrypts data between your browser and the website, protecting sensitive information .
Your browser usually won’t show the scheme in the address bar, and typically you don’t need to type the scheme when typing a web address—you can just begin with the domain name . However, the scheme is still always part of the URL.
Browsers also know how to handle other schemes such as mailto: (to open a mail client), so don’t be surprised if you see other protocols .
Domain Name
The domain name is the most prominent part of a web address . It tells your browser which web server to contact. Usually this is a domain name, but an IP address may also be used (though this is rare as it’s much less convenient) .
Typically, different pages on the same site will continue to use the same domain name . Each segment of the domain name separated by a period is called a domain:
- Top-Level Domain (TLD): The suffix at the end, like
.com,.org, or.gov. This can tell you what kind of site it is—for example,.govmeans a government website in the United States . - Second-Level Domain (SLD): The main name you choose, like “example” in
example.com. This is usually your brand or business name . - Subdomain: An optional prefix like
www,blog, orshop. In most URLs, thewwwsubdomain can be omitted—google.comandwww.google.comlead to the same page. However, other subdomains likenews.google.comare required .
You can often learn something about the site from the domains—one of the domains usually identifies the organization, while the top-level domain may give you more general information on what kind of site it is .
Path
The path—often called the file path—tells your browser to load a specific page . If you don’t specify a path and only enter a domain name, your browser loads a default page, which usually helps you navigate to other pages .
For example, in example.com/blog/what-is-a-url:
/blogrepresents a folder or category/what-is-a-urlis the specific page or post
In the early days of the Web, a path like this represented a physical file location on the Web server. Nowadays, it’s mostly an abstraction handled by Web servers without any physical reality .
Parameters (or Query Strings)
Parameters come after a question mark (?) and are used to pass information to the server . They’re commonly used for tracking, filtering, or sorting content.
Parameters are a list of key/value pairs separated with the & symbol . For example, in example.com/products?category=shoes&sort=price:
?category=shoestells the page to show shoes&sort=pricetells the page to sort them by price
Each web server has its own rules regarding parameters, and the only reliable way to know if a specific web server is handling parameters is by asking the web server owner .
Anchor (or Fragment)
An anchor appears after a hash symbol (#) and jumps to a specific section within a page . It doesn’t affect which page loads, but it tells the browser to scroll to a particular part of the page .
For example, in example.com/blog/seo-tips#section3, the browser loads the SEO tips page and then scrolls down to section 3.
Different anchors don’t load different pages—they simply tell the browser to display different parts of the page .
Why URLs Matter
Understanding URLs isn’t just technical trivia. It has practical implications for how you run your website, share links, and protect yourself online.
User Experience and Trust
Clean, readable URLs build trust . When users see a URL they recognize and understand, they’re more likely to click it. Google recommends using URLs that are readable and describe what the webpage or content is about—a human should be able to read and understand your URL .
For example, https://example.com/yoga-tips-for-beginners is far more understandable than https://example.com/post?id=12345 .
SEO and Search Rankings
URLs are a Google ranking factor . Search engines analyze URLs to understand what pages are about. A URL with a clear path and descriptive slug helps search engines index your content correctly.
Following Google’s recommendations on URL structure can help your content perform better in search results. Best practices include using descriptive URLs, separating words with hyphens, and sticking with lowercase letters .
Security and Phishing Protection
Understanding URLs helps you spot phishing attempts . Scammers often create URLs that look legitimate but have small differences—like using go0gle.com instead of google.com or using misleading subdomains.
Always check the full URL before entering sensitive information. Look for HTTPS, verify the domain name carefully, and be suspicious of URLs that use unusual characters or misspellings.
URL Best Practices
Whether you’re creating pages on your website or sharing links, these best practices will help you get the most out of your URLs.
Use Descriptive URLs
Create URLs that describe what the webpage or content is about. A human should be able to read and understand your URL .
Good: https://example.com/yoga-tips-for-beginners
Poor: https://example.com/post?=12345
Use Hyphens to Separate Words
Google recommends avoiding underscores in URLs. Similarly, you should not join separate words together .
Good: https://example.com/vanilla-cake-recipe
Poor: https://example.com/vanilla_cake_recipe
Poor: https://example.com/vanillacakerecipe
Use Lowercase Letters
Some URLs are case-sensitive. This means example.com/home, example.com/Home, and example.com/HOME can all lead to different parts of a website .
Google recommends sticking with lowercase URLs, as it is more common and leaves less room for ambiguity .
Use HTTPS
Ensure every URL you create or share uses HTTPS. This protects users and signals that your links are secure. Most modern browsers and search engines prioritize HTTPS links.
How URLs Relate to URL Shorteners
A URL shortener takes a long URL and creates a shorter version that redirects to the original destination. The short URL still includes all the same parts as any other URL, but the path is usually much shorter.
For example, a long URL like:
Might become:
When someone clicks the short URL, they’re redirected to the full URL. This redirection happens so quickly that users don’t even notice.
Many businesses use branded links with their own domain names for short URLs. Instead of short.link/abc123, they use something like yourbrand.link/summer-sale.
Security Considerations for URLs
Understanding URLs is essential for staying safe online. Here are some important security practices:
- Verify the domain name carefully: Scammers often use domain names that look similar to legitimate websites. Check for small differences in spelling .
- Look for HTTPS: Always check that a URL starts with
https://, especially when entering personal information. - Be cautious with shortened URLs: A short URL hides the destination address. Before clicking, use a link preview tool to check where it leads .
- Watch for link rot: Over time, URLs may become outdated or broken, leading to inaccessible resources .
URL vs. URI vs. IP Address
While people often use these terms interchangeably, they mean different things:
| Term | What It Means | Example |
|---|---|---|
| URL (Uniform Resource Locator) | A complete address that specifies both the resource and how to access it | https://example.com/page |
| URI (Uniform Resource Identifier) | A broader term that identifies a resource but may not include access instructions | mailto:someone@example.com |
| IP Address | A numeric label assigned to a device on a network | 192.168.1.1 |
A URL is actually a type of URI that not only identifies a resource but also specifies how to locate it . While an IP address points to the location of a server, a URL provides a more user-friendly address and specifies the exact resource and the protocol used to access it .
Frequently Asked Questions
What does URL stand for?
URL stands for Uniform Resource Locator. It’s the standard address used to access resources on the internet .
What are the parts of a URL?
A URL has several parts: the scheme (https://), the domain name (like example.com), the path (/blog/post), optional parameters after a ?, and an optional anchor after a # .
What’s the difference between HTTP and HTTPS?
HTTP is the basic protocol for transferring web pages. HTTPS is the secure version that encrypts data between your browser and the website . HTTPS is essential for protecting sensitive information and building user trust.
Why do some URLs have a www prefix?
www is a subdomain that originally stood for “world wide web.” Today, many websites drop the www and use the bare domain. Both work, but it’s best to choose one and stick with it for consistency .
What are URL parameters used for?
URL parameters (the part after ?) are used to pass information to the server. They’re commonly used for tracking, filtering content, or sorting products .
What’s a URL slug?
The URL slug—also called the file name—is the part of the URL that identifies a specific page or resource. For example, in /yoga-for-moms, the slug is yoga-for-moms .
How can I tell if a URL is safe?
Check for HTTPS, carefully verify the domain name for any unusual characters or misspellings, and be cautious with shortened URLs from unknown sources .
Putting It All Together
A URL is more than just a line of text in your browser’s address bar. It’s the foundation of how the internet works—a standardized system that lets us find, share, and interact with content across the globe .
Understanding the parts of a URL helps you create better links, improve your website’s SEO, build trust with your audience, and stay safe online. Whether you’re a marketer setting up branded links for a campaign, a blogger sharing your latest post, or just someone navigating the web, this knowledge is invaluable.
Now that you know what every part of a URL does, you can make smarter decisions about how you create, share, and manage links. Start using cleaner, more descriptive URLs, and you’ll likely see improvements in click-through rates, user trust, and search performance.
Want to learn more about effective link management? Check out our guides on URL slugs and URL shortener best practices to create better links today.
