What is URL? Complete Guide to Uniform Resource Locator

हिन्दी में पढ़ने के लिए यहाँ क्लिक करें

📌 Table of Contents

🔎 What is URL?

A URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is the unique web address used to locate and access resources on the internet. In simple terms, it is the text you type in the browser’s address bar to open a website, image, video, or any online resource.

👉 Example: https://www.google.com is a URL.

📝 Full Form of URL

URL = Uniform Resource Locator

Uniform → Standardized format across the web.
Resource → Any file, page, image, or service available on the internet.
Locator → Helps to find and access that resource.

🏗️ Structure of a URL (with Example)

A typical URL looks like this:
https://www.example.com:443/path/page.html?query=123#section

Breakdown of components:

Part of URL	Example	Meaning
Protocol	https://	Communication method (HTTP/HTTPS/FTP)
Domain Name	www.example.com	Website name
Port Number	:443	Optional, default 80 (HTTP), 443 (HTTPS)
Path	/path/page.html	File or page location
Query String	?query=123	Parameters or search data
Fragment	#section	Specific section within the page

📂 Types of URL

Absolute URL
- Complete address with domain name and protocol.
- Example: https://whtype.com/what-is-url
Relative URL
- Shortened address, works only within the same domain.
- Example: /what-is-url
Canonical URL
- Preferred version of a webpage for SEO purposes.
Dynamic URL
- Generated using parameters (e.g., ?id=123&cat=5).
Static URL
- Simple, fixed address (e.g., /about-us.html).

🌍 Why is URL Important?

Acts as a unique identifier of a web resource.
SEO ranking depends on URL structure (keywords, length, etc.).
Improves user experience when clean and easy to remember.
Used in link sharing, indexing, and analytics.

🔄 Difference Between URL, URI, and Domain

Feature	URL	URI	Domain Name
Definition	Address of a web resource	Identifier of resource (may include URL)	Human-readable website name
Example	https://whtype.com/about	urn:isbn:0451450523	whtype.com

⚙️ How Does a URL Work?

User enters a URL in browser.
DNS translates domain into IP address.
Browser sends request to the server.
Server responds with the requested page/file.
Browser displays content.

💡 Examples of URL

Website: https://www.wikipedia.org
Image: https://www.example.com/images/logo.png
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abcd1234
File Download: https://example.com/file.pdf

Using long, complicated URLs.
Adding unnecessary parameters.
Not using HTTPS (security issue).
Duplicate content without canonical URL.

❓ People Also Ask (Google FAQs)

Q1. What is the difference between URL and link?
A URL is the actual web address, while a link (hyperlink) is clickable text or image that points to a URL.

Q2. What is the difference between URL and domain?
A domain is just the website name (e.g., whtype.com), while a URL includes domain plus protocol, path, query, etc.

Q3. What is the difference between URL and IP address?
An IP address is the numeric address of a server (e.g., 142.250.190.78), while a URL is the human-friendly name that maps to the IP.

Q4. What is the use of a URL?
A URL allows browsers and users to locate and access online resources.

Q5. What are the main parts of a URL?
Protocol, domain, port (optional), path, query string, and fragment.

🏁 Final Thoughts

A URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is the backbone of web navigation. It not only helps users access websites but also plays a crucial role in SEO, online identity, and user experience. By keeping URLs short, meaningful, and secure, websites can improve visibility and trust.

👉 Next, read: What is Domain Name?