A URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is the address you use to find a Web page or other online resource. So it is basically the zip code and house number of the Internet address.
What does a URL look like?
A URL consists of several parts that make up a unique address. Below we explain the most important parts of a URL.
1. Protocol
The protocol specifies how the browser should communicate with the server. HTTP and HTTPS are the most commonly used protocols. HTTPS is the secure variant of HTTP and ensures that data is sent encrypted.
2. Domain Name
The domain name is the address of the server on which the web page resides. For example, hostnet.co.uk.
3. Path
The path indicates where the web page or other online resource is located on the server. For example, this could be /academy/what-is-a-url.
4. Querystring
The querystring is the part of the URL that comes after the question mark (?). It allows the browser to pass additional information to the server, such as which query terms to use.
5. Anchor text
The anchor is the part of the URL that comes after the hash (#). It allows the browser to jump to a specific place on the Web page, such as to a particular headline or paragraph.
Why is a URL important?
A URL is important because it allows you to find a specific Web page or other online resource. It is like the address of the Internet address, so to speak. Understanding the different parts of the URL will help you better understand how the Internet works and how to interact with it. Moreover, it can be useful to extract certain information from the URL, for example, to analyze how visitors arrive at your Web site.
Summary
A URL is the address you use to find a Web page or other online resource. It consists of several components, such as the protocol, domain name, path, query string and anchor. Understanding the different parts of the URL will help you better understand how the Internet works and how to interact with it.