A URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is the web address you use to find resources on the internet. It’s made up of several key components, each serving a distinct purpose. Let’s break down the typical structure of a URL:
- Scheme: The scheme is the prefix of the URL and defines how data is transferred between your browser and the server. The most common schemes are
http(Hypertext Transfer Protocol) andhttps(secure version of HTTP). For instance,https://indicates a secure connection, ensuring that data sent between the server and the user is encrypted. - Domain Name: This is the part of the URL that identifies the website. For example, in
https://www.example.com, the domain name isexample.com. It’s the human-readable address that points to a specific server on the internet, which hosts the content you’re requesting. - Subdomain: This is an optional part of the domain name, usually appearing before the main domain. For instance,
wwwinhttps://www.example.comis a subdomain, and it typically represents the World Wide Web. Subdomains help organize and direct traffic to different sections or services of a website. - Path: The path is the part of the URL that specifies the exact location of the resource on the server. In
https://www.example.com/products,/productsis the path that points to the products page of the website. This allows users to navigate specific pages or files. - Query String: This optional component comes after a question mark (
?) and allows data to be passed to the server. For example,https://www.example.com/search?query=URLpasses the search term “URL” to the server, directing the site to show related results. - Fragment: The fragment identifier follows a hash symbol (
#) and is used to navigate to a specific section within a webpage. For example,https://www.example.com/#section2would direct the browser to a specific part of the page.
Each of these components works together to ensure you can access the correct information on the web!
