URL stands for Uniform Site Locator and is a reference – an address to an Internet resource. A URL comprises two parts: Protocol identification: The protocol identification for the URL http://example.com is http. Name of the resource: The resource name for the URL http://example.com is example.com.

URL is an essential element of the Web, along with Hypertext and HTTP. Browsers utilize it to obtain any public content on the internet.

Where can I get the URL?

A URL is often found in the address bar or Omnibox just at the top of the web browser. Unless the browser is shown in fullscreen mode, the URL is always visible on desktop PCs and laptops. Most tablet and mobile phone browsers hide the address bar with the URL as users move down and only display the domain when it is visible. Scroll up the page if the address bar isn’t really visible. If the domain is displayed, touching the address bar displays the entire address.

How to Access a URL

A URL can be opened by tapping on a hyperlink. Clicking “hyperlink” in the line, for example, takes readers to a website that describes hyperlinks.

If a URL appears in written material that isn’t hyperlinked (e.g., an e-mail or a magazine), users can open the page by entering the URL in the address bar. If the URL appears in an e-mail, it may also be copied and pasted into the browser’s address bar.

Characters Not Permitted In URLs

Most people are aware that spaces aren’t permitted in URLs. However, the URL string could only include alphanumeric letters and the!$- +*'() characters. Any additional characters required in the URL must always be encoded.

Examples of URLs – https://www.google.com

The URL refers to the complete address.

Depending on the context, certain URLs can switch between parameters. When setting a timestamp to a YouTube video is a nice example. Some hyperlinks require an ampersand, while others require a question mark.

Anchors can also be used in URLs. These appear near the bottom of the page and specify where to go when the link is clicked. The number symbol (#) is used to construct anchors when adding links to a web page.

Features Of URLs

If a URL leads to a file that the web browser can show, such as a JPG image, users are not required to download it to the computer to view it. However, individuals will be required to download files not ordinarily shown in the browser, such as PDF and DOCX files, and notably EXE files.

URLs enable us to quickly obtain a server’s IP address without knowing the exact address. DNS servers are responsible for converting a URL to an IP address.