URLs

Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) are the addresses of the web. They are a shared format that programs can use to locate resources somewhere on the web.

URLs are made of these parts:

Parts of a url

  • Scheme: the protocol to use to request the resource
  • Authority (Domain and Port): what server to request to get the resource
  • Path: what resource is requested
  • Parameters: key/value pairs, like the 'arguments' to a request
  • Anchor: a 'bookmark' to a location within the resource

This video demonstrates the parts of a URL

This video explains more about the Query parameters of a URL

Why is URL Structure Important?

  • Resource Identification: URLs uniquely identify and locate web resources. Each URL corresponds to a specific resource on the web.

  • Navigation: URLs enable users to navigate the web. Users can enter URLs into their web browsers to access web resources.

  • Data Transfer: URLs facilitate the transfer of data between client and server. They can include query parameters that provide additional information to the server.

  • SEO: Proper URL structure can improve search engine optimization (SEO). Descriptive URLs help search engines understand the content of the web page.

Check your understanding

  1. What are the parts of a URL?

  2. Look at the current url in your browser. Identify the parts of the URL. What parts are missing or have their default values?

  3. Challenge: Which part of the network pays attention to each part of a URL?

Further reading: URLs

Check out the MDN page What is a URL