{"id":58336,"date":"2022-07-05T13:03:11","date_gmt":"2022-07-05T13:03:11","guid":{"rendered":"\/tutorials\/?p=58336"},"modified":"2024-07-31T13:19:24","modified_gmt":"2024-07-31T13:19:24","slug":"what-is-a-url-examples-structure-and-more","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"\/my\/tutorials\/what-is-a-url","title":{"rendered":"What Is a URL: Examples, Structure, and More "},"content":{"rendered":"

A URL (uniform resource locator) it’s a type of uniform resource identifier (URI) that provides a way to access information from remote computers, like a web server and cloud storage. <\/p>

URLs play a vital role in web navigation and online communication by providing a structured way to locate and access various web resources and hyperlinks.<\/p>

It contains various elements, including the network communication protocol, a subdomain, a domain name, and its extension.<\/p>

Luckily, site owners can modify their URLs. A well-crafted URL can be a powerful tool to improve user experience, resulting in better search engine optimization (SEO) performance. Therefore, optimizing URLs can be a great way to boost your website’s rankings on search engine result pages (SERPs).<\/p>

This article covers everything you need to know about what is a URL, from the definition to examples, its general structure, and how to custom-create URLs.<\/p>

Download glossary for web beginners<\/a><\/p>

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What Is a URL?<\/h2>\n

A URL, short for a uniform resource locator serves as a web address that guides users to specific resources on the internet, including domain names, paths, and protocol identifiers. <\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/p>

What Is an Example of a URL Address<\/h2>

Hostinger’s complete URL is https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/<\/code> and entering it in a browser’s address bar directs users to our website. The same rule applies to https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/<\/code> and https:\/\/www.linux.org\/<\/code>.<\/p>

That said, URLs can get more specific.<\/p>

For example, the \/tutorials\/<\/code> URL leads users to our Tutorials<\/strong> page, and \/tutorials\/how-to-make-a-website<\/code> is a full URL for our How to Make a Website<\/strong> article on Hostinger Tutorials<\/strong>.<\/p>

URLs can also send users to a particular section on a web page.<\/p>

\/tutorials\/how-to-make-a-website#6_Optimize_Your_Website_for_SEO_and_Conversions<\/pre>
The above URL, for example, sends users to the tip number 6 in the How to Make a Website<\/strong> article.<\/p>
Lastly, every uploaded image has its own URL, enabling users to access it directly. The following URL leads to the featured image of our How to Make a Website<\/strong> article<\/p>
\/tutorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/08\/how-to-make-a-website-1.png.<\/pre>
What Is the Structure of a URL<\/h2>
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\"the<\/a><\/figure><\/div>
As you can see from the image, uniform resource locator (URL) contains multiple parts. To help you better understand, let’s dive deeper into the structure of a URL.<\/p>
HTTP or HTTPS<\/h3>
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\"hostinger.com<\/a><\/figure><\/div>
HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) and HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure)<\/a> are protocols for network communication between web servers and browsers. They transmit messages, retrieve information through the domain name system (DNS), and return it to the browser.<\/p>
The difference between HTTP and HTTPS is that the latter encrypts the data transmission process. This security protocol protects a website better and is an essential factor in improving ranking on search results.<\/p>
Another difference is that HTTPS uses the Transmission Control Protocol\/Internet Protocol (TCP\/IP) port number 443 encrypted by Transport Layer Security (TLS). Meanwhile, an HTTP URL uses TCP\/IP port number 80.<\/p>
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Important!<\/strong> Web browsers can also process other protocols, including FTP and mailto. The former allows file sharing between different web hosts, either local or remote. The latter directs users to a specific email address.<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/p>
www (Subdomain)<\/h3>
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\"hostinger.com<\/a><\/figure><\/div>
A subdomain<\/a> consists of any words or phrases that come before a URL’s first dot. Referring to the world wide web, www<\/strong> is the most common type. It indicates that a website is accessible through the internet and uses HTTP to communicate.<\/p>
Furthermore, site owners can use any word as a subdomain for website organization purposes as it points to a specific directory from the primary domain. Some of the most popular options are “blog” and “news.”<\/p>
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\"Hostinger's<\/a><\/figure><\/div>
For example, while hostinger.com<\/code> uses www, the subdomain for our Knowledge Base<\/strong> page is “support.” Hence, the support.hostinger.com<\/code> URL.<\/p>
Domain Name<\/h3>
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\"hostinger.com<\/a><\/figure><\/div>
A domain name is<\/a> what users type into their browser’s address bar to reach a website. It consists of a site name and an extension, for example, hostinger.com.<\/code><\/p>
Every name is unique, and they represent their corresponding IP addresses<\/a>. This unique IP address points to the website’s server. In other words, it helps users access websites easily.<\/p>
Domain Extension<\/h3>
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\"Hostinger<\/a><\/figure><\/div>
Also called a top-level domain (TLD)<\/a>, is the bit following a website name. Used for around 53%<\/a> of all websites, .com <\/strong>is the most popular extension.<\/p>
Here are types of TLD extensions to consider using:<\/p>