A URL Deconstructed

Updated January 7, 2023

Location, Location, Location

You probably type them multiple times per day but have you ever really looked at a URL. Sure the bit after a period at the end can tell you what country the website is from, but what does the bit at the beginning mean? What about all the rest of it. Today we’ll explain what parts make up a URL.

What’s Your Address

First things first, URL stands for Uniform Resource Locator. A whole URL tells your browser which web address you want to go for and then opens that page. URLs have been used since the early days of the internet back in the 1990s and look like they are here to stay, even if there is an ongoing debate on how much of a URL a user actually needs to see in their browser.

A typical website URL could look like this:

https:// www .example-website .co. uk /about-us /welcome.jpg

Let’s break things down a little and explain what each part means.

HTTP/ HTTPS – This part of the URL stands for Hypertext Transfer Protocol and is the protocol used to move information across the internet. It is a part of the Internet protocol suite and it helps to define the commands and services used for transmitting webpage data. HTTP uses a server-client model as does HTTPS. HTTPS is the same as HTTP, but it has an added S for Security and provides web users with an extra layer of protection while browsing. It is especially important if you are using a website that will carry out any kind of transaction, or save your personal data.

WWW – Perhaps the most famous part of a URL, WWW stands for World Wide Web. It has today become synonymous with “the internet”. WWW was invented by Tim Burners-Lee. It is the initial part of the web address, showing that the page you are viewing is on the internet.

Example-website – This is your domain name. Typically the name of the company, or something related to the service they provide. Here you’ll need to find an available name if you’re making a new website.

.Co.Uk – This part of the web address typically signifies the location of where the company is based. The .co.uk address example above would be from the UK. But there are many others available for almost all countries. Other popular examples are .gov addresses which are typically for government websites. Or things like .biz or .io which come in and out of fashion for businesses. Normally a US-based website will use .com. This is also a standard choice for international businesses that want to present a more global face.

/about-us/  – This directs us to a specific page on your website. In this case, the about us page. Many websites follow a similar structure and naming convention, but there is no need to do so.
Welcome.jpg – This part of the URL indicates that we are looking at a file that lives inside the about us page. In this case, it is an image, which is shown by the fact we are looking at a .jpg file type. Many file types can be hosted on a website, from downloadable files to images, videos, and PDFs.

URL Deconstructed

Now when you look at a URL nothing will ever be the same again right? Hopefully, we’ve given you some interesting information on what a URL is made of. We’d love to hear any interesting facts you have about the internet.