What is an URL?

Last updated: August 28, 2007

Index by Date:   September  4  11  18  25   October  2  9  16  23  30   November  6  13  20  27   December  4
Up to:    Top    Level 0   

• URL: Universal Resource Locator

  An URL is used in a web browser to identify a particular WWW resource.

• What is an URL composed of?

  scheme:host/path/filename?data

  The "host" portion of an URL identifies a computer, either by a string of four numbers separated by periods (the Internet Protocol or IP address) or in words separated by periods (a domain name).

• Some Schemes

  The scheme often indicates a computing protocol. Many protocols, of course, are not meant to be used in browsers, but with other specialized software instead. Note: I have not hyperlinked all the addresses below, because your browser may have to be specially configured to handle them. For fun, however, try copying and pasting the links into your address window.

  • FILE - File on your computer.
    file:///C|/Windows/Help/ciquery.htm

  • HTTP - HyperText Transfer Protocol, developed by CERN.
    This protocol is the basis for the World Wide Web, and allows text and graphics files to be transported over the internet.
    http://osgoode.yorku.ca

  • GOPHER - Gopher protocol, developed by the University of Minnesota.
    This protocol was very commonly used prior to the World Wide Web. Since the protocol made links through hierarchical directory structures, it was less flexible than the hyptertext protocol (HTTP), and is now all but extinct.
    gopher://gopher.floodgap.com

  • NEWS - Usenet Network News Transport Protocol (NNTP).
    Internet users send messages to a network of news server where others can read them.
    news:can.legal

  • FTP - File Transfer Protocol.
    This is one of the original Internet protocols, and permits files to be moved from computer to computer across the Internet. For security reasons, the SSH (Secure Shell) protocol is now more commonly used.
    ftp://ftp.microsoft.com

  • TELNET - Protocol for remote terminal sessions.
    Another of the orginal Internet protocols, telnet allows users to log on to a host computer as a terminal. For security reasons, the SSH (Secure Shell) protocol is now more commonly used.
    telnet://phoenix.yorku.ca

  • MAILTO - Electronic mail.
    The sending and receiving of mail is handled in accordance with the Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP). The Post Office Protocol (POP) is one protocol for handling the storage of mail on a server for later retrieval.
    mailto:jdavis@osgoode.yorku.ca

2007w02t3_1_url Copyright © 2007 John N. Davis