Have you ever wondered what those web addresses you type into your browser actually mean? The internet is built on addresses that help you navigate to different locations online, and these addresses are called URLs. But What Does Url Stand For? This article will break down the meaning of URL, explore its components, and explain the difference between absolute and relative URLs to give you a solid understanding of this fundamental web concept.
Decoding URL: What Does URL Stand For?
URL stands for Uniform Resource Locator. Let’s unpack each part of this term:
- Uniform: This signifies that the system for addressing resources on the web is consistent and standardized. No matter what type of resource you’re looking for, the URL format will follow a predictable structure.
- Resource: In the context of the internet, a resource can be anything accessible online. This includes web pages, images, videos, documents, and more. Essentially, it’s any piece of content you can find and access on the web.
- Locator: This part indicates that a URL’s primary function is to pinpoint the location of a specific resource on the internet. It acts like an address that guides your web browser to where the resource is stored.
Therefore, a URL is essentially a web address that provides a standardized way to locate a specific resource on the internet. It tells your browser exactly where to go and what to retrieve.
Absolute vs. Relative URLs: Key Differences
URLs can be categorized into two main types: absolute URLs and relative URLs. Understanding the difference is crucial for web development and general web navigation. The distinction lies in how complete the address is and how it’s interpreted by web browsers.
Absolute URLs are complete web addresses. They contain all the necessary information to locate a resource, regardless of the context. Think of it as a full street address including the country, city, street name, and house number. You need to use absolute URLs when you are typing an address into your browser’s address bar because the browser needs the complete location from scratch.
Relative URLs, on the other hand, are shorter and rely on a base URL to be interpreted. They are often used within web documents to link to other resources on the same website. Imagine a relative address as just the house number and street name, assuming you are already in the correct city and country. Browsers use the URL of the current web page as the base to resolve relative URLs.
Absolute URL Breakdown
An absolute URL typically includes the following components:
- Protocol: This specifies how your browser should communicate with the web server. Common protocols are
http://orhttps://.https://is more secure as it encrypts the communication. - Domain: This is the name of the website, like
what.edu.vnorexample.com. It’s the human-readable address that translates to an IP address, the actual numerical address of the server. - Path: This specifies the location of the specific resource on the web server, like
/articles/what-is-url.
For example, https://what.edu.vn/web-development/what-does-url-stand-for is an absolute URL.
Relative URL Types
Relative URLs come in different forms, each implying a different relationship to the base URL:
- Scheme-relative URL: Starts with
//(e.g.,//example.com/image.jpg). It uses the same protocol (http or https) as the current page. - Domain-relative URL: Starts with
/(e.g.,/images/logo.png). It refers to a path starting from the root of the current domain. The browser uses the same protocol and domain as the current page. - Path-relative URL: Doesn’t start with
/or//(e.g.,style.cssorimages/icon.png). It’s relative to the current directory in the path of the current page. If you are onhttps://what.edu.vn/web-development/, and link toimages/icon.png, the browser will look forhttps://what.edu.vn/web-development/images/icon.png. You can also use../to go up one directory level. - Anchor-only URL: Starts with
#(e.g.,#section-2). It links to a specific section within the same page. Only the anchor part of the URL is changed, and the browser scrolls to that section.
Conclusion
Understanding what URL stands for and the difference between absolute and relative URLs is fundamental for anyone interacting with the internet. URLs are the backbone of web navigation, enabling us to access the vast amount of information and resources available online. Whether you are a casual internet user or an aspiring web developer, grasping the concept of URLs is a key step in navigating and building the web.
