What is a URL?
A URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is the address used to access resources on the internet. It tells your browser where to find a specific web page, image, video, file, or other content hosted on a server. Every website and online resource has a unique URL that helps users and systems locate it quickly and efficiently.
Structure of a URL
A typical URL is made up of several parts:
- Protocol: Specifies the method of access (e.g.,
https://,ftp://) - Domain name: The address of the website (e.g.,
example.com) - Path: The specific location of a page or file (e.g.,
/products/item1) - Query string: Optional parameters used to send data (e.g.,
?id=123&ref=google)
Why Are URLs Important?
URLs are essential for navigating the web and sharing information. A clean and well-structured URL can improve user experience, SEO performance, and link sharing. Search engines use URLs to crawl and index pages, so having readable and keyword-rich URLs can boost your site's visibility.
Check and Encode URLs Online
Use our free URL encoder and decoder tool to quickly encode special characters or decode encoded URLs. This is especially useful when working with query strings, web development, or API integrations.
URL vs. URI vs. URN
While often used interchangeably, there are subtle differences:
- URL: A specific type of URI that includes the location of a resource
- URI: A broader term that identifies a resource, either by name, location, or both
- URN: A URI that names a resource but doesn’t provide a location