URL stands for Uniform Resource Locator and refers to the address of a resource on the internet. It can be understood as a standard way of locating digital resources. A URL does not only point to the homepage of a website; it can also identify specific pages, images, files, videos or other online resources. When users click a link or type an address into the browser bar, they are accessing the URL of that resource.
A URL usually consists of a protocol, domain name and page path. The protocol defines the rules used for data transfer between the browser and the server. The most common protocols used in web addresses are http:// and https://. Unlike HTTP, HTTPS uses encryption through TLS/SSL during data transfer, which makes it especially important for e-commerce, membership and payment-related websites.
The domain name comes after the protocol. A domain name is a readable address structure that allows users to access websites without memorising IP addresses. For example, in https://kriko.io/glossary, kriko.io is the domain name. This domain is matched with the relevant server address within the internet infrastructure and helps direct the user to the correct resource.
The www part often seen in URLs is not mandatory. It stands for World Wide Web and can technically be used as a subdomain. A website may operate through www.example.com, but it may also work through example.com. For this reason, www does not have to appear in every URL and depends on how the website is configured.
The ending of a domain name is related to the top-level domain, or TLD. Extensions such as .com, .org, .net and .blog are examples of TLDs. .tr is the country-code top-level domain for Türkiye. Structures such as com.tr, edu.tr, gov.tr and org.tr can be considered domain categories used under the .tr extension.
The part that comes after the domain name is called the page path. In https://kriko.io/glossary, the /glossary section is the page path and directs the user to a specific page on the website. Some URLs may also include query parameters and fragments in addition to the page path. These may be used for filters, search results, tracking parameters or links to specific sections of a page.
In summary, a URL is an address structure that shows where a resource is located on the internet and how it can be accessed. The protocol defines how data is transferred, the domain name identifies which server should be reached and the page path specifies which resource should be opened on that server. Clear, readable and secure URL structures are important for both user experience and search engines. For this reason, websites should use short, descriptive, consistent and HTTPS-based URLs whenever possible.
