What does URL stand for? It stands for Uniform Resource Locator, the full address that tells a browser where to find one page, picture or file on the internet. When you copy a link from the bar at the top of the browser and paste it into a text, you are sharing a URL.
Think of it as a street address for the web. A street address names the city, the street and the house. A URL names the method to use, the computer to contact and the exact spot on that computer where the item is stored.
Quick facts
Stands for
Uniform Resource LocatorType
InitialismHow to say it
U R L; a few people say "earl"Plain meaning
A web addressArticle
"a URL" (you say "you," a consonant sound)Related terms
URL full form: what does URL stand for, word by word?
URL stands for Uniform Resource Locator. The three words were chosen with care, and each one has a job:
- Uniform: every address follows the same pattern, so any browser on any device can read it.
- Resource: the thing you want. It can be a page, an image, a video, a download or a form.
- Locator: it tells software where that thing lives so it can be fetched.
The idea came out of the early design of the web in the early 1990s, along with web pages and the rules browsers use to request them. More terms from the same family appear on our tech acronyms hub.
The parts of a URL
Here is a made-up address, split into its pieces:
https://shop.example.com/boots/hiking?size=9#reviews
| Part | In the example | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Scheme | https:// | The method used to fetch the item; HTTPS is the secure form of HTTP |
| Subdomain | shop | A section of the site, often www |
| Domain name | example.com | The site's registered name, which DNS turns into an IP address |
| Path | /boots/hiking | The folder and page on that site |
| Query | ?size=9 | Extra details passed to the page, such as a filter or a search |
| Fragment | #reviews | A jump to one spot on the page |
Not every URL has all six parts. Many are just the scheme, the domain and a short path.
What does URL stand for in computers beyond the web?
The same format works for more than web pages. A URL can begin with other schemes:
- mailto: opens a new email to an address.
- tel: starts a phone call on a phone.
- ftp:// points to a file server using FTP.
- file:// points to a file on your own computer.
Programmers also talk about URLs inside code, for example when one program calls another program's API at a set address.
How to say and write URL
Most people say the url acronym as three letters, "U R L." A smaller group says "earl," as one word. Both are understood, but the letter by letter version is far more common in offices and classrooms.
Write it in capitals: URL. The plural is URLs, with no apostrophe. Since "U" starts with a "you" sound, use "a": "Paste a URL here." On forms you may see the field labeled "Website URL" or just "Link."
On a job application: "Portfolio URL (optional)." The form wants the full link to your online portfolio, starting with https://, so the reader can click straight to it.
URL vs domain, URI and link
- Domain: only the name part, such as example.com. A URL contains a domain plus everything needed to reach one exact item.
- URI: uniform resource identifier, a wider term for any string that names a resource. Every URL is a URI, but technical writers use URI when the string may not say where to find the thing.
- Link: the clickable text or button. Behind every link sits a URL.
- WWW: World Wide Web, often seen as the subdomain at the start of an address.
Tips for sharing and checking URLs
- Copy the address from the browser bar rather than typing it, so you do not drop a letter.
- Look at the domain before you click a link in an email. A look-alike name is a common trick.
- Remove long query strings when you share, if the page still loads without them.
- Use https:// addresses for anything that involves a password or payment.
Questions people ask
What is a URL in simple words?
It is the address of something on the internet. You type it, click it or scan it in a QR code, and your device goes to that address.
Is URL an acronym or an initialism?
The usual pronunciation is U R L, one letter at a time, so it is mostly an initialism. Those who say "earl" treat it as an acronym, and both terms are used loosely.
What is the difference between a URL and a website?
A website is the whole collection of pages. A URL points to one item inside it, such as a single article or image.
Is URL the same as an IP address?
No. An IP address is a number that identifies a computer on a network. A URL uses a readable name, and the DNS system looks up the number for you.
Should URL be capitalized?
Yes, write URL in capital letters in normal text. The address itself is usually lowercase.