The Uniform Resource Locator (URL) has significant role on the Internet because it will directs us to a specific website. The parts of a URL can be examined from the following example:

https://www.namemart.com:80/news_in/zlist/398

1. Protocol

The group of letters “http” stands for Hyper Text Transfer Protocol and is prefix to identify the location of a domain the World Wide Web. Technically, the protocol is used to communicate with a web server when sending and fetching of a web. Additionally, you might also find https (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol Secure, or encrypted) as a protocol. It is used when you open a web page that requires you to disclose important information such as bank account, credit card number or personal details. Other protocols that are common include ftp (File Transfer Protocol) and smtp (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol).

2. Domain Name

The www.domainsherpa.com is called sub-domain (www) and domain name (namemart). They are unique names that will identify a specific location on your website on the Internet.

3. Port

After the top level domain you can see “80” just after a colon. It is called port. The number 80 is used for the http and 443 is used for secure port.

4. Path

The listening-module is the path or directory in which specific data will be retrieved.

5. Query and Parameters

The part after the question mark (?) is called the query, which represents a dynamic request to a website and is typically generated from a database. On the other hand, 398 is called the parameter or technically defined as small piece of information found in the query.

6. Fragment

The string of words and numbers 398 are called fragment. The fragment is a section contains in a web page.

In spite of the difficulties to remember the anatomy of a URL, you should try to know those five parts: protocol, sub-domain and domain, path, query and parameters, and fragment. By knowing those names and conventions, you will not be lost in the cyberspace.