A Brief Guide to URLs


 

 

A URL is basically the web address you type into a web browser like Internet Explorer or Firefox.

 

It stands for Uniform Resource Locator and its proper definition is:

an address that specifies the location of a file on the Internet

Example: http://www.jr2.ox.ac.uk

 

 

 

http:// = hypertext transfer protocol

www.jr2.ox = server name

.ac = type of organisation responsible for the site

.uk = country code

Notes:

hypertext transfer protocol (tells your browser how to display the info)

server name (where the files are stored)

 

 

What’s your conclusion about this site?

I hope you can see that the web address (or URL) in itself can tell you whether a web resource is reliable or not at a simple glance. The site in this example belongs to an academic (.ac) organisation in the UK (.uk). Actually, it's Bandolier. At first you might think that they could have made the web address a bit easier to remember, but to them it is because Bandolier is based at John Radcliffe in Oxford (hence jr2.ox). Okay, I hear you say "but how's general Joe Bloggs meant to know that?". Web addresses are for the public and therefore I agree: they should have chosen something more easier to remember (eg www.bandolier.com). Remember this if you're planning to set up a website.

 

 

 

Other Organisation Codes:

ac or edu = academic/educational

org = non-government non profit making organisations

gov = government

co or com = commercial

 

 

 

Other Country codes: (just a sample)

.au Australia 

.ca Canada 

.de Germany (Deutschland) 

.es Spain (Espanya)

.fr France 

.uk United kingdom

 

The US doesn’t have one.