URL: Meaning explained in a simple and understandable way

Many understand URL as a simple link or the address of a website. We'll explain exactly what that is and what's behind the abbreviation.

URL - what is it and what can it do?

In the vernacular, one speaks of a link if URL is actually meant - URL is usually understood as the address of a website. However, this is not entirely correct:

• The abbreviation URL stands for "Uniform Resource Locator", in German this means "uniform resource indicator". It is a standard with which certain content is called up.
• URLs are mainly used to access websites.
• You can only land on our homepage via the URL "//praxistipps.chip.de/". By entering the URL, your browser knows which page to search and open.
• Since browsers are designed to open websites, you do not have to type "//" in front of a website every time. Entering "praxistipps.chip.de" is therefore sufficient.

The components of a URL - simply explained

A URL consists of several parts. For the following explanation we use this example URL: //www.Domain.de/ directory / file.html

• "//": At the beginning there is always the protocol prefix. For websites this is HTTP or HTTPS.
• This is followed by a port number. As a rule, the port number is "80" and is then not displayed at all. If the port number differs in special cases, it can be found in the URL.
• "www.Domain.de": This part should be known to everyone. The domain is the main address of the website, almost the front door. Alternatively, the IP address of the website can be entered, but entering CHIP.de instead of 2.18.235.97 is much easier.
• "Directory": There are thousands of articles, photos, images, downloads and other files on CHIP.de. In order not to lose the overview, many websites have a directory, similar to folders on the computer. We save our articles in the "Articles" directory and our downloads in the "Downloads".
• "File.html": The directory contains either further subdirectories or individual files, for example this article. Web pages are mostly HTML files.

Use URLs correctly in the browser

However, a URL does not only open web pages in the "http" or "https" format. "Ftp", "mailto" or "file" can also appear at the beginning of the URL.

• So you can open a file server via the browser, give the command for an email to a certain address, and open a file from your computer in the browser.
• Enter the command "mailto: " in the URL bar at the top of the browser and confirm entry with "Enter". Your e-mail program opens, with which you can send an e-mail to the specified address.
• It works similarly with files. With the command "file: /// C: /Users/Tim/Desktop/Lichtschalter.webp" the image with the name "Lichttschalter" is opened from the desktop in the browser.

Shorten URLs: sensible or not?

• URLs are usually very long. To send a URL for private or business purposes can be rather impractical. There are numerous services that shorten URLs.
• The result is usually very short URLs with a combination of numbers and letters, for example bit.ly/A1b2C3. Such a shortened URL is already much more manageable.
• However, there is also a major disadvantage of shortened URLs. The recipient cannot see directly where the URL leads him, this scares off many people and makes them suspicious.
• There is also a solution to this problem. In the following practical tip, we will show you how to extend a shortened URL again without opening it.

Purchase URL online

If you want to buy your own URL, you should start looking for a provider for domains. Here you will find the most important information about buying a domain.

In the next practical tip, we will show you how to create your own short URLs.