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5 min read·May 6, 2023--
The internet is a vast landscape of information, and navigating it requires the use of web addresses to access specific resources. Two terms that often come up in discussions about web addresses are URI (Uniform Resource Identifier) and URL (Uniform Resource Locator). While these terms are sometimes used interchangeably, they are not exactly the same. In this article, we’ll explore the differences between URI and URL, their components, and when to use each term. By the end of this article, you’ll have a clearer understanding of these concepts and their applications in the digital world.
Definitions and Key DifferencesURI stands for Uniform Resource Identifier. It is a string of characters used to identify a name or resource on the internet. A URI can be either a locator, a name, or both. In essence, a URI is a more generic term that encompasses different types of identifiers, including URLs.
URL, on the other hand, stands for Uniform Resource Locator. It is a specific type of URI that not only identifies a resource but also provides the means to locate and access that resource by describing its primary access mechanism, typically its network location. In other words, all URLs are URIs, but not all URIs are URLs.
A URL consists of several components that provide information about how to access a particular resource on the internet. These components include:
A URI has a similar structure to a URL, with some key differences. The components of a URI include:
Deciding when to use the terms URL or URI depends on the context in which you’re using them and the specific functions you want to convey. Let’s take a closer look at some scenarios where you might choose one term over the other.
When you’re referring to resources that can be accessed via a web browser or specific network protocol, like a webpage or a file, it’s more appropriate to use the term URL. For instance, if you want to direct someone to a specific website to learn more about the differences between URI and URL, you might say, “Visit our website at https://www.example.com/uri-vs-url to learn more about the differences between URI and URL.”
On the other hand, if you’re discussing a more general concept of identifiers that can include not only URLs but also URNs (Uniform Resource Names) or other types of resource identifiers, the term URI is more fitting. In this context, you could say, “In web development, it’s important to understand the various types of URIs used to identify and access resources.”
By considering the context and the functionality you want to convey, you can confidently choose between using the terms URL and URI in your conversations and writing.
To gain a better understanding of the differences between URIs and URLs, let’s dive into some real-world examples that showcase their distinct characteristics and applications.
Consider the following example: https://www.example.com/blog/uri-vs-url?ref=homepage#section2. In this case, we have a complete URL that includes various components such as the protocol (https), domain name (www.example.com), path (/blog/uri-vs-url), query string (?ref=homepage), and fragment (#section2). This URL not only identifies a specific resource but also provides the means to locate and access it through its network location.
On the other hand, let’s examine this example: mailto:user@example.com. Here, we have a URI that doesn’t fall under the category of URLs. The reason for this distinction is the use of the “mailto” scheme, which isn’t a network location or access mechanism like the “http” or “https” schemes. In this instance, the URI identifies an email address as the resource, demonstrating the broader scope of URIs as identifiers for various types of resources.
By comparing these examples, we can see how URLs and URIs differ in their structure and function, providing unique ways to identify and access resources on the internet.