A URL appears in your browser bar every time you open a web page, yet few people stop to think about what it is made of. This article breaks down the structure of a URL in plain language and explains how it relates to your domain name and security.
In short
- A URL is the complete address of a web page that the browser loads.
- It consists of a protocol, a domain name and a path.
- https means the connection is encrypted and secure.
- The domain name is the most important and most permanent part of a URL.
What a URL is
URL stands for Uniform Resource Locator. In practice it is the exact address the browser uses to find and load a page, image or file on the internet. Every page online has its own unique URL, just as every building has its own street address.
The structure of a URL
Take the address https://www.yourcompany.fi/blog/article as an example. It breaks down into clear parts, each with its own job.
| Part | Example | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Protocol | https:// | How the browser and server talk. https is encrypted. |
| Subdomain | www | A prefix to the domain, often www but it can be anything. |
| Domain name | yourcompany.fi | The site name and suffix, the most important part. |
| Path | /blog/article | Points to a single page within the site. |
URL, domain name and IP address
These three are easy to mix up. A domain name is the human friendly name such as yourcompany.fi. Behind it sits an IP address, a string of numbers that identifies the server and that the network actually understands. A URL is the whole address, which also includes the protocol and the path. The domain name and the IP address are linked by the domain name system, DNS.
Why https matters
The https at the start of an address tells you that traffic between the browser and the server is encrypted with an SSL certificate. Without encryption the browser flags the site as insecure and search engines lower its ranking. Every Nordweb hosting plan includes a free SSL certificate, so your address always starts with https.
What makes a good URL
A clear address helps both the visitor and the search engine. Keep addresses short and descriptive, use words instead of numbers and separate words with a hyphen. A good address already tells you what the page is about, for example /hosting says more than /page?id=12.
Read also What DNS and name servers are
Get your own domain name
Your own domain makes your URL professional and easy to remember.
Search for a free domainFrequently asked questions
Is a URL the same as a domain name?
Not quite. A domain name is part of a URL. A URL also includes the protocol and the path to a single page.
What does https mean in an address?
It means the connection is encrypted with an SSL certificate. Encryption protects the traffic between the visitor and the site from outsiders.
Can a URL be changed?
Yes. You can change the path of a single page, but remember to redirect the old address to the new one so search visibility is not lost.