The glossary
Published:
Last updated:
URL – what a web address is and how it is built
Definition
A URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is the unique address that points to where a page or resource is located on the web. It is how both people and search engines find their way to the content.
What is a URL made of?
A URL is made up of several parts, each with its own function. Take the address https://www.seosdesign.se/en/glossary/url:
- Protocol – https:// determines how the browser communicates with the server.
- Domain – seosdesign.se, the website's name and address.
- Path – /en/glossary/url, the route to the specific page.
- Parameters – everything after a question mark, for example ?filter=new, often used for filtering and tracking.
- Fragment – everything after a # sign, which points to a specific section of the page.
Each part sends a signal about how the website is organised and what the page is about.
URL, URI and URN – what is the difference?
URI (Uniform Resource Identifier) is the broader concept: a string of characters that uniquely identifies a resource. A URL is a type of URI – the one that says where the resource is and how to reach it. URN (Uniform Resource Name) is another type, which names a resource without saying where it is.
All URLs are URIs, but not all URIs are URLs. In practice the difference is mostly academic – when people talk about the address of a page, they mean a URL. URI mostly turns up in technical specifications and in schema and linked data contexts.
Canonical URL – when the same content exists at several addresses
The same content can often be reached through several URLs – with and without www, http versus https, with or without parameters. That creates duplicates that split link equity and muddy Google's understanding of the page.
The canonical tag (rel="canonical") solves this by specifying which URL is the main version. Search engines then consolidate the signals at that address instead of spreading them out. Common cases: www versus non-www, trailing slashes, and filter URLs in e-commerce.
URL shorteners – how they work
A URL shortener turns a long address into a short one by redirecting from a generic short domain (for example bit.ly/xyz) to the actual URL. Services such as Bitly and TinyURL often add click tracking, which makes them popular in campaigns and social media.
From an SEO perspective they have limited value for the website itself: a short link does not replace your real URL structure, and link equity that passes through a shortener can lose strength if the redirect is not a proper 301.
URLs and SEO – a brief note on structure
The URL is one of the simplest on-page signals to get right. A short, descriptive address helps both users and search engines understand what the page is about – but it is a weak signal compared with the title, headings and content.
How you build and organise addresses across a whole website – hierarchy, page types and common mistakes – falls under URL structure, which we cover as a separate term.
Common questions about URLs
What is a URL?
A URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is the full web address that points to exactly where a specific resource is located on the internet. A URL is made up of several parts: the protocol that determines how communication takes place (https://), the domain name (for example seosdesign.se), an optional path (/en/glossary/url) and sometimes query parameters or anchor links (#section). Each part has a function: the protocol secures the communication, the domain identifies the website and the path points to the specific page. A well-structured URL signals to search engines what the page is about and where it belongs in the website's hierarchy – which makes URL structure one of the simplest and most direct SEO signals to optimise.
What is the meaning of URL?
URL is short for _Uniform Resource Locator_ – a standardised format for addressing resources on the web. "Uniform" means that every URL follows the same global format regardless of browser, device or country. "Resource" can be anything on the web: an HTML page, an image, a PDF or a video file. "Locator" indicates that the address actually points to where the resource is – unlike a URI (Uniform Resource Identifier), which can identify a resource without necessarily saying where it is. In everyday English, "web address" is often used as a more casual term for URL, even though they are not exact synonyms.
What does URL stand for?
URL stands for _Uniform Resource Locator_. The concept was introduced by Tim Berners-Lee as part of the development of the World Wide Web in the early 1990s, as a standardised way of addressing resources on the internet. The abbreviation is technical in origin and is used worldwide in web development, SEO and digital marketing.
Is a URL the same as a link?
No. A URL is the address itself – a complete string with protocol, domain and path that points to one specific resource. A link is the clickable element on a page that sends the visitor to a URL: the visible text of the link, the anchor text, can say anything, while the URL behind it is what the browser actually opens. In everyday English, "web address" is often used for URL and "link" for both, but in SEO the difference matters, because search engines read the anchor text as a description of the page the URL points to.
Ready for the next step?
Now that you know more about URL, you may be wondering what your next step should be.
We are always happy to help and to answer any questions you have.
Book an intro call