A URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is the web address used to uniquely identify and locate a specific resource—such as a web page, image, or file—on the internet136.

A typical URL consists of several components:

• Protocol: Indicates how the browser should retrieve the resource (e.g., http, https, ftp)13.
• Domain name: Identifies the website or server (e.g., www.example.com)14.
• Path: Specifies the exact location of a specific resource on the website (e.g., /about or /images/pic.jpg)14.
• Optional elements: URLs can also include a port, query string (for passing parameters), and a fragment (to link to a specific section of a page)14.

For example, in the URL https://www.example.com/about:

• "https" is the protocol
• "www.example.com" is the domain
• "/about" is the path14.

When you type a URL into your browser's address bar, your browser uses this address to find and display the requested resource on the internet147.

In common language, a URL is what you enter or click to visit a website or access any content online, acting like a digital street address for locating web-based resources469.