What is a Universal Resource Locator (URL)?

A Universal Resource Locator (URL) is fundamentally defined as an address for a resource on the Internet. This definition is rooted in the role of a URL in locating and accessing specific resources, which can include web pages, files, images, and other types of content available online.

When you enter a URL in a web browser, you are directing that browser to a specific location on the Internet. The structure of a URL typically includes the protocol (like HTTP or HTTPS), the domain name, and possibly a path and query string that indicate the specific resource being requested. This functionality is crucial for navigating the web and accessing different types of information hosted on servers.

Understanding what a URL is helps clarify its importance in web browsing and resource retrieval, as it serves as a standardized way to specify locations of resources, making web navigation intuitive for users. Other options, while they relate to different aspects of Internet technology, do not accurately define what a URL itself is.