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How to Read a URL (Uniform Resource Locator), Also Known As A Web Address
1 First is the protocol, or computer language, that the site uses.
2 Next is the location, sometimes called the host or domain name, of the computer that stores the information resources. The resources on the host could be text, pictures, sound, or a combination of media types. All top level domain names are registered to a specific individual, company, organization, etc.
3 This part of the URL is the directory name set up by the company, person, or institution. This indicates where specific web pages can be found within a site.
4 Finally, this is the name of a specific web page or name of a file within a directory.
Other examples of URL's:
| http://www.disney.com http://www.stanford.edu http://www.ryu.titech.ac.jp/ |
http://www.usda.gov http://www.pbs.org http://www.sollers.fr/HotelElyseesStar/ |
Other protocols do exist. However, most of them are older text-based protocols which existed prior to the World Wide Web. Some sites still exist which require these protocols.
| http:// | Hypertext transfer protocol. Used for graphics, text, multimedia and the linking of one web site to another. |
| ftp:// | File Transfer Protocol. Often used to download software and for accessing "anonymous" FTP sites. |
| gopher:// | An older protocol used to access gopher menus of text information. |
| telnet:// | A separate telnet software may be required. Telnet sites do not run through web browsers. The users log in to a remote system to use text based systems such as older library catalogs. |
Domain abbreviations
| edu Educational institutions | mil U.S. military sites | |
| com Commercial businesses | net Network or Internet Service Providers | |
| gov U.S. government sites | org Non-profit organizations |
Umpqua Community College is an equal opportunity educator and employer.
This page last updated 10-13-06.