URI vs URL: What are the differences?

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The terms URI and URL are often used interchangeably, but, when it comes to creating a website and choosing a domain name, they have distinct meanings and applications that can be important to understand.

What is a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI)?

A URI is a string of characters that uniquely identifies a resource on the internet. It consists of several components, including the scheme, authority, path, query and fragment. Each part plays a role in identifying and interacting with online resources and assets.

What is a Uniform Resource Locator (URL)?

A URL is a specific type of URI that not only identifies a resource but also provides the means to locate it. It includes information such as the protocol (e.g., HTTP or HTTPS) and the domain name, which directs users to the resource's location on the web. These are often referred to as the parts of a url.

For businesses looking to create a website, understanding these concepts is vital. It helps in creating effective web strategies and ensures that resources are easily accessible to users. Proper use of URIs and URLs can improve your site's user experience, navigation and branding.

Learn more: Domain vs URL

URI vs URL — what exactly are the differences

The terms URI and URL are often confused and used interchangeably but they serve different purposes when it comes to website creation.

While all URLs are URIs, not all URIs are URLs. A URI can be a name, a location or both. URLs specifically provide the means to access a resource by describing its primary access mechanism.
A URN is another type of URI that serves as a unique identifier without providing the means to locate the resource. It focuses on the identity rather than the location, making it distinct from URLs.

This can be a tricky comparison to understand so let's lay it out like this:

URI (Uniform Resource Identifier): A generic term for all types of names and addresses that refer to objects on the web.
URL (Uniform Resource Locator): A specific type of URI that provides a means to locate a resource by describing its primary access mechanism.
URN (Uniform Resource Name): A type of URI that identifies a resource by name in a particular namespace, without implying its location.

All URLs are URIs but not all URIs are URLs.

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What is a URL syntax with examples?

URL (Uniform Resource Locator) syntax refers to the structure and components that make up a URL. A URL typically consists of several parts, each serving a specific purpose. Here’s a breakdown of the syntax and components of a URL, along with examples:

Scheme: Indicates the protocol used to access the resource. Common schemes include `http`, `https`, `ftp`, etc.
Username:Password (optional): Authentication credentials for accessing secure resources.

But this isnot commonly used in modern URLs due to security concerns.

Host: The domain name or IP address of the server where the resource is hosted, `www.example.com`
Port (optional): Specifies the port number on the server. If omitted, default ports are used (e.g., 80 for HTTP, 443 for HTTPS).
Path: The specific location of the resource on the server, `/path/to/resource`
Query (optional): A string of key-value pairs that provide additional parameters to the resource. It begins with a `?`. Example: `?key1=value1&key2=value2`
Fragment (optional): A reference to a specific section within the resource, starting with `#`.

URL examples

1. HTTP URL

- `http://www.example.com`

2. HTTPS URL

- `https://secure.example.com`

3. FTP URL

- `ftp://ftp.example.com/resource.txt`

4. URL with Path and Query

- `https://www.example.com/search?q=URL+syntax`

5. URL with Fragment

- `https://www.example.com/articles#section2`

What is a URI syntax with examples?

The syntax of a URI is defined by several components, which are similar to those in a URL but a URI's primary purpose is to identify a resource rather than to locate it.

The basic structure of a URL looks like this: scheme:scheme-specific-part. Its components are:

Scheme: Indicates the protocol or method of access (e.g., `http`, `https`, `ftp`, `mailto`, etc.).
Scheme-specific part: This portion varies based on the scheme and can include authority, path, query and fragment components.
Authority (optional): This includes the user information, host (domain) and port.
Path: The specific location of the resource.
Query: A string of key-value pairs providing additional parameters.
Fragment (optional): A reference to a specific section within the resource.

URI examples

1. HTTPS URI

- `https://www.example.com`

2. URN

- `urn:isbn:0451450523` (Identifies a book by its ISBN)

3. Data URI

- `data:text/plain;base64,SGVsbG8sIFdvcmxkIQ==` (Encodes a string in base64)

4. Mailto URI

- `mailto:info@example.com` (Used to initiate an email)

File URI

- `file:///C:/path/to/file.txt` (Identifies a file on the local filesystem)

URI vs URL examples in action

To grasp the practical applications of URI and URL, it's helpful to explore real-world examples of both. These examples illustrate how these concepts are used in different programming environments and platforms.

Consider a web page with the URL https://www.example.com/index.html. This URL specifies the protocol (HTTPS), domain (example.com) and path (index.html) to locate the resource. In contrast, a URI might be urn:isbn:0451450523, which identifies a book by its International Standard Book Number without specifying how to access it.

Java: In Java, you can use the java.net.URI class to create URIs. For example, URI uri = new URI("http://www.example.com"); allows you to manipulate and parse the components of a URI.
Python: Python's urllib.parse module provides tools for parsing URLs. You can use it to break down a URL into its components or construct URLs from individual parts.
Android: In Android development, URIs are often used in intents to specify data or actions. For instance, Uri.parse("tel:123456789") can be used to initiate a phone call.

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Specific use cases for each

URI: Used when you need a broad identifier that can be either a name or location. Useful in applications where flexibility is required.
URL: Ideal for situations where the exact location of a resource is necessary, such as linking to web pages or resources.
URN: Best suited for identifying resources by name within specific namespaces, like ISBNs for books or ISSNs for periodicals.