URL stands for _.
(a) Unique Reference Label
(b) Uniform Reference Label
(c) Uniform Resource Locator
(d) Unique Resource Locator
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answer is (c) Uniform Resource Locator.
A URL is an address used to locate a resource on the internet. It’s essentially the web address that directs browsers to specific websites or resources such as files, images, or videos. A URL consists of several components, each playing a specific role in guiding the browser to the exact location of the resource.
The Uniform Resource Locator is a standard used to reference resources on the web, and it enables the transfer of data over the internet by specifying the address of a resource. The key components of a URL include:
- Protocol: This indicates how data will be transferred. Common protocols are http or https (Hypertext Transfer Protocol), ftp (File Transfer Protocol), and others.
- Domain Name: This is the address of the website, such as example.com. It is a human-readable form that maps to the server’s IP address.
- Path: The path follows the domain and provides a specific location of a resource on the server. For instance, /images/pic.jpg might point to an image located within the “images” folder on the server.
- Query String (optional): Sometimes a URL will contain additional parameters after a ? to specify further details, such as search criteria or user identification. For example, ?search=shoes might specify a search term on a shopping site.
- Fragment (optional): A fragment identifier begins with a # and directs the browser to a specific part of a webpage, such as #section1.
The URL is vital in navigating the vast expanse of the internet, providing a way for browsers and servers to communicate and ensuring that users can access the correct resources. Without URLs, the web would lack a standardized method to identify and access resources.