Everyone uses the internet for different purposes. Some use the internet for study purposes, some for exchanging information or data, etc. The things we came across daily on the internet in websites and web pages. And while checking these web pages or websites, there are certain things that you have come across, such as URL and URI. Both of these terms sound pretty similar, and this is also the reason why not many know the difference between them.
URL vs URI
The main difference between URL and URI is in the purpose they are used for. URI can be used for the identification of the name and location of both of a resource, while URL being a subset of URI, only identifies the location of a resource. URL does not include the name or other information of the resource. Both they also differ in terms of their aims or motives, where they are used, their schemes, etc., except these they also differ in terms of the protocol specification that is provided in the case of URL but not in URI.
Uniform Resource Locater is used for identification of location and address of a webpage or website that is different in case of different resources. It aims at only finding the location and nothing else. A person can visit the website or webpage by just clicking on the URL address. It can easily be seen or find on the internet.
Uniform Resource Identifier consists of 2 subsets, URL and URN, that provide the location or address and name of the resource. It can be protocol, specification, designation, etc. it cannot be used for telling both location and name at the same time. It can only tell either of it at a time.
Comparison Table Between URL and URI
| Parameters of Comparison | URL | URI |
| Stands for | Uniform Resource Locater. | Uniform Resource Identifier. |
| Contains/tells | Tells location only | Contains two subsets URL, URN |
| Aims at | Finding locations. | Identification and differentiation of resources. |
| Example | https:// | ISBN 0-486-356757-4 |
| Used in | Searching web pages on the internet. | XML and tag libraries. |
What is URL?
A URL is made up of the following components:
- Scheme: this represents the protocol that is required by the browse. The browser needs it for requesting the resource.
- Authority: this includes domain name (it can be anything) and port (it is a technical gate).
- Path: it is the complete path to the resource.
- Query String: it contains value pair and name. It provides the information by following the path component.
- Fragments: it is optional, preceded by a hash symbol.
URL is an important factor in SEO; it improves the experience of the user, as it describes the web pages or websites. It increases visibility.
URL is the first thing that we see on the internet about the webpages. It is easier to go on a website by just having a click on the Uniform Resource Locator. It can be shared with anyone by just copying it from the server.
It should be converted into a valid ASCII format. There are techniques used to shorten the URL to avoid confusion but still can be reached to the resources. The history of the URLs you visited is recorded, which can delete anytime, and some of them are deleted automatically.
What is URI?
It consists of the following components that a URL consists of:
- Scheme: provide the information about the used protocol.
- Authority: identification of domains.
- Path: shows the resource path.
- Query: used for representing the request action.
- Fragment: partial aspect of the resource.
It is used for the identification of a particular resource on the internet by using the address or name, or both. Like any other thing, a webpage or website needs to have an address and name different than another. URI helps in that matter.
If you have visited a webpage, you can again visit it with the help of a URL that is a part of the URI. It is not possible that two websites or web pages have the same Uniform Resource Identifier.
The protocol of URI enables the interaction between resources. All Uniform Resource Identifiers cannot be the Uniform Resource Locator as Uniform Resource Identifier can only tell one thing at a time, a location or name, not the both of them.
It is used frequently in XML and tag libraries for the identification of binaries. Examples of XML and Tag libraries can be JSTL, etc.
Main Differences Between URL and URI
- URL stands for Uniform Resource Locater, while URI stands for Uniform Resource Identifier.
- URI is a broader concept as compared to URL. URI has two subsets Uniform Resource Name and Uniform Resource Location. They tell the name and location of the web, respectively, whereas URL is just a subset of Uniform Resource Identifier that tells the location of the resource.
- Both of the terms are interconnected, as all URLs are part of Uniform Resource Identifier, URI, whereas not all the Uniform Resource Identifier, URI is part of URL as sometimes it can also be URN.
- The main motive of URI is the identification and differentiation of resources by knowing using their name and location details from other resources, whereas URL serves only one purpose of finding the address of the location of a resource.
- URI scheme can be more than just a protocol. It can also be designation, specification, etc., whereas scheme if Uniform Resource Locator, URL is generally a protocol only.
- Both of them are also different in terms of their use. Uniform Resource Identifier is used in XML and tag libraries for the identification of binaries and resources, whereas Uniform Resource Locator is mainly used on the internet for searching a webpage or website.
Conclusion
Therefore, now there should not be any confusion between URL and URI. They are a very important concept of the web, and due to their similarities, they are used interchangeably. Both of them are interconnected too. Now the internet is being used every day. Therefore it becomes extremely important to know about these terms that we are using daily. Both URL and URI are nothing new, and all of us have used these. It is important to know so that we can use them accordingly. There are also other terms associated with both of them, i.e., URN, Uniform Resource Name.
References
- http://www.hjp.at/doc/rfc/rfc4248.html
- http://www.cqvip.com/qk/93371x/200302/7543605.html
- https://dl.acm.org/doi/pdf/10.17487/RFC2396
- http://manu44.magtech.com.cn/Jwk_infotech_wk3/EN/abstract/abstract1457.shtml
- https://en.cnki.com.cn/Article_en/CJFDTotal-XDTQ200302002.htm
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351978920306545