Hyperlinks, Domains, URLs, and Web Addresses
Tech lingo can be more than a little confusing, but, luckily, Solution Builder is more than happy to fill you in on the basics (if you have more advanced questions, please do not hesitate to contact us!). Over the next few weeks, our blog will be covering various words and phrases frequently encountered in today’s technologically-advanced world, helping you gain the knowledge required to become a tech-savvy small business owner. In this Tech Tuesday post, we will cover several words and phrases you likely have encountered on the internet but may be unable to define: hyperlink, web address, URL, and domain.
What is a link? It’s a word we heard often when discussing tech and the internet, but what does it actually mean? When you consider two things that are linked, what is the first word that comes to mind? That’s right - connection! A link in the technological world is just that: a connection between two separate pieces of information (be it webpages, icons, photographs, etc.), typically accessed by right-clicking with a computer mouse. The tech-savvy term for a digital link is a hyperlink, but most people refer to them simply as a link.
A Uniform Resource Locator, commonly known and referred to as a URL, refers to the unique address for a given resource on the internet. They are commonly preceded by the letters HTTP or HTTPS. In other words, it’s the tech-savvy term for a web address! When you hear someone reference a URL or a web address, they are speaking about the same thing. This can be a bit confusing for individuals just getting started on their tech journeys, but the words are interchangeable. In order to access information on a specific website, you must know the web address/URL or be able to effectively utilize a search engine.
Take a look in the address bar at the top of the page - the long input area you likely typed the address or a search phrase into. Though it may look complicated at first glance, especially after you have clicked a few page links (you know what those are now!), the complexity of the URL simply serves to create a unique identifier for that webpage. Try not to feel daunted by the length of some URLs; there is a shortened, simplified version of most web addresses which are much easier to remember. In addition, you can always use the bookmarks bar (we will tackle bookmarks in another Tech Tuesday blog!).
But what about a domain? Domains are a string of text that form the root part of a URL, correlating to either a numeric or alphanumeric IP address (luckily, you don’t have to worry about the numeric IP address, thanks to the Domain Name System, or DNS, which keeps track of which domain names are linked to which number combinations). If your URL were to be ‘https://www.solutionbuilder.io/GetStartedToday/discount’, the domain is the root: ‘solutionbuilder.io’. The root part of the domain, ‘solutionbuilder’, is called the second-level domain. The part of the domain name to the right of the period - in this case, the ‘io’ - is known as the top-level domain, or TLDs. There are a number of common TLDs that you have likely encountered, such as .com, .net, and .org, and less common TLDs, such as those that are country-specific.
If you have further questions about links, web addresses/URLs, or domains, or are interested in hearing more about how Solution Builder can help you achieve your unique business goals, please contact us today. Sign up for a Solution Builder subscription today and receive 15% off your first three months of service! Not ready to sign up? Don’t forget about our Try Before You Buy promotion - reach out to us for a free demo of our services!