Definition
Uniform Resource Identifier (URI)
A string of characters that uniquely identifies a resource on the internet.
Definition
URL
A Uniform Resource Locator (URL) is a specific type of URI that provides the address of a resource and how to access it.
All URLs are URIs, but not all URIs are URLs.
Characteristics of URIs
- Uniqueness:
- Each URI is unique, ensuring that it identifies only one resource.
- This uniqueness is crucial for avoiding confusion and ensuring accurate resource retrieval.
- Scheme:
- The scheme specifies the protocol used to access the resource, such as http , https , ftp , or mailto.
- Flexibility:
- URIs can identify resources in various ways, including by location (URL) or by name (URN).
- Syntax:
- URIs follow a specific syntax defined by standards like RFC 3986.
- This ensures consistency and interoperability across different systems.
mailto:info@example.com
This URI identifies an email address using the mailto scheme.
