An address has meaningful parts
The protocol says how to connect, the domain names the site, and the path identifies a page or resource. A query can add optional input, while a fragment points to a place inside the returned document.
Navigation creates a new request
Following an ordinary link asks the browser to load its destination. A fragment-only link can move within the current document, while client-side applications may update the visible page without replacing the whole document.
A familiar example
Reading a search URL
- The domain identifies the search site.
- The path selects its search page.
- The query carries the words you entered, and an optional fragment can jump to a result section.
What to remember
- A URL is more than a domain name.
- Paths and queries identify different resources or inputs.
- Links should truthfully describe and reach their destinations.