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URL vs. URI

URL stands for (Uniform Resource Locator) URI stands for (Uniform Resource Identifier) Both URL and URI are used to identify resources on the internet, but they have distinct meanings. URL - Uniform Resource Locator A specific type of URI that provides the location (address) of a resource along with the means to access it. means its a specific type of URI that tells where the resource is located and how to access it (includes a protocol like Protocol (http, https, ftp), domain, path, and sometimes query parameters., etc.). ✅ Example of URLs (all are also URIs): https://www.google.com → Identifies and locates the Google homepage. ftp://files.pramodboda.com/myfile.zip → Provides the file location and how to access it via FTP. https://pramodboda.com/products?id=1234 → Identifies and locates a product page. URI - Uniform Resource Identifier A broader term that includes both URLs (which specify location) and URNs (which specify names without location). means anything that uniquely identifies a resource. Not all URIs are URLs. It can be a URL, a URN, or both. ✅ Example of a URI: mailto:user@codevik.com → Identifies an email address but doesn’t tell how to retrieve it. isbn:0451450523 → Identifies a book by its ISBN number (URN, not a URL). https://pramodboda.com/portfolio-page.html → Identifies and locates a webpage (Both a URL & URI). Example in .env ✅ Correct (since it's a full web address) API_URL=http://localhost:5000/api/ DB_USER_URI=postgres DB_HOST_URI=localhost ❌ Less accurate (but would still work) API_URI=http://localhost:5000/api/ Simple Analogy URL is like a full address (house number, street, city, and country). URI is like a name (it can be an address but may also just be an identifier). Conclusion: Every URL is a URI because it identifies a resource. Not every URI is a URL, as some URIs only name a resource but don’t tell how to access it. Enjoyed this post? Stay updated with the latest tech trends! Follow me on Instagram: @pramodboda.codevik and @pramodboda.art. let me know your thoughts!

Apr 4, 2025 - 08:29

URL stands for (Uniform Resource Locator)

URI stands for (Uniform Resource Identifier)

Both URL and URI are used to identify resources on the internet, but they have distinct meanings.

URL - Uniform Resource Locator

A specific type of URI that provides the location (address) of a resource along with the means to access it.

means its a specific type of URI that tells where the resource is located and how to access it (includes a protocol like Protocol (http, https, ftp), domain, path, and sometimes query parameters., etc.).

✅ Example of URLs (all are also URIs):

https://www.google.com → Identifies and locates the Google homepage.
ftp://files.pramodboda.com/myfile.zip → Provides the file location and how to access it via FTP.
https://pramodboda.com/products?id=1234 → Identifies and locates a product page.

URI - Uniform Resource Identifier

A broader term that includes both URLs (which specify location) and URNs (which specify names without location).

means anything that uniquely identifies a resource.

Not all URIs are URLs. It can be a URL, a URN, or both.

✅ Example of a URI:

mailto:user@codevik.com → Identifies an email address but doesn’t tell how to retrieve it.
isbn:0451450523 → Identifies a book by its ISBN number (URN, not a URL).
https://pramodboda.com/portfolio-page.html → Identifies and locates a webpage (Both a URL & URI).

Example in `.env`

✅ Correct (since it's a full web address)
API_URL=http://localhost:5000/api/
DB_USER_URI=postgres
DB_HOST_URI=localhost

❌ Less accurate (but would still work)
API_URI=http://localhost:5000/api/

Simple Analogy

URL is like a full address (house number, street, city, and country).
URI is like a name (it can be an address but may also just be an identifier).

Conclusion:

Every URL is a URI because it identifies a resource.
Not every URI is a URL, as some URIs only name a resource but don’t tell how to access it.

Enjoyed this post?

Stay updated with the latest tech trends! Follow me on Instagram: @pramodboda.codevik and @pramodboda.art.

let me know your thoughts!