These strings are short names followed by the three characters://.
URL Host Substrings
The host substring identifies a destination computer or other web connection rig.
Hosts source from standard internet databases such asDNSand can be names orIP addresses.
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The hostnames of many websites refer not only to a single computer but rather to groups of servers.
Resources are normally located in a host directory or folder.
For example, a website may have a resource like/2016/September/word-of-the-day-04.htmto organize content by dates.
Absolute and Relative URLs
Full URLs featuring all three of the substrings are called absolute URLs.
In some cases, URLs may specify only the one location element.
These are called relative URLs.
Relative URLs are used by web servers to avoid hard-coding location elements that may be subject to change.
Relative URLs only work when the host and protocol information is established.
URL Shortening
Standard URLs on modern sites tend to be long strings of text.
Other URL shortening services likebit.lyandgoo.glwork across the internet and not only with specific social media sites.
A few also safeguard against malicious uses by checking the URL location against lists of suspicious domains.
