A "URL" — or uniform resource locator — can also be called the “web address” for a web page or website. It is the place on the Internet where content can be found.

Some examples are:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/
http://www.loc.gov/families/  
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chopin

The “http://” that often appears in the URL or  "link” stands for “hypertext transfer protocol”; it is the web protocol prefix and represents a request-response standard for a client (the person using the Internet) and a server (the website), allowing for transfer of data between the two. The rest of the link, often beginning with www, is the actual URL; slashes are used to separate discrete pages in a website from the site’s homepage. More and more websites are beginning to exclude the “www” from their URL, as this simply makes it longer. On the server side, it’s easy to set up a website so that www.whitehouse.gov and simply whitehouse.gov both deliver you to the White House website.

Domain Names

A domain name is a label assigned to represent a numeric locator of a website. Just as “San Francisco” is more meaningful and easier to remember than 37° 37' N 122° 23' W, so is “Google.com” easier to remember than an Internet protocol address like 61.176.108.546.

The main identifiable portion of a web address, a domain name has two parts separated by periods. The letters following the second period (such as “com” or “gov”) represent the top-level domain and are commonly referred to as the extension. Different top-level domains represent different types of organizations. The most common domains in the U.S. are .com, .org, .gov, .edu, and .net.

Outside of the U.S., top-level domains typically end with two letters that represent the country code (for example, .uk for United Kingdom or .au for Australia).

To go to a particular place on the Internet, open your favorite browser and type the URL (including the www) into the location field (or address bar), and then press the Enter key. The website will appear on your screen as soon as it loads (assuming your computer is connected to the Internet).

Obtaining a Domain Name

If you wish to have a publicly accessible website, you need to purchase a domain name. Remember: A domain name is an address, not a website — buying a domain name is like buying the street sign, not the house. You don't need to be tech-savvy to purchase a domain name; but if you do have questions about the process, contact your Internet service provider.

Try to select a domain name that clearly reflects your program or project and the work you do; or, if that’s not possible, try to choose a domain that is related and also easy to remember.  Once you register a domain name, it needs to be renewed regularly (usually once each year). Fees tend to be very low — as little as $10 to $25 per year. Also, be aware that many companies provide domain name registry services (that is, they'll sell you a domain name), so be sure to find out if the registrar you're doing business with has a solid reputation.

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