URL
Let an agent explain URLs and their structure, relay standards, encoding and security practices from IETF and WHATWG sources, describe the kinds the registry aliases name, and distinguish URLs from URIs and URNs, domain names, IP addresses and the resources they point to.
Research draft, second pass
A second pass drafted this model: the structure a model of this thing needs, and what is known about it in the world. The line under this one says how the second half was obtained - researched against sources, or recalled without web access, in which case nothing here was read anywhere and every claim is a lead to verify. Unreviewed either way.
written by Claude from model knowledge without web access - no source was read, every claim is a lead to verify
Researched by: Claude
Purpose and description
Let an agent explain URLs and their structure, relay standards, encoding and security practices from IETF and WHATWG sources, describe the kinds the registry aliases name, and distinguish URLs from URIs and URNs, domain names, IP addresses and the resources they point to.
A Uniform Resource Locator, a string identifying a resource on a network and the means of retrieving it, with a scheme such as https, a host, an optional port, a path, a query and a fragment, as defined by RFC 3986 and the WHATWG URL Standard, used in kinds such as permalinks that stay stable, archive URLs pointing to preserved copies, search URLs encoding a query and invite links; the registry aliases also name platform-specific artefacts such as YouTube auto-generated channels and Discord server invites, which are resources or features rather than kinds of URL.
What it is for: Locating and retrieving resources on networks.
It can be explain structure; relay standards and encoding; describe kinds; distinguish related identifiers.
Distinguishing features
Scheme-based
Hierarchical syntax
Percent encoding
Web foundation
What it looks like
A text string starting with a scheme, such as https followed by a host and path.
Physical character
introduced: 1994 year - RFC 1738, Berners-Lee
current generic syntax: RFC 3986 note - 2005
components: scheme, authority, path, query, fragment list
How it is recognised
Locator string for a network resource
Permalink, archive URL, search URL, invite link; Discord invites and YouTube auto-generated channels as platform artefacts
URIs include non-locators; URNs name without locating; domain names are one component; IP addresses are numeric
Related models
is a kind of - in registry terms
contains - in the authority
is defined by - and the WHATWG URL Standard
is used by - for hyperlinks
In practice
Families and kinds
absolute and relative URLs
permalinks
archive URLs
search and query URLs
invite and share links
data and mailto URLs
Standards and regulation
IETF RFC 3986 and WHATWG URL Standard
IDNA rules for internationalised domain names
Failure modes and hazards
Phishing with look-alike URLs
Link rot
Registry aliases naming platform features
Also called
Where this came from
wikidata · CC0 1.0
Drafted structure
Bundle to layer to finding to question, as the second pass will find it: 4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions.
Understand What a URL is.
Definition.
Definition
Definition.
Definition
Definition.
- What is a URL, and how does it differ from a URI, URN, domain name and IP address? definition
- Is the question about structure, a kind of link, security or a platform feature? boundary
Kinds
Kinds.
Kinds
Kinds.
- What are permalinks, archive URLs, search URLs and invite links? definition
- Which entry fits the specific kind? action
Standards Standards.
Sources.
Syntax
Syntax.
Syntax
Syntax.
- How do RFC 3986 and the WHATWG standard define URL parsing and components? provenance
- Which references are standard? provenance
Encoding
Encoding.
Encoding
Encoding.
- How do percent encoding and internationalised domain names work? provenance
- Which sources are cited? provenance
Practice Practice.
Application.
Security
Security.
Security
Security.
- How do users and browsers detect deceptive URLs? provenance
- Which entry fits phishing? action
Persistence
Link persistence.
Persistence
Persistence.
- How do permalinks, DOIs and web archives fight link rot? provenance
- Which entry fits link rot? action
Context History and platforms.
Context.
History
History.
History
History.
- How did Tim Berners-Lee design URLs for the web? provenance
- Which entry fits the history of the World Wide Web? action
Platforms
Platform links.
Platforms
Platforms.
- How do platforms use invite links and generated channel URLs? provenance
- Which entry fits the specific platform? action
What the second pass must settle
- Should permalink and archive URL be separate primary entries?
- How should standards sources be linked?
- The registry aliases YouTube auto-generated channel and Discord server invite are platform artefacts and should be detached