Are a URL and a Domain Name the Same Thing?

Posted on:2022-03-28 18:12:56 Views: 222

A domain name is often confused with a URL, but they are different things.


URL stands for Uniform Resource Locator and refers to the entire address used to visit a website, including all those colons and slashes. This address includes the domain name. 


Domain names are Internet house numbers, and there are no domains alike in the world. The first step for a business to get online presence is to apply for a domain name for their company. A registered domain name does not equal to a URL, as some domains are only for investment or backup use. Only after the domain name is resolved (i.e., converted into IP address) is it a URL. Every content page on the website has a corresponding URL.


The URL for the Zname website would be 'https://www.zname.com'. This contains the 'hypertext transfer protocol secure' (https), telling the browser that you are using a domain name instead of an IP Address and the secure part lets visitors know that their information is safe. This is then followed by the domain name itself (www.zname.com or zname.com — both are valid). This points to the server where the website is hosted and the particular files on that server to be accessed.