Uniform Resource Locators (continued)

To understand URLs, you must understand directory structures, which define how the Internet reaches a specific file after reaching a specific computer on the Internet. When you use files on your system, those files are typically organized by:

disk directory sub-directory specific file

The entire address (from disk to specific file) is always required to locate a specific file.

Click on the Browse button below to navigate to a specific file on your computer (try to find a file buried several levels into your computer):

The file you select might have an address similar to the following:

C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\Winword.exe

C:\   is the disk
Program Files  is a main directory on the C: drive
Microsoft Office  is a sub-directory below \Program Files
Office  is a sub-directory below \Microsoft Office
Winword.exe  is a specific file

note that the backslash (\) separates each level

But, you can see how every single file has a specific address on your computer that is different from any other file on your computer (if it didn't, all hell would break loose!).

Addressing for the Web

Addresses work a little differently in the web world, but the concept is the same:

http://www.grantcom.us/IMAGES/logo.gif

http://www.grantcom.us/  is the IP address/domain name and the default directory
IMAGES/  is a sub-directory one level below the main directory for www.pubsnet.com
logo.gif  is a specific file

note that the slash (/) separates each level

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