With time passing, technology is becoming more and more advanced. So people want to stay updated as much as they can.
With more people taking an interest in the technology field, they need to know about the basics of computers and understand the differences between them.
A domain name and a URL are two basic terms used in computer networking.
A domain name addresses a particular website that a person has to type in the browser’s URL bar to visit that website. There are millions of websites globally, so each one needs a unique name to be identified by the users.
A domain name works with a domain name system. This system includes a top-level domain, DNS caching and an authoritative DNS server.
URL stands for a uniform resource locator. a URL tells a user the location of a web resource. It is also used for transferring files, emails and database access.
It is displayed on the address bar of its page. It comprises various features such as HTTP, FTP and multiple parameters. It also includes a domain name, path port, etc.
URLs are of two types, i.e. absolute URLs and relative URLs.
Key Takeaways
- A Domain Name is a unique name that identifies a website and is used for address resolution, while a URL is a complete address that specifies the exact location of a web page.
- A Domain Name is easier to remember and promotes brand recognition, while a URL is a technical specification used by web browsers to locate web pages.
- A Domain Name can be purchased and registered, while a URL cannot be purchased and is automatically generated based on the website’s structure.
Domain Name vs URL
A domain name is a unique address that identifies a website online. It consists of a name, followed by a dot, and then an extension; a URL, or Uniform Resource Locator, is the complete web address that specifies the location of a particular web page or resource on the internet.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | Domain Name | URL |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | It is defined as the address of a website. | It specifies the web resource’s location on a computer network. |
| Uses | It is used to find a particular website. | It is used to refer a user to a specific web resource. |
| Subdivisions | A top-level domain, DNS caching and authoritative DNS server. | It comprises parameters, ports, protocols, domains, etc. |
| First used | 15 March 1985. | 1994. |
| Example | maths.algebra.first.edu | http://mathsfirst.com |
What is Domain Name?
The domain name is the name or address a person types on the browser URL bar to visit a particular website. We can narrate it as an address of a website.
The internet is full of various websites. It is a big network, so every website it contains needs a unique name or address to be identified among millions of other websites.
The working of a domain name includes a whole system known as the domain name system. This system provides a translation between the hostname and the IP address.
These hostnames are managed by the companies hosting the websites. The domain name system or DNS consists of various features that work together to run the system.
The DNS includes a top-level domain, DNS caching and an authoritative DNS server.
The DNS caching saves the domain names mostly used by a particular user, so they don’t have to go through the whole process again.
Top-level domain or TLD contains .org, .com, .edu and all the top-level country domains like .in, etc.
The authoritative server includes all IP addresses of the organisation servers. In brief, to create a website, a person needs to have a domain name for that website.
What is URL?
URL stands for uniform resource locator. It is used to refer a user to a web resource. It specifies the location of the web resource on a computer network.
We can also use URLs for transferring files, database access, email, etc. The URL of every web page is displayed on that web page’s address bar.
The resources pointed out by the URL can be a document, HTML page, image, video, etc.
However, these resources are handled by the web servers, so the owners of these web servers are responsible for managing the URL of the web pages.
Users can type a URL in the browser’s address bar to visit a particular web page.
A URL comprises protocols, domain name, port, path link, parameters, etc. It includes HTTP, mailto and FTP protocols.
A protocol helps in the exchange or transfer of data between computers. It also consists of the port. A port is a technical “gate” used to access resources.
There are two types of URLs, i.e. an absolute URL and a relative URL. An absolute URL is the one that a user types in the browser address bar. It does not have the protocols or ports written in it.
In contrast, a relative URL is the one a user writes within a document. In this case, the browser is already aware of such URLs.
Main Differences Between Domain Names and URL
- A domain name is defined as a website’s address, whereas a URL or uniform resource locator specifies the web resource’s location on a computer network.
- A domain name is used to find a particular website, whereas a URL refers a user to a specific web resource. A domain name comes under URL.
- Domain name uses a complete system called a domain name system. It includes a top-level domain, DNS caching and an authoritative DNS server. In contrast, URL consists of features like parameters, ports, protocols, domains, etc.
- An example of a domain name is project.bluered.feature.edu. Whereas ab example of a URL is http://exampleurl.com
- The first-ever domain name was registered on 15 March 1985. on the other hand, a URL was first time defined by Tim Berners-Lee in 1994.
- https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-662-48683-2_27
- https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/7024424/
Last Updated : 11 June, 2023
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Sandeep Bhandari holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Computers from Thapar University (2006). He has 20 years of experience in the technology field. He has a keen interest in various technical fields, including database systems, computer networks, and programming. You can read more about him on his bio page.
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I appreciate the detailed explanation of DNS and its function within the domain name system. The clear examples aid in understanding these complex concepts.
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