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URL Parser

Understanding URL Structure

A URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is the address of a resource on the web. Understanding its components is essential for developers, SEO professionals, and anyone working with web technologies.

URL Components Breakdown

https://user:pass@example.com:443/blog/article?id=123&sort=asc#section2

  • Protocol: https: — Defines how data is transmitted (http, https, ftp, etc.)
  • Credentials: user:pass@ — Optional authentication (rarely used in modern web)
  • Hostname: example.com — The domain name or IP address
  • Port: :443 — Optional (default: 80 for HTTP, 443 for HTTPS)
  • Path: /blog/article — The specific resource or page
  • Query String: ?id=123&sort=asc — Parameters sent to the server
  • Hash/Fragment: #section2 — Client-side anchor (not sent to server)

💡 Expert Tip: Clean URLs for SEO

Search engines prefer clean, readable URLs like /products/laptops over /product.php?cat=2&id=45. Use hyphens (not underscores) to separate words. Keep URLs short, descriptive, and include keywords. Avoid session IDs and excessive parameters—they create duplicate content issues.

⚠️ Common Mistake: Hash vs Query Parameters

Many developers confuse hash fragments with query parameters. Remember: hash (#) is client-side only—it never reaches your server. If you need to track something on the server (analytics, A/B tests), use query parameters (?) instead. Single-Page Apps (SPAs) often use hash routing, but modern frameworks prefer the History API.

Practical Use Cases

  • Debugging: Check if API endpoints are correctly formatted
  • SEO Analysis: Extract and analyze URL structure for optimization
  • Web Scraping: Parse URLs to extract domain and parameters
  • Security: Validate URLs before redirects to prevent phishing

Reviewed by: Alex Rivera, Senior Web Developer
Last updated: November 27, 2025

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the parts of a URL?

A URL consists of Protocol, Hostname, Port, Path, Query String, and Hash. For example: https://example.com:443/products?category=tech#reviews

What is the difference between query parameters and hash?

Query parameters (?key=value) are sent to the server for server-side logic. The hash (#section) is client-side only and used for in-page navigation.

How do I extract query parameters from a URL?

In JavaScript, use the URL API: new URL(urlString).searchParams.get('key'). Our URL Parser extracts all components automatically.

What is URL encoding?

URL encoding converts special characters into a web-safe format. Spaces become %20, & becomes %26, etc. Use encodeURIComponent() in JavaScript.