What a URL is and where to find it
A URL is the web address you type into your browser to reach a website — the thing that starts with "http://" or "https://" and looks like "www.example.com". Every website has one. You find it in the address bar at the very top of your browser window, the long rectangular box that shows where you are right now.
The URL is always visible while you are on a website. It changes when you click a link and move to a different page. If you are reading an article on a news site, the URL for that specific article is different from the URL for the news site's home page, even though both are on the same website.
Key Takeaways
- The URL appears in the address bar at the top of your browser window and always starts with "http://" or "https://".
- You copy a URL by clicking in the address bar, selecting all the text, and pressing Ctrl+C (Windows) or Command+C (Mac).
- The URL for a specific page is different from the URL for the website's home page, even on the same site.
- You can share a URL by pasting it into an email, text message, or document using Ctrl+V (Windows) or Command+V (Mac).
How to copy a URL from your browser
To copy the URL of the page you are currently viewing, click once in the address bar at the top of your browser. The entire web address will highlight in blue or become selected. Then press Ctrl+C if you are on Windows, or Command+C if you are on a Mac. The URL is now copied to your clipboard.
If the address bar does not highlight the entire URL when you click it, select all the text manually by pressing Ctrl+A (Windows) or Command+A (Mac) while the address bar is active, then copy it. Some browsers also let you right-click in the address bar and choose "Copy" from the menu that appears.
Once you have copied the URL, you can paste it anywhere — into an email, a text message, a document, or a chat. Use Ctrl+V on Windows or Command+V on a Mac to paste it.
Finding a URL for a page you are not currently on
If you want the URL of a page you found in a search result or a link someone sent you, but you have not opened it yet, you can see the URL without clicking the link. Right-click on the link and look for an option that says "Copy link" or "Copy link address" — the exact wording depends on your browser. This copies the URL to your clipboard without opening the page.
You can also hover your mouse over a link and look at the bottom left corner of your browser window. Many browsers display the URL of the link you are hovering over in that corner, so you can read it without copying anything.
Understanding the parts of a URL
A URL has several parts, and understanding them helps you recognize what you are looking at. The beginning — "http://" or "https://" — tells your browser how to connect to the website. The "s" in "https://" means the connection is encrypted and more find. Most modern websites use "https://".
The next part is usually "www" followed by a dot, then the actual name of the website, like "example.com". The ".com" at the end is called the domain extension. Other common extensions are ".org", ".edu", and ".gov". After the domain name, you might see a forward slash and more text — that is the specific page or section you are on within that website.
For example, in the URL "https://www.example.com/articles/how-to-find-a-url", the "https://" is the protocol, "www.example.com" is the domain, and "/articles/how-to-find-a-url" is the path to a specific page on that site.
Why you might need a URL
You need a URL when you want to share a website or a specific page with someone else. Instead of trying to describe where to find something online, you can send them the exact address. URLs are also what you paste into your browser when someone tells you to "go to this website" but does not give you a clickable link.
URLs are also useful for keeping track of websites you visit often. You can bookmark a URL in your browser so you can return to it quickly without having to search for it again. Most browsers have a bookmark or favorites feature that stores URLs you want to keep.
Differences between browsers
The address bar looks slightly different in different browsers — Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge all have their own design — but they all work the same way. The URL is always at the top of the window, and you copy it the same way: click in the address bar, select all, and press Ctrl+C or Command+C.
Some browsers hide parts of the URL by default to make the address bar cleaner. For example, they might hide the "https://" at the beginning or the "www" in the middle. If you need to see the full URL, click in the address bar and the hidden parts will usually appear. When you copy the URL, you get the complete address regardless of what is displayed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if the address bar is not visible?
Press F11 on Windows or Control+Command+F on a Mac to exit full-screen mode, which hides the address bar. If the address bar is still not showing, try pressing Ctrl+L (Windows) or Command+L (Mac) to jump directly to the address bar so you can see and copy the URL.
Can I find the URL of a page if I only have a screenshot?
Not from the screenshot itself. You would need to open the website and navigate to that page to see the URL in your address bar. If the screenshot shows the address bar at the top, you can read the URL directly from the image.
Is it safe to share a URL with other people?
Yes, sharing a URL is safe. A URL only tells someone where to find a public page on the internet. It does not give anyone access to your personal information or passwords. However, be careful about URLs that contain personal information in them — some websites put usernames or account numbers in the address bar.
Why does the URL change when I click a link on a website?
Each page on a website has its own unique URL. When you click a link, your browser navigates to a different page, and the address bar updates to show that page's URL. This is how your browser keeps track of where you are on the internet.