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Uniform Resource Identifier (URI)

PropertyValue
descriptionUniform Resource Identifier (URI)
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Overview​

A URI, or Uniform Resource Identifier, is a standardized string used to identify a resource, location, or name within a system.

It matters because URIs underpin linking, routing, web architecture, APIs, and identifier schemes. The term is broader than a URL and includes related forms such as URNs.

What A URI Is​

A URI is a standardized identifier string for a resource.

It may point to a location, identify a name, or do both depending on the scheme and context.

That broader definition is why URI is more general than URL.

URI vs URL vs URN​

A URL is a kind of URI focused on locating a resource.

A URN is a kind of URI focused on naming a resource.

The term URI is the broader umbrella that covers both patterns.

That distinction matters when discussing standards, APIs, and identifier syntax precisely.

Why It Matters​

URIs are fundamental to linking, routing, web requests, APIs, and many identifier systems beyond the web browser.

They are part of how systems refer to resources consistently across protocols and applications.

That makes URI literacy important whenever a team works with web architecture or standards-aware documentation.

Strengths​

The URI concept provides a general, standards-based way to talk about identifiers without collapsing everything into one narrower idea.

That precision is useful when designing protocols, APIs, and documentation.

It also helps avoid confusion between naming and locating.

Tradeoffs​

In casual conversation, people often say URL when URI would be more precise.

That is usually acceptable informally, but the distinction matters in technical writing and standards contexts.

The main tradeoff is complexity: the broader term is more correct, but less familiar to many people.

Frequently Asked Questions​

Is every URL a URI?​

Yes. URLs are a subset of URIs.

Is every URI a URL?​

No. Some URIs identify resources without functioning as ordinary locators.

Why do people still say URL most of the time?​

Because it is more familiar in everyday web language, even when URI is technically broader.

Resources​