# Dissecting the Anatomy of a URL | Capterra > The URL you choose matters for SEO optimization, user experience, etc. Discover the parts of a URL and how they influence your presence online. Source: https://www.capterra.com/resources/anatomy-of-the-url --- Small Business SEOMarketing # Anatomy of a URL: How to Build a Perfect URL Structure for SEO Written by: Krista Hillis Krista HillisAuthor Krista Hillis is a writer specializing in business, health, and psychology. She is a frequent contributor to trusted business resources including Capterra. [See bio & all articles](https://www.capterra.com/resources/author/krista-hillis-guest-contributor/) Published November 20, 2023 9 min read Table of Contents - [What are the different parts of a URL?](#what-are-the-different-parts-of-a-url) - [How does a URL work?](#how-does-a-url-work) - [How can I create a URL structure that is good for SEO?](#how-can-i-create-a-url-structure-that-is-good-for-seo) - [What are some common URL anatomy mistakes to avoid?](#what-are-some-common-url-anatomy-mistakes-to-avoid) - [How can I optimize my URLs for specific keywords?](#how-can-i-optimize-my-urls-for-specific-keywords) - [How can I track the performance of my URLs?](#how-can-i-track-the-performance-of-my-urls) - [Take your next steps in optimizing your URL](#take-your-next-steps-in-optimizing-your-url) ## Understand the parts of a URL and why they matter with this guide. Your URL is your identity online—it's how people find your site, but what exactly is a URL? URL stands for uniform resource locator, which everyone commonly knows as a website address, such as [https://www.capterra.com/](https://www.capterra.com/). You could think of your website as your home and the URL as your home address. It determines where your website lives on the internet.  However, many are unaware of what's happening behind the scenes—the anatomy of the URL they choose matters. The parts of a URL impact everything from user experience to your [SEO](https://www.capterra.com/resources/local-seo-strategy-and-guide/) strategy, making it imperative that you optimize your URL. ## What are the different parts of a URL? A website URL seems simple. You likely have your website URL in several places—your [social media](https://www.capterra.com/social-media-management-software/s/free/) channels, business cards, etc. However, the breakdown of URL components unveils a more complex story. All parts of a URL are important concerning your site functions. So, you must understand the basic anatomy of a URL and the more advanced components. Diving deeper could help you optimize the performance of your website and SEO strategy. _Screenshot example of a URL_ Here are the ten parts to consider. Parts 1-5 are relatively basic, whereas parts 6-10 are more advanced. 1. Scheme (or protocol) tells servers which protocolto use—such as HTTPS. For example, [**https**://www.capterra.com/resources/category/marketing/](https://www.capterra.com/resources/category/marketing/). Other less common protocols include TCP and SMTP. 2. The subdomain indicates which site page the web browser should present. Subdomains can bucket your site into main categories. The most common subdomain is “www,” which stands for the World Wide Web. This brings users to the main directory of a site—typically where your homepage lives. For example, https://**www**.capterra.com/resources/category/marketing/. 3. The second-level domain is the name of your site. It helps visitors know what brand's site they're visiting. For example, https://www.**capterra**.com/resources/category/marketing/. 4. The top-level domain showcases the type of entity (e.g., an American business will often use .com, whereas a university would use .edu). For example, https://www.capterra.**com**/resources/category/marketing/. 5. The subdirectory is like a subfolder that helps visitors and web crawlers determine what section of a webpage they're on. For example, https://www.capterra.com/**resources/category/marketing/**. 6. The port is a number used to specify a connection endpoint. It also helps direct data to a specific service. An HTTP server's port number is 80, whereas an HTTPS server's port is 443. 7. The path specifies a file or resource location. In this case, https://www.capterra.com/resources/what-is-targeted-advertising/, the path is **what-is-targeted-advertising**. 8. A query is what someone searches for. Users will see the query in the URL if your website has a search bar. In this example, https://www.capterra.com/search/?search=software[,](https://www.capterra.com/search/?search=software,) **software** is the query. 9. Parameters are linked to a query and represent variables after the question mark. They help users and search engines gather additional information about a page. Another common use of parameters is the ability to track marketing campaigns using [analytical tools](https://www.capterra.com/data-analysis-software/s/free/). For example, UTM parameters are simple code snippets at the end of a URL that allow you to track the performance of a page or marketing campaign. For example, https://www.capterra.com/ insights/brand-reputation-audit ?**utm\_medium**\=social& **utm\_source**\=quora\_comm& **utm\_campaign**\=article& **utm\_content**\=read\_more 10. Fragments relate to exact locations on a web page based on specific headings or queries entered in search engines. Any URL that contains a # character is a fragment URL. The # character is followed by an identifier, referring to a section of a page. For example, https://www.examplebusiness.com/about**#founder**. There are variations on these parts. However, the above is a comprehensive overview that covers all aspects of a potential fully-optimized URL. ## How does a URL work? You know how to get to a site—type in the URL and press enter. However, do you know what happens the moment after you press enter?  The first step in understanding this process is knowing how websites, servers, and IP addresses relate to your URL.  Your website is a collection of files—often images, CSS, HTML, and JavaScript. These files tell your website how to present and display the content on your site. Since these files need to be accessible to all, wherever they may be, hosting these files on your home computer isn't reliable or scalable. Instead, they are stored on an external computer connected to the web—called a server.  When you type in a URL, your browser must determine which server is hosting the site. It achieves this by looking up the domain. The domain name system (DNS) can be used to find the IP address—a unique string of characters that identifies a device connected to the internet. The process is complex, involving data that is cached at varying levels. The unique identifier of a host is your IP address, whereas the unique identifier of a page is called the URL. Much like a postal code, your URL indicates where the host computer is, the website's location, the page's name, and individual file types, among other things.  The moment you type in a URL and press enter or click on a link, your browser looks up the IP address for the domain. Your browser then initiates a connection with the server, sending the HTTP request. The server then processes the request and sends it back so the browser can render the content.[\[1\]](#sources) ## How can I create a URL structure that is good for SEO? Regardless of the size or scope of your website, one thing is certain—you need a clear, consistent URL structure. It is crucial to perfect this structure before creating content, especially if your site contains multi-level categories or a well-built-out blog. When you're proactive with this, you can help ensure a better user experience, plan content accordingly, and improve how visitors navigate your site. With that in mind, consider the following: - Write a URL for the user, not Google. This tip applies to all SEO-friendly content—write for humans, not bots. URL hierarchy is also important. - Make your URL short and simple while optimizing for keywords. Taking this step can help readers understand what page content is all about. Plus, optimized URLs help search engines deliver the most relevant results. - Opt for HTTPS over HTTP to make your website more credible and secure. HTTPS remains a valuable signal of site quality and is favored by Google. - All website URLs should be descriptive—focus on the page or post title, understanding that short URLs often rank better. Here is an example that clearly showcases what a site visitor can expect: [https://www.capterra.com/resources/category/buying-software/](https://www.capterra.com/resources/category/buying-software/). - Use hyphens to separate words so that they're easier to read—like "buying-software" in the above link.  - Redirect all old URLs as you build out your site. If you change your URL structure, add permanent 301 redirects. If someone clicks on an old link, they're redirected to the new URL instead of a broken 404 error page.  Remember, not all sites use the same URL structure—and that's fine. The purpose of the site will dictate the URL structure—for example, an [eCommerce](https://www.capterra.com/ecommerce-software/) site may be structured differently than a site used specifically for blogging. Regardless, the same rules apply concerning basic best practices, such as those mentioned above. The main considerations to be kept in mind while creating a URL will be: - How big your site is concerning the number of category and subcategory pages. - Where the majority of content will live on your site—for example, /blog/ or /shop/ or /locations/. - How you'll prioritize content when aiming to drive traffic and boost your ranking—this will determine how you structure your URL for SEO. For example, if you aim to build a high-authority blog, start planning your blog based on categories/subcategories to gauge their navigational hierarchy in your URL structure. ## What are some common URL anatomy mistakes to avoid? If you make common mistakes that result in a bad URL design, your site may not be found, clicked on, or visited.  Try to avoid: - Creating long, complex URLs that are difficult to remember and share for users as search engines may have issues indexing them. - Do not use underscores. Instead, use hyphens, as search engines may interpret underscores as spaces, creating confusion about what's on the page. - Using stop words such as _the, and, or, a_, etc. - The use of non-alphanumeric characters, such as _%, &, $,_ and more. - Not prioritizing a consistent URL structure, such as www.capterra.com/category/subcategory/resource. In contrast, an inconsistent URL would not be organized based on folders/directories and may contain a combination of lower and uppercase letters—for example, www.example.com/P=236. ## How can I optimize my URLs for specific keywords? If you want to optimize your URLs for search engines, include keywords—but don't stuff them. It's best to choose a single keyword, include it in your URL, and then allow the content on the page to drive the rest of the conversation.  Including relevant keywords will help humans and bots understand what your pages' content includes. Pro tip Include a long-tail keyword as your URL slug if you can. You can discover what these keywords are using [keyword research tools](https://www.capterra.com/keyword-research-tools-software/). ## How can I track the performance of my URLs? UTM parameters are used to track URL performance—all you need is an [analytics tool](https://www.capterra.com/web-analytics-software/). UTM tracking involves a snippet of code at the end of your URL. With this approach, you can track the performance of campaigns and content while tracking the source of your website traffic. You’ll better understand where traffic comes from, how it reaches you, and why it’s generating traffic. Here are some examples: - Campaign-based tracking, such as a promotion you’re running. For example, (utm\_campaign=10\_off). - Track what website is sending you traffic, including social platforms. For example, (utm\_source=instagram). - Keep an eye on the mediums your tracked link is featured in, such as email. For example, (utm\_medium=email). - Keyword-based tracking codes identify the terms you’ve paid for, such as “marketing platform) (utm\_term=marketing+platform). ## Take your next steps in optimizing your URL Creating a URL may seem simple, and it is—if you understand the science behind it. Prioritize the restructuring of your URL if it doesn't tick the boxes discussed above. If you are interested in staying informed about ongoing trends, be sure to check out Capterra’s latest resources: - [Best URL Shortener Software 2023](https://www.capterra.com/url-shortener-software/) - [Best SEO Software](https://www.capterra.com/seo-software/) ## Capterra's 2026 Software Buying Trends Report ### Download our 2026 Software Buying Trends Report to see how successful software adopters avoid disappointment and how your business can, too. * * * Sources 1. [What happens when you type a URL into your browser?](https://aws.amazon.com/blogs/mobile/what-happens-when-you-type-a-url-into-your-browser/) AWS * * * ### Was this article helpful? * * * ## About the Author [### Krista Hillis](https://www.capterra.com/resources/author/krista-hillis-guest-contributor/) Krista Hillis is a writer specializing in business, health, and psychology. 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