Uniform Resource Identifier facts for kids

A Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) is like a special address or name for anything on the Internet. Think of it as a unique label that helps computers find and understand different things online.

URIs are similar to URLs (which you might know as web addresses), but URIs are a bit broader. A URL is actually a type of URI!

What is a URI?

A URI is a short string of characters that identifies a resource. A resource can be anything from a webpage, an image, a video, or even an email address. It's like a digital fingerprint for that specific item.

How URIs Work

URIs help computers know exactly what you're looking for. When you click a link or type an address, a URI is often working behind the scenes. It tells your computer where to go or what information to get.

Imagine you have a huge library. A URI is like the unique call number for each book, magazine, or even a specific chapter. It helps you find exactly what you need in that vast collection.

URI Examples

Here are some common examples of URIs you might see:

• `ftp://example.org/resource.txt`

* This URI points to a file named `resource.txt` on a server using the File Transfer Protocol (FTP).

• `issn:1535-3613`

* This URI identifies a magazine or journal using its ISSN. It's a way to name a publication.

• `mailto:somebody@someplace.com`

* This URI is used for sending an email to a specific address.

URIs and URLs

It's easy to get URIs and URLs mixed up because they are very similar.

• A URI is a general way to identify something. It answers the question "What is it?"
• A URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is a type of URI that also tells you *how* to find something and *where* it is. It answers the question "Where is it and how do I get it?"

Think of it this way: All URLs are URIs, but not all URIs are URLs. A URL gives you the exact location, like a street address. A URI might just be a name, like "The Eiffel Tower," without telling you how to get there.

Most of the web addresses you use every day, like `https://www.wikipedia.org`, are URLs. They are also URIs because they identify a resource.

Why are URIs Important?

URIs are super important for how the internet works. They make sure that every piece of information or resource has a unique identifier. This helps computers and programs communicate and find things reliably. Without URIs, the internet would be a very confusing place, and it would be hard to share or access information.