What is an "absolute URL"?

An absolute URL is a complete web address that provides all the necessary information to locate a resource on the internet. This includes the protocol (such as HTTP or HTTPS), the domain name (which identifies the specific website), and the path to the resource on that server. For example, "https://www.example.com/images/photo.jpg" is an absolute URL; it clearly indicates the method of access (https), the domain (www.example.com), and the specific location of a file on that domain (/images/photo.jpg).

The primary characteristic of an absolute URL is its self-sufficiency; it can be accessed directly from any web browser without needing any additional context. This makes it distinctly different from other types of URLs, such as relative URLs, which rely on the context of the current page’s location.

Understanding absolute URLs is crucial for web development and design because they ensure that links remain valid regardless of the user's location within a website structure.