URL vs. URI vs. URN: Know the Difference

Wondering why the web seems to throw around acronyms like URL and URI (and URN, perhaps) as if they were the same? Are URLs just old-fashioned URIs, and can you still call a URL a URL? Does it even matter? Find out here how to cut through the jargon and know the difference of URL vs URI and URN ⤓ — and navigate the web’s naming conventions with confident nonchalance.

First, Mammals at Swimming School

When aquatic creatures gather loosely and roam sea and waters, they form a shoal — no matter the species or number.

Fish convening and swimming in tight, coordinated groups that dazzle the eye form a school. Mammals braving the currents together, meanwhile, are called pods — a “pod of dolphins,” for instance, or a “shoal,” of course, if they’ve brought along a few shrimp and porpoises.

With the names of aquatic groups sorted, let’s dive into the vast ocean of web resources — where URLs, URIs and the occasional URN swim in schools and shoals:

URL vs. URI vs. URN: Know the Difference

The Bottom Line

 
Use “URL” and “URI” synonymously for resources on a network (such as pages on the internet). “URL” is the term most commonly used.

A “URN” gives a resource a unique and permanent name (independent from its location).
 

URI: Uniform Resource Identifier

The Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) is a way to uniquely identify a document, stream, host or other resource.

This identification can happen by, among other things, name, location, hash code or phone number. So, URIs cover a broad range of resources beyond websites including email addresses or phone numbers, for example.

A URI is made up of the identifying scheme, a colon, and the identifier. The identifier’s format will depend on the scheme.

URI Examples

URL: Uniform Resource Locator

The Uniform Resource Locator (URL) is a URI whose identifier is a location on the network.

The location can be given using any workable protocol, e.g, HTTPS, FTP, FILE, or a relative path. It is possible for the resource to move. The URL will still point to the same location, however. So, a URL tells you where to look but not what you will find there — or if anything is there at all.

If a page on the web has moved or disappeared, your browser may receive a HTTP 404 error, be redirected to another URL, or just find nothing at all.

URL Examples

Universally Informed Now?

⇆ Buy La De Du a tea

Tips help fuel these email and tech how-tos.

URN: Uniform Resource Name

The Uniform Resource Name (URN) is a URI whose identifier is a unique name.

The name identifies the resource permanently and uniquely, even if the resource moves. It does not itself tell you where to find or how to retrieve the resource.

Using additional resources and conventions, it is possible to resolve the URN to a location, e.g., locate a book from its ISBN number in your library.

URNs congenitally take the format urn: followed by the namespace identifier and the name.

URN Examples

URL vs. URI vs. URN — Know the Difference: Overview

URL vs. URI vs. URN — Know the Difference: FAQ

Is a URL (like “https://ladedu.com”) a URI?

Yes.

Every URL is also a URI. Conversely, not every URI is a URL.

So I can call “https://ladedu.com” a URI?

Yes.

Can I still call “https://ladedu.com” a URL?

Yes.

You can choose more or less freely whether to call addresses of web resources “URL” or “URI”. “URL” is the common term. Do use “URI” when you mean "either URL or URN", though, to include the latter.

Is it possible to link to URNs?

Yes.

You can link to any URI inside a HTML a href, for example. If the link is a URN, the browser can decide how (or whether) to resolve the name to a displayable resource.
Example: <a href="urn:isbn:9780195103175">URN</a>.
Note: Browsers typically will not try to resolve such names in any way and send you to a search engine or AI’s results instead.

Is a URN (like “urn:isbn:9780195103175”) a URI?

Yes.

Every URN is a URI. At the same time, not every URI is a URN.

What you typically will encounter on the web as a URI today will not be a URN but a URL

You can call a URN either a URN or a URI, depending on how specific you want to be.

What URN namespaces are there?

You can find an up to date list of possible namespaces for URN names at IANA.

(First published June 2025, last updated May 2026)