What does the acronym URL stand for in web development?

The acronym URL stands for Uniform Resource Locator. This term is widely used in web development and refers to the specific address used to access resources on the internet. A URL includes the protocol (such as HTTP or HTTPS), the domain name (like www.example.com), and possibly a path and query string that directs the web browser to a specific resource or page on the server.

The term "uniform" indicates that the format of the address is consistent and standardized, allowing browsers and other tools to interpret the URL correctly regardless of the type of resource being accessed. This standardization is crucial for ensuring that users can find and access resources reliably, such as web pages, images, videos, and files hosted on servers.