A URL (Uniform Resource Locator) functions as an address for identifying and locating a specific resource on the internet. It consists of various parts, including the protocol, domain name, and path to the specific resource.

When a user enters a URL in the address bar of a web browser and hits Enter, the browser sends a request to the web server associated with the domain. The protocol in the URL determines how the browser and server communicate and whether the connection is secure or not.

Upon receiving the request, the web server looks for the requested resource and sends it back to the browser. The browser receives the resource and interprets the instructions on the web page to display it on the screen.

URLs allow for quick and easy access to specific resources on the internet, such as web pages, images, or video files.