url

The Difference Between URLs and URIs

I had, for decades, referred anything residing online as a ‘file’ and its address as a ‘URL’ to be accessed from the browser. However, I uncovered an interesting truth in my online research with a term called ‘URI’ or ‘Uniform Resource Identifier’:

One can classify URIs as locators (URLs), or as names (URNs), or as both. A Uniform Resource Name (URN) functions like a person’s name, while a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) resembles that person’s street address. In other words: the URN defines an item’s identity, while the URL provides a method for finding it.

The article further states that the term ‘URL’ has become or is becoming deprecated. Though it shows examples of a URI which it says, can also be called a URL, causing confusion. Furthermore, we don’t know the design implications of using the URI/URL terms intermittently, which usually takes a while before it enters popular tech lexicon. Considering this, and to avoid a confusing situation (or spark a debate in a meeting or chat), I would suggest using ‘URL’ for now.

Source: The Difference Between URLs and URIs

Acrobat’s URL Parsing Option

The story began when I suddenly found that a URL was being parsed from the PDF document of a case study, which I had created. The original document was made using InDesign CS and I was pretty sure that I had not inserted a bookmark/hyperlink anywhere. The object in question was a URL and an email ID (corporate.engineering@tcs.com). Once opened in Acrobat Reader 7, the links used to become live. The second problem which I faced here was that although the URL was parsed properly, the email ID was faulty. So instead of corporate.engineering@tcs.com it parsed only engineering@tcs.com.

After searching high and low, I finally got some answers. Acrobat Reader (6 & 7) comes with an option of automatically parsing text as URLs (see Edit › Preferences › General). In the case of the email, it was discovered that it took the ‘.’ (in the corporate’.’ engineering@tcs.com) as a full stop (and therefore an end to the sentence) and parsed the later half of it as an email :) This was a pleasant revelation for me. I am relieved of a great worry.