Hupspot Guide to the Parts of a URL

Understanding each part of a URL is essential for anyone using Hubspot to manage content, track campaigns, or improve search performance. When you know how URLs are structured, you can build cleaner links, diagnose tracking issues, and create a better experience for visitors.

This guide explains every major component of a URL, how it works in a browser, and how marketers can use that knowledge in day-to-day work.

What Is a URL and Why It Matters in Hubspot

A URL, or Uniform Resource Locator, is the full address that tells a browser where to find a resource on the internet. It includes several parts that together describe:

• The protocol used to connect
• The domain that owns the content
• The path to the specific page or file
• Any extra information, such as tracking parameters

When you publish landing pages, blog posts, or knowledge base articles, the URL structure affects how users and search engines understand and trust your content.

The Main Parts of a URL Explained

A typical URL can include these elements:

• Protocol
• Subdomain
• Domain name
• Top-level domain (TLD)
• Port (optional)
• Path
• Query parameters
• Fragment identifier

Each part plays a different role in how browsers, servers, and analytics tools interpret the address.

Protocol and Security for Hubspot Pages

The protocol sits at the beginning of a URL and tells the browser how to communicate with the server.

Common Protocols

• http:// – Hypertext Transfer Protocol, not encrypted.
• https:// – Secure HTTP, encrypted with SSL/TLS.

Modern sites should use https:// for security and user trust. Search engines also treat HTTPS as a positive ranking signal, which benefits marketing pages and blogs.

Why HTTPS Matters for Hubspot Users

When you use secure URLs:

• Visitor data is encrypted in transit.
• Browsers avoid showing security warnings.
• SEO performance can improve over time.

Always ensure your site redirects from http:// to https:// so visitors land on the secure version of your content.

Subdomain, Domain, and TLD in Hubspot URLs

The next segment of a URL identifies where the content is hosted on the internet.

Subdomain

The subdomain appears before the main domain and is separated by a dot. Examples include:

• www. – the most common subdomain
• blog. – often used for a blog section
• app. or support. – used for specific functions or tools

Subdomains help divide content areas or tools while staying under the same brand.

Domain Name

The domain name is the core brand identifier in a URL, such as example in https://www.example.com. It is what users typically remember and search for.

Top-Level Domain (TLD)

The TLD appears after the domain name, such as:

• .com – commercial and very common
• .org – organizations, often non-profits
• .net, .io, and others – various use cases

Country-specific TLDs, like .co.uk or .de, can signal regional content.

Ports and Their Role

A port is an optional part of a URL that indicates a specific channel on the server. It usually appears after the domain, preceded by a colon, such as :80 or :443.

• Port 80 is the default for HTTP.
• Port 443 is the default for HTTPS.

Most public-facing marketing URLs omit the port because browsers assume the default values. You typically see custom ports when working with development environments or internal tools.

Paths: Directing Visitors to Specific Content

The path portion of a URL appears after the domain and points to a specific resource on the site. For example:

https://www.example.com/blog/url-structure-guide

Here, /blog/url-structure-guide is the path. It often mirrors the folder and file structure on the server, but in modern web apps it may be virtual, controlled by routing rules rather than physical folders.

Best Practices for Paths

• Use descriptive, human-readable words.
• Separate words with hyphens, not underscores.
• Avoid unnecessary numbers or random strings.
• Keep paths as short as possible while still clear.

Clean, descriptive paths help visitors understand where they are on a site and assist search engines in interpreting content.

Query Parameters for Tracking and Filters

Query parameters appear after a question mark in a URL and pass additional data to the server or application.

Example:

https://www.example.com/pricing?utm_source=newsletter&utm_campaign=q1-launch

In this example:

• utm_source and utm_campaign are parameter keys.
• newsletter and q1-launch are their values.

Common Uses of Query Parameters

• Marketing campaign tracking (UTM tags).
• Filtering or sorting products.
• Controlling pagination.

Because parameters make URLs longer and sometimes harder to read, use them only when needed. For evergreen content, avoid relying on parameters for the main page version, and prefer clean paths.

Fragments and On-Page Navigation

A fragment identifier, also called an anchor, appears after a hash symbol (#) at the end of a URL.

Example:

https://www.example.com/guide#url-parameters

The browser uses the fragment to jump to a specific section of the page, usually linked to an element with a matching ID.

How Fragments Work

• They never go to the server; they are processed by the browser.
• They improve user experience by taking visitors directly to a section.
• They are useful for long-form guides or documentation.

Because fragments do not change the underlying content, they normally do not affect how the server handles the page.

How Marketers Can Use URL Structure Effectively

Knowing how URLs are built helps you diagnose issues and optimize campaigns.

Checklist for Strong URLs

1. Use HTTPS for all public content.
2. Keep domains and paths short, clear, and branded.
3. Organize content with logical, descriptive paths.
4. Add tracking parameters consistently where analytics require them.
5. Use fragments to create easy navigation in long resources.

Consistent URL patterns make reporting, sharing, and troubleshooting much easier for marketing and sales teams.

Learn More About URL Structure

For a detailed breakdown of each part of a URL, including examples and diagrams, review the original explanation at this in-depth URL structure article.

If you need help applying these concepts to your broader digital strategy, including content architecture and analytics, you can explore consulting services at Consultevo.

By understanding every part of a URL, you can create cleaner links, improve tracking accuracy, and build a more reliable foundation for your marketing efforts.

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