What a URL actually is

A URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is the address you ask for. It looks like one long string, but it's really a few labeled parts stitched together. Take this one apart:

https://shop.example.com/products/shoes?size=10

  https            scheme   — how to talk (use HTTPS, the secure way)
  shop.example.com host     — which server to talk to
  /products/shoes  path     — which page or thing you want from it
  ?size=10         query    — extra details ("the size-10 ones")

Read it like a postal address in reverse:

• The scheme (https) is the protocol — the rules for the conversation. Almost always https today.
• The host (shop.example.com) names which server to contact.
• The path (/products/shoes) names which thing on that server you want.
• The optional query (?size=10) carries extra parameters, like filters or search terms.

When someone says "the endpoint" or "the route," they almost always mean a specific path on a specific host. That's all those scary words mean.