====== Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) ======

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===== Discussion =====

A Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) provides a uniform mechanism for identifying a resource.

A resource identified by a URI may be physical, digital, conceptual, or abstract. The identified resource does not need to be accessible through a network.

Examples of things that may be identified by a URI include:

  * documents
  * images
  * services
  * namespaces
  * schemas
  * concepts
  * vocabulary terms
  * organizations
  * people
  * other identifiable resources

A URI uses a URI scheme to establish the rules governing its syntax and interpretation.

Examples of URI schemes include:

  * ''http''
  * ''https''
  * ''mailto''
  * ''urn''
  * ''tel''
  * ''ftp''

A URI may function as a name, a locator, or both.

A URI does not imply that the identified resource can be retrieved or accessed over a network.

===== Definition =====

//an identifier consisting of a sequence of characters used to identify a physical, digital, conceptual, or abstract resource//

===== Source =====

  * RFC 3986, //Uniform Resource Identifier (URI): Generic Syntax//

===== Note =====

A Uniform Resource Locator (URL) is a subset of URI that identifies a resource and also provides a means for locating or accessing that resource.

The general term URI should be used when the distinction between identification and location is not significant.

===== Example =====

The following are examples of URIs:

><code>
https://example.org/resource/123
urn:example:object:123
mailto:user@example.org
tel:+1-555-555-1212
</code>

The first example may function as both an identifier and locator, while the ''urn'', ''mailto'', and ''tel'' examples illustrate other URI schemes.

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