the only thing URLs get you is a universally-understood syntax with defined semantics
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it is both amazing and a real problem how many people think that URLs are somehow both more and less than this
on the other hand, it is a mechanism for encoding an identifier that every system can understand
we do not have any alternatives for this
all a URL is is a mechanism for encoding an identifier that every system can understand
how identifiers are assigned? not specified by URL
what that identifier means? not specified by URL
how to resolve that identifier? not specified (or guaranteed) by URL