Does capitalization and spaces matter in Internet addresses?
Question
Does capitalization and spaces matter in Internet addresses?
Answer
Spaces
Spaces are not allowed in any Internet address. Therefore, never use spaces when typing in an address.
Capitalization
When typing an Internet address, capitalization may be important. An Internet address is only case sensitive for everything after the domain name. For example, it does not matter if you use uppercase or lowercase computerhope.com, you will still reach the same page. However, when typing the name of the page or directories, it is case sensitive. Therefore, http://www.computerhope.com/jargon.htm is different than HTTP://WWW.COMPUTERHOPE.COM/JARGON.HTM, although the domain is valid, because jargon.htm is uppercase the page will not work (unless an uppercase version of the page existed on the server). The same rule applies if the page on the server is uppercase and not lowercase, if this is the case than the uppercase version would work but not the lowercase.
If you are uncertain if the page or directory is uppercase or lowercase, always use lowercase. The majority of pages on the Internet are going to be in all lowercase.
Additional information
- What do I do if I get a 404 error on the Internet?
- See the URL definition for further information and related links.