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The correct web address prefix is http://: HTTP, colon, then two forward slashes (/). It is not http:\. The same rule applies to https://.

Forward slash or backslash?

These are different characters:

  • / — forward slash (also called a slash or solidus)
  • — backslash (also called a reverse solidus)

For an ordinary HTTP or HTTPS web address, use the forward slash. For example:

http://example.com
https://example.com/news

When saying an address aloud, “HTTP colon forward slash forward slash” is clearest. “HTTP colon slash slash” is also commonly understood, but naming the direction helps prevent confusion.

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What the slashes mark in a URL

In http://example.com/news, http is the scheme, // introduces the authority (normally the host or domain), and /news is the path. The HTTP URI syntax uses the form http:// followed by an authority and an optional path; HTTPS follows the same slash structure. RFC 9110 defines HTTP URI syntax, while MDN explains the scheme, authority, and other URL parts.

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http://example.com/news
└─┬─┘ └──────┬──────┘ └───┬───┘
 scheme     authority     path

Forward slashes also separate path segments, as in https://example.com/products/books. That is why the path separator in an HTTP URL is /, not . RFC 3986 describes slash-separated URI path segments.

Why backslashes seem familiar

Windows commonly writes filesystem paths with backslashes, such as C:UsersAlexDocuments. That convention is separate from web URL syntax. Backslashes also have meanings in programming strings and regular expressions, so the right character depends on the context.

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A web address is not necessarily a literal path to a file on the server. In HTTP URLs, write the URL using forward slashes, even if a Windows path uses backslashes.

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What if you type backslashes into a browser?

Some modern browsers may accept backslashes in an http or https address and interpret them like slash separators. The WHATWG URL Standard records a reverse solidus in a special-scheme URL as a validation error while describing parser behavior for it. That tolerance helps with compatibility; it does not make backslashes the recommended spelling. See the WHATWG URL Standard’s treatment of this case.

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Do not rely on every browser, link checker, proxy, server, or application handling the same input identically. A backslash may be rejected, treated as data, normalized, or routed differently depending on the software. Use forward slashes in documentation, code, and links so the address is clear and portable.

URLs in HTTP requests

When a client sends a typical request for a resource, the request target is a slash-separated path:

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GET /hello.txt HTTP/1.1
Host: example.com

This is a path in an HTTP request, not the full address with http:// in front. HTTP requests can use different target forms in particular situations, but the ordinary path form uses forward slashes. RFC 9110 shows HTTP message format examples.

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Quick rules

  • Typing or writing a web address: use /; for example, https://example.com/api/users.
  • Dictating one: say “colon, two forward slashes” if there is any chance of confusion.
  • Writing technical documentation: put the URL in code formatting and use forward slashes.
  • Copying a link: copy the address rather than retyping it when practical.
  • Windows file path: backslashes are common there, but do not carry that convention over to HTTP URLs.
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Does every web-related address start with two slashes?

No. The answer here is specifically about ordinary HTTP and HTTPS URLs. URI schemes can have different structures: for example, mailto:[email protected] does not use // to introduce a host in the same way. So do not generalize this to every kind of URI. For an HTTP or HTTPS address, though, the standard written form uses two forward slashes.

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Browsers may also show an address differently from its underlying URL—for instance, an address bar may minimize or hide some parts. That display choice does not change the correct characters to use when writing the full address.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is “slash slash” an acceptable way to say HTTP://?

Yes. It is commonly understood, but “forward slash forward slash” is clearer when someone might confuse / with .

Is https:// pronounced the same way?

Yes: “HTTPS colon forward slash forward slash.” HTTPS uses the same two forward slashes as HTTP.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Do all URL schemes use two slashes?

No. This rule is for ordinary HTTP and HTTPS URLs. Other schemes, such as mailto:, can use a different structure.

Quick Recap

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