Unique identifiers or UIDs are numbers and letters that allow the identification of objects within a computer system. They indicate where an object is and how it can be reached. Unique identifiers allow the control and interaction of different objects or abstract data sets within a computer network. If a data packet is to be sent from one PC to another, a unique identifier represents the exact sender and receiver addresses.
General information
UIDs consist of a number and / or sequence of characters in hexadecimal notation of up to 128 bits. They are caused through a scheme, depending on the system used. The abbreviation mailto: [email protected] is a unique identifier, which allows direct sending of emails to websites. mailto would be the schema used here.
Similarly, FTP addresses are UIDs, where the FTP protocol is the scheme. In computer networks, objects are controlled through unique identifiers that, such as MAC addresses, allow a specific network adapter to interact with the network (for example, the Internet or a home network). The MAC address specifies the location and type of connection. The HTTP protocol is the scheme in this circumstance.[1]
The concept of unique identifiers is based on Microsoft's Global Unique Identifier (GUIDs), which have been used by Microsoft programs since the late 1990s. Currently, a random or name-based scheme is often generated, since the unique identifiers that emit a timestamp provide the disadvantage that both the generator object (eg a computer) and the access time are revealed.
According to critics, if the creator of a unique identifier is apparent, privacy will not be guaranteed. In this way, the schemes and algorithms have been improved to create unique identifiers that guarantee the protection of privacy through the use of random algorithms or namespaces. Schemas can also be combined based on unique identifier syntax.
Practical Relevance
Unique identifiers are used in different areas. Typical examples are computer networks, but they are also used in the banking sector (BIC) and in commerce (serial numbers of the products).[2]
URIs and URLs are particularly noteworthy in terms of network architectures. A Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) specifies the address of content pages on the World Wide Web, such as text, video, or audio sources. Regardless, a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is considered the best known case of a URI, where a particular location is identified, which is not feasible with all URIs. By definition, a URL is a subset of URIs and URIs is a concept that also applies in other areas. URLs are only used to resolve addresses on the World Wide Web, but they are the most commonly used type of URIs.
Relevance for SEO
Unique identifiers and, in particular, URLs are an important topic in search engine optimization. URLs are directly readable and resolve IP addresses to text characters. Not only should they be concise, but they should also include the most important keywords. They should use keywords to describe the content of the web portal so that the user and search engines know what the web portal is about.
The following criteria must be followed for URLs:
- Hyphens separate individual words.
- Other characters such as colons and spaces should not be used.
- The full URL must not be longer than 2048 characters, otherwise it would be unreadable by Internet Explorer. [3]
When creating dynamic websites, you also need to use parameters like the session ID sparingly and place them at the end of a spoken URL. Optionally, such URLs can be rewritten using mod-Rewrite in the htaccess file to convert dynamically generated URLs to static URLs. Search engine compliant URLs can influence the Ranking of a web portal. This, however, must be accompanied by good URL structure and other OnPage actions.
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