Advanced Placement (AP) Computer Science

In the context of web addresses, what does 'Path' indicate?

1. The server's IP address

2. The hierarchy of folders where data is located

3. The type of data being accessed

4. The date when the website was last updated

The correct answer is: The hierarchy of folders where data is located

The 'Path' in a web address (or URL) specifies the hierarchy of folders or directories on the server that leads to the specific resource being accessed. It indicates where the requested file or webpage is located within the server's structure. For example, in the URL "http://www.example.com/folder1/folder2/page.html," the path is "/folder1/folder2/page.html," which identifies the specific location of "page.html" within the nested folders "folder1" and "folder2." This means that when a browser requests a page, it uses the path to navigate through the server's directory tree to find and retrieve the appropriate file. Understanding the path is essential for website organization and server navigation, as it reflects the structural layout of content hosted on that server. The other options describe aspects that are not related to the function of a path in a URL. The server's IP address refers to the numerical label assigned to a device connected to a computer network, which is separate from the hierarchical structure indicated by the path. The type of data being accessed is typically derived from the file extension in the path but does not define the path itself. Lastly, the date when the website was last updated is information that may or may