http:// - the Protocol
www.inet-asst.com - the Domain
InternetAssistance/addresses.html - the Path

http:// - The standard protocol used for most things you do on the internet. Other common protocols are: ftp:// - for uploading and downloading files, mailto: for sending e-mail, and news: for newsgroups. For the most part, your computer will handle protocols automatically. You can type www.inet-asst.com, and it will put the http:// in for you.
https:// means the site is secure for credit card purchases. A padlock icon will also show in the bottom of your browser window.

www.inet-asst.com - The address. Well, the actual address is 216.146.10.2; it's changed to human-readable form for us by special computers on the Internet. The www signifies that the machine is a web server, although this isn't a requirement. Some sites use machine names; you've probably seen something like http://home.netscape.com. Our server is named server, so you can type http://server.inet-asst.com/InternetAssistance/addresses.html or http://216.146.10.2/InternetAssistance/addresses.html to get this page.

/InternetAssistance/ - A folder on our website. Just like a computer is named C:\, and \Windows\ is a folder, a website has an address and folders to make it easier to find what you're looking for.

addresses.html - The specific file on the web site you are viewing. HTML (HyperText Markup Language) is special code used to add colors, images, and many other objects. Other common endings are:
.htm - Same as .html; a holdover from when filenames were limited to eight characters with three-character endings.
.asp - Active Server Page. Scripts are passed from your browser to the server and back again. Most Microsoft web pages are .asp.

A standard naming system has come about to prevent complete confusion. Almost every web site you visit that is in the United States will have a .com on the end of it, meaning Commercial, although most personal home pages will also have .com. Others are:
.net - Originally .net are sites for networking; many Internet Service Providers are .net
.org - Non-profit sites, charity organizations like the Red Cross, churches, etc.
.edu - Educational sites, universities, etc.
.mil - U.S. military
.us - The official ending for U.S. web sites; mostly unused, but gaining in popularity.