File with an .URL extension contains an address of a network directory, usually a web site or it may contain a link to a favicon.ico icon file, which is supposed to be displayed as a shortcut icon. By default, there are many website’s browsers that utilise URL files, such as Google Chrome, Apple Safari or Microsoft Internet Explorer.

URL files can be opened by dragging an address tab from a web browser onto desktop or a directory. Similar action within Mac OS will create a WEBLOC file. Windows does not display the .URL extension filename, but the name of a file itself. The website’s address can be displayed by opening a file with a text editor.