What Happens When You Search a URL

All 8 stages — from keypres to painted pixels — animated step by step

1 / 35

steps

Act 1 of 8·Browser Parses URL

step 1

https

SchemeEncrypted HTTP (TLS)

://

example.com

HostDomain name

/search

PathResource path

?q=hello

QueryQuery string

https://example.com/search?q=hello

Speednormal

The browser starts by parsing the URL into structural components: scheme (https — meaning TLS-encrypted), host (example.com — who to connect to), path (/search — what resource), and query string (?q=hello — parameters). The scheme also tells the browser which port to use by default (443 for https).

Typical timing

DNS (cold)50–200ms

TCP handshake20–150ms

TLS handshake50–200ms

Server TTFB50–300ms

First paint200–800ms

Active Recall

Question 1 / 3

What is the correct order of DNS resolution for a completely uncached domain?

Under the Hood

Loading visualizer…

DNSresolving host

TCPconnecting

TLShandshake

HTTPrequesting

DSAverse

What Happens When You Search a URL

What Happens When You Search a URL