A .webloc file is a proprietary file format used exclusively by Apple's macOS operating system to store a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) or web address. Essentially, it functions as a shortcut or alias to a specific website. When a user double-clicks a .webloc file, the operating system automatically opens the default web browser (like Safari, Chrome, or Firefox) and navigates to the stored URL. These files are plain text files that contain the URL wrapped in XML tags, making them easily readable by humans or other applications if opened in a text editor. They are often created when a user drags a URL from the address bar of a web browser directly onto the desktop or into a folder. While convenient for quick access to websites on a Mac, they are not natively recognized or functional on other operating systems like Windows or Linux, which typically use .url files or standard desktop shortcuts for similar purposes. They are a simple data container designed specifically for macOS URL referencing.