A .url file is a type of Internet Shortcut file primarily used by Microsoft Windows operating systems. It is a small text-based file that contains information about a web address (URL) and other associated metadata, such as the icon to display for the shortcut and its title. When a user double-clicks a .url file, the Windows operating system reads the URL contained within it and launches the default web browser to navigate to that specific web address. These files are commonly created by dragging a URL from a web browser's address bar to the desktop or a folder, or by right-clicking on the desktop and selecting "New" -> "Shortcut" and then entering a web address. While they appear as a direct link to a website, they are not the website itself, but rather a pointer or a reference file that tells the operating system where to go. They are useful for quickly accessing frequently visited websites without having to manually type the URL or open a browser and navigate through bookmarks. The file itself contains a simple INI-like structure with the URL specified under the [InternetShortcut] section.