A URL (e.g., "https://xoops.org/test.html") is a " Virtual roadmap" to a specific file as seen from the outside (i.e., by someone connecting to it via the Web). It begins defining the type of connection to be made ("http://"), continues with a domain name ("www.xoops.org"), and concludes with the route to the file (test.html)starting from the domain's "root directory" on the server.
A path name identifies both a file and one or more of its parent directories. These are separated using the character / (slash or solidus). A path name that starts with the character /, is an absolute path name starting at the root of the file system. The generic directory names . and .. may also be used in path names.
let's look at an example;
A path is a physical connection to that same file as seen from the inside (i.e., by the host server). It looks like this; "/usr/username/www/test.html")
It begins with the designation of the server's root directory ("/usr"), and concludes with the route from there to the file.
Unlike a URL, it does not define the type of connection; also, as it begins at the server's root directory rather than a specific domain's root directory, it is usually a bit longer than a URL.
Now bringing this into a practical application ... your mainfile.php
this is a typical entry for physical path (map) and virtual path (url)
Quote:
// XOOPS Physical Path
// Physical path to your main XOOPS directory WITHOUT trailing slash
define('XOOPS_ROOT_PATH', '/home/username/public_html');
// XOOPS Virtual Path (URL)
// Virtual path to your main XOOPS directory WITHOUT trailing slash
define('XOOPS_URL', 'http://houseofstrauss.co.uk');
Your host will usually supply details of your URL and ROOT PATH so watch out for these.
Physical Path
Your physical path is the pathway to your website and it’s server or host.
xoops Phsycial Path: This is the Physical path to your main XOOPS directory without the trailing slash: YOUR_Home_path/public_html To get this physical path you will need to contact your host or look at the information your host has provided you.
Physical paths represent Windows system paths and can be used to reference files and directories that may or may not be web shared. Physical paths must be absolute path names, starting with a drive letter (d:\) or a network drive specifier (\\).
For example it might be C:/Domains/some_web_host.net/wwwroot 0r they often use \ slashes not / slashes
One webhosting company provides this FAQ for users: Issue: What is the physical path to my web space? Solution: D:\W3Sites\mysite\www Where ‘mysite’ is the User ID for the website.
To find your physical path for your XOOPS website you will need to look closely at the information provided by your web hosting provider or contact them directly.