What is the purpose of a URL?

A URL, or Uniform Resource Locator, serves the critical function of providing a unique address for a specific web page or resource on the internet. This addresses the necessity for users and web browsers to locate and access the desired content efficiently. Each URL points to a particular location on the web, allowing users to navigate to that address to view web pages, images, videos, or other online resources.

The other options, while relevant to online activities, do not encapsulate the primary function of a URL. Online customer service typically involves platforms or tools for providing support to customers, while facilitating online payments pertains to e-commerce and transaction processes. Hosting multimedia content relates to the storage and delivery of audio, video, and graphic files, but does not directly address the role of a URL in web navigation. Thus, defining a URL as a unique address encapsulates its essential purpose.