Final answer:
The first part of a URL is the protocol, which includes schemes such as 'http,' 'https,' or 'ftp,' and it is followed by a colon. In citations, the title of the website and the exact URL or a DOI should be included if available.
Step-by-step explanation:
The first part of every uniform resource locator (URL) presents the protocol used to connect to the resource. This is indicated by a scheme such as 'http,' 'https,' or 'ftp,' followed by a colon. When referencing an online source in your work, the correct format is to give the title of the website, followed by a period. If you're citing a page or work on a website, include the URL of the page. URL should be copied and pasted exactly from your browser. However, if the source has a DOI (Digital Object Identifier), which is a unique alphanumeric string that provides a permanent link to its location on the internet, use that instead of a URL.