A virtual URL is simply an alias for an arbitrary system URL. A virtual URL is nicer, easier to remember and sometimes shorter than its corresponding system URL. Virtual URLs are often referred to as "nice URLs" or "URL aliases".

Each content node is reachable using a virtual URL (eZ publish automatically generates URL aliases for content objects that are published). The virtual URL of a node (a published content object) is a simplified version of the node's name. The node's name is converted to lowercase, spaces are replaced with underscores and so on. Virtual URLs (and redirections, etc.) may also be added manually using the administration interface.

The following illustration explains the various parts of a typical virtual eZ publish URL:

The URL in the illustration above reflects the most basic/default web server and eZ publish configuration.

The web server might be configured not to show the index file; in this case, "index.php" will simply disappear from all URL requests.

The default eZ publish site access configuration is URL, which means that the name of the site interface is incorporated into the URL requests themselves. If the site access configuration is hostname, then the site name will most likely be incorporated into the hostname (perhaps in the form of a subdomain). If the site access configuration is port, then a colon and a port number will be appended to the hostname. In both of the last cases (hostname and port ), the name of the site interface will not be included in the URL.

The diagram below illustrates a stripped version (hidden index file, non-URL site access mode) of the previous virtual/aliased/nice URL.