# URL

This is a substitution cipher that preserves formatting, but keeps the URL scheme and top-level domain intact.

For example, for the following input value:

`http://www.example.com/products/clothes`

The output value would be something like:

`http://www.example.com/sowrmsl/kwctlsn`

This mask is not secure.

## Characteristics <a href="#url-characteristics" id="url-characteristics"></a>

<table data-header-hidden><thead><tr><th valign="top"></th><th valign="top"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td valign="top"><strong>Consistency</strong></td><td valign="top">No, cannot be made consistent.</td></tr><tr><td valign="top"><strong>Linking</strong></td><td valign="top">No, cannot be linked.</td></tr><tr><td valign="top"><strong>Differential privacy</strong></td><td valign="top">No</td></tr><tr><td valign="top"><strong>Data-free</strong></td><td valign="top">No</td></tr><tr><td valign="top"><strong>Allowed for primary keys</strong></td><td valign="top">No</td></tr><tr><td valign="top"><strong>Allowed for unique columns</strong></td><td valign="top">Yes</td></tr><tr><td valign="top"><strong>Uses format-preserving encryption (FPE)</strong></td><td valign="top">No</td></tr><tr><td valign="top"><strong>Privacy ranking</strong></td><td valign="top">3</td></tr><tr><td valign="top"><strong>Generator ID (for the API)</strong></td><td valign="top"><a href="../../../api/quick-start-guide/tonic-api-generator-assignment/generator-api-reference/generator-api-ref-url"><code>UrlGenerator</code></a></td></tr></tbody></table>

## How to configure <a href="#url-configure" id="url-configure"></a>

If [Structural data encryption](https://docs.tonic.ai/app/generation/generators-assign-config/generators-data-encryption-config) is enabled, then to use it for this column, in the advanced options section, toggle **Use data encryption process** to the on position.