slurlike

Slurlike is a term used to describe URL-like identifiers that point to a location within a virtual or simulated environment. It generalizes the concept of SLURL, the Second Life URL, to encompass similar constructs across various platforms such as OpenSimulator, VR worlds, and other online virtual spaces. Slurlike strings enable navigation by encoding destination data in a compact, shareable form, allowing users to jump to a specified region and coordinates with a single link.

A slurlike string typically includes a prefix or scheme indicating the platform, a region or sim name, and coordinates within that region. Optional components may include orientation (yaw), elevation, or camera parameters, and additional query data to influence how the destination is opened (for example, a preferred map view or landmark). Formats vary by platform; some use standard web hyperlinks that open a map preview, while others rely on custom URIs such as secondlife://Region/x/y/z or slurl-like paths.

Usage of slurlike links centers on sharing destinations, bookmarking locations, and guiding new users directly to points of interest. They are commonly embedded in chat, forums, or documentation to provide direct access to a location within a virtual world, reducing the need to manually navigate through maps or search interfaces.

Limitations arise from the lack of a universal standard. Different platforms implement slurlike syntax and capabilities in distinct ways, and some clients may sanitize, rewrite, or fail to resolve certain links. Privacy and access controls can also affect whether a slurlike destination is repeatedly reachable.

See also: SLURL, virtual world navigation, OpenSimulator, URL scheme.