Were URLs a bad idea?

Java's original URL.openConnection() method was designed as a universal tool for fetching any type of URL, from web resources to FTP servers, reflecting 1990s design philosophy. However, this generic approach created security risks by potentially accepting dangerous URLs like mailto: or javascript:, forced lowest-common-denominator APIs, and introduced varied performance issues. Java 11's new HttpClient abandons this universality for HTTP-specific functionality, reflecting how most modern applications benefit from specialized URL handling rather than generic solutions.