title: What's the difference between STATIC_URL and STATIC_ROOT in Django?
body: <p>I'm somewhat confused as to what the difference is between STATIC_URL and STATIC_ROOT in Django's <code>'staticfiles'</code> app.</p>
  
  <p>I believe I understand what the <code>STATIC_ROOT</code> is: it's essentially the location on the server where the staticfiles' <code>collectstatic</code> command will place the static files collected from your django project. The <code>collectstatic</code> command searches in the locations that you specify in the <code>STATIC_FINDERS</code> setting. </p>
  
  <p>However, what exactly does the <code>STATIC_URL</code> do? What should this be set to? Apparently it's intended to be set something such that users can access static files. But what is it's relationship with <code>STATIC_ROOT</code>?</p>
  
  <p>Why is the default value of <code>STATIC_URL</code> simply <code>/static/</code> ? Does <code>STATIC_URL</code> have to be able to reference <code>STATIC_ROOT</code>?</p>