To add to this....

the browser is programmed to search for the correct URL in various ways...automatically....it searches the prefetch folder installed in windows to see if the URL(as typed) has been recently used and stored there(this produces a faster loading of the web page if it is stored). If it finds nothing it auto searches for the next possible variance of the URL and queries the website for both URL listing...and auto corrects the propper URL.

That is why the symbols change. It is relying on stored copies in prefetch and the domain listings of the website itself.

Also webmasters may set up redirects that take in conciderations for any variances other than what is typed.....either misspelled names or wrong domains such as .net, or .com