Defanging a URL means modifying it so that it is not clickable and cannot be directly accessed by a user, but still retains the visible structure of the original URL. This allows users to see the URL for informational purposes without being able to click on it and potentially open a malicious site.
Common defanging methods include replacing certain characters (like "." with "[dot]" or "http" with
"hxxp") to render the URL non-functional while keeping it recognizable.