What are URL shorteners?

05.Feb.2023

URL shorteners are online tools that take a long URL and create a shorter, redirected URL that points to the same web page. The shorter URL is often more convenient to share, especially in situations where character limitations exist, such as in social media posts or text messages.

When a user clicks on the shortened URL, the URL shortener service performs a redirect to the original, longer URL. The URL shortener service maintains a database that maps the short URL to the longer one, allowing it to perform the redirect.

URL shorteners can also be used for tracking clicks, as the short URL can include tracking parameters that provide information about who clicked on the link and when. This information can be useful for businesses and marketers for tracking the effectiveness of their online campaigns.

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