How URL Shortening Works: The Technology Behind Short Links
Discover how URL shortening works, how short links redirect visitors, and how URL mapping makes long web addresses easier to share.
Every short link represents a mapping between a public short code and a longer destination address.
From destination URL to short code
A shortening service receives the original URL, generates a unique identifier, and stores the relationship in a database.
What happens during a redirect?
- The browser requests the short URL.
- The service reads the short code.
- The destination is retrieved.
- A redirect response is returned.
- The browser follows the destination.
Where analytics fits
A platform can record a click event before redirecting, allowing the owner to review recorded activity. A click is not automatically a unique person.