What is a URL shortener?
https://shorturl.la/aB3dE → https://example.com/blog/2026/spring-campaign/landing?utm_source=newsletter
A lookup and a redirect.
A short code is created
The service generates a short code and stores it with the destination URL.
Someone opens the link
The request reaches the service, which finds the destination for that code.
The visitor is redirected
The service answers with an HTTP redirect and the browser goes to the destination. Many services record the click on the way.
Not all shorteners are the same.
Public and anonymous
Anyone can shorten a link without signing in. Convenient, and widely abused.
Account-based
Links belong to an account that can edit, tag and measure them. This is how shorturl.la works.
Branded domain
Short links on a domain you own, such as go.yourbrand.com.
Built into a platform
Social networks and email tools shorten links as part of their own product.
What to keep in mind.
A short link hides its destination, so people can't judge it by looking. It also depends on the service staying online: if it shuts down, every link it created stops working. Expand a short link before opening one you don't trust, and prefer a shortener that ties links to accounts.
Common questions
Is it safe to click a shortened link? +
A shortened link is as safe as its destination, which you can't see. Use a URL expander to see where it leads before you open it.
Do short links expire? +
That depends on the service. On shorturl.la a link stays active until its owner archives it.
Does a shortened URL hurt SEO? +
A redirect passes visitors to the destination, so the short URL isn't something you want indexed. Use short links for sharing, and keep your real URLs for your own pages.
How do I see where a short link goes? +
Paste it into the URL expander. It follows the link from our server and shows the destination and every hop.