Link shortening explained: Everything you need to know

Link shortening explained: Everything you need to know Administrateur
June 07, 2023

Link shortening explained: Everything you need to know

 

In the ever-changing world of the Internet, links are essential for navigating from one page to another. However, sometimes these links can be long and complicated, making them difficult to share and use. That's where link shortening comes in. In this article, we'll explore in detail what link shortening is, how it works and why it's become a common practice on the web.

 

What is link shortening?

 

Link shortening is the process of taking a long, complex link and transforming it into a short, shareable link. It reduces the length of a URL by replacing the original address with a shorter, more memorable link. For example, a link like :

 

https://couldyouredirectmeplease.com/blog/le-raccourcissement-de-liens-explique-tout-ce-que-vous-devez-savoir
Can be shortened to https://cyrmp.com/syuFy.

 

How does link shortening work?

 

Link shortening uses specific online services, called link shorteners, to carry out this transformation. These services assign a new short URL to the original address, which then redirects users to the destination page. When a user clicks on the shortened link, they are automatically redirected to the full address.

 

To create a shortened link, you need to copy and paste the long URL into the link shortening service of your choice. The service will then generate a shortened link that you can share with others.

 

Why use link shortening?

 

There are several reasons why link shortening has become popular on the web:

 

  1. Easy to share: Shortened links are easier to share on social networks, instant messaging and other online platforms. They take up less space in publications and are more aesthetically pleasing.
     
  2. Tracking: Some link shortening services offer tracking features that show the number of clicks on a given link. This can be useful for marketers and website owners to measure the effectiveness of their campaigns and the traffic generated.
     
  3. Simplification of URLs: Shortened URLs are often simpler and more user-friendly than the original URLs. This can make them easier to remember and links more attractive to users.
     
  4. Management of special characters: Some websites do not allow the use of special characters in their URLs. Link shortening allows you to get around this problem by replacing unsupported characters with authorised ones.

 

However, it should be noted that shortening links can also have certain disadvantages. Users should exercise caution when clicking on shortened links, as they may hide malicious links or unwanted content. It is important to check the legitimacy of the link before clicking on it.

 

In conclusion, link shortening is a useful tool for simplifying and facilitating URL sharing on the Internet. It offers advantages such as ease of sharing, traceability and simplification of URLs. However, it is important to remain vigilant and check the legitimacy of links before clicking on them.