How do URL shorteners create short links on Your Custom Link?

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URL shorteners, like Your Custom Link, work by generating a unique and shorter URL that redirects to the original, longer URL. This process is called URL shortening. Let's break down how this works.

Let's Unravel the Magic of URL Shortening 🧩When you input a long URL into a URL shortener, the system creates a unique identifier - a random or sequential mix of letters and numbers. This identifier is used to create the new, shorter URL. When this short URL is clicked, the system uses the identifier to find the original URL and redirects the user to that page.

URL Shortening Knowledge TestTest your understanding of the URL shortening process and how URL shorteners like Your Custom Link work.window["64a6789c3f09164a6789c3f097-23c0469f724da6a8111f6115e1535738"] = {"questions":[{"q":"What does a URL shortener do when you input a long URL?","options":["Generates a unique identifier to create a new, shorter URL","Duplicates the long URL","Deletes the long URL","Changes the content of the original URL"],"correctIndex":0,"correctResponse":"Correct! A URL shortener generates a unique identifier to create a new, shorter URL.","incorrectResponse":"That's incorrect. A URL shortener generates a unique identifier to create a new, shorter URL, it doesn't duplicate, delete or change the original URL."},{"q":"What happens when a short URL is clicked?","options":["The system uses the identifier to find the original URL and redirects the user to that page","The system generates a new URL","The system deletes the short URL","The system changes the content of the original URL"],"correctIndex":0,"correctResponse":"That's right! The system uses the identifier to find the original URL and redirects the user to that page.","incorrectResponse":"Sorry, that's incorrect. When a short URL is clicked, the system uses the identifier to find the original URL and redirects the user to that page."},{"q":"What is the benefit of using short URLs?","options":["They are easier to share on social media platforms","They change the content of the original URL","They duplicate the original URL","They delete the original URL"],"correctIndex":0,"correctResponse":"Correct! Short URLs are easier to share, especially on social media platforms where character count is limited.","incorrectResponse":"That's incorrect. The main benefit of short URLs is that they are easier to share, especially on social media platforms where character count is limited."},{"q":"What can you do on Your Custom Link?","options":["Customize your short URLs","Change the content of the original URL","Duplicate the original URL","Delete the original URL"],"correctIndex":0,"correctResponse":"That's right! On Your Custom Link, you can customize your short URLs for branding purposes.","incorrectResponse":"Sorry, that's incorrect. On Your Custom Link, you can customize your short URLs for branding purposes."}]};
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Now, let's delve deeper into the mechanics behind URL shortening.

Peeking Under the Hood: How URL Shortening Really Works 🔧URL shortening involves a server function known as a redirect. When a short URL is clicked, a status code is sent from the server hosting the short URL to the browser. This status code instructs the browser to go to the original, long URL. The most commonly used status code for URL shortening is 301, which means "Moved Permanently".

PHP Example of a 301 RedirectTo illustrate how a 301 redirect works in practice, let's take a look at an example in PHP. PHP is a server-side scripting language, which makes it ideal for this purpose. In this example, we're going to redirect from the current script to a longer URL.In the code above, we first send a 301 status code, which tells the browser that the content has moved permanently. Then, we specify the location of the new content, which is the long URL. Finally, we call the exit() function to ensure that the script doesn't continue to run after the redirect has been sent.Short URLs are easier to share, especially on social media platforms like Twitter where character count is limited. They also provide a neater and more professional appearance. Furthermore, URL shorteners often provide tracking capabilities, allowing you to track clicks, geographic data of users, and more.

Comparison of URL Shorteners and Their Features

Now, let's compare some of the most popular URL shorteners and their key features.

URL Shortener	Shortening Process	Customization	Analytics	QR Code Generation
Your Custom Link	Generates a unique identifier	Yes	Yes	Yes
Bit.ly	Generates a unique identifier	Yes	Yes	Yes
TinyURL	Generates a random mix of letters and numbers	No	No	No
Ow.ly	Generates a unique identifier	Yes	Yes	No
Goo.gl	Generates a unique identifier	No	Yes	Yes

As you can see, each URL shortener has its unique features. On Your Custom Link, you can also customize your short URLs, which is especially useful for branding purposes.

Tailor-Made for You: Crafting Custom Short URLs on Your Custom Link 🎨Creating a custom short URL on Your Custom Link is straightforward. You just need to input your desired slug - the part of the URL that comes after the domain name. This could be your brand name, a specific campaign name, or any other relevant identifier. However, keep in mind that your custom slug must be unique and not already in use.

Now that we've discussed the process of creating a custom short URL, let's take a look at a practical demonstration. The following video tutorial will guide you through the steps of creating your own custom short URL.

The video clearly demonstrates how easy it is to create a custom short URL. With this knowledge, you can now create custom short URLs that align with your branding and marketing strategies. Let's move on to the next section where we will discuss the benefits of using custom short URLs.