How Do Short Links Work? What Redirects, Short Codes and Click Counting Do Behind the Scenes

Short links look simple, but a small system works behind them: a code, a database and a redirect. In this article we explain step by step what happens behind the scenes when you click a short link.

1. A short code is created

When you shorten an address, the service generates a short, unique code for it (for example aB3xYz). The code and the long address are matched in a database. The code must be unique; two addresses cannot carry the same code.

2. A visitor arrives at the short address

When someone clicks the short link, their browser sends a request to the short domain and code. The request reaches the server of the service that manages the link.

3. The server finds the code and redirects

The server looks the code up in its database, finds the long address it belongs to and tells the browser "go to this address" (an HTTP redirect). The browser follows the redirect automatically and the visitor reaches the real page. The whole process usually takes a tiny fraction of a second.

4. The click is recorded

During the redirect, the service creates a click record with basic information such as the time. That is how you can see how many times the link was opened and how clicks are distributed over time. A click count does not mean the number of unique visitors.

Redirect types

• Permanent redirect (301/308): the address has moved for good; browsers and search engines may cache it.
• Temporary redirect (302/307): the address goes somewhere else for now; short link services often use it so each click can be counted every time.

Safety and continuity

Because a short link hides its destination, it can be misused; trustworthy services therefore monitor for phishing and harmful content. How long a link keeps working also depends on the service keeping it alive; that continuity matters for a link you will use on printed materials.