Definition

URL shortener

A URL shortener turns a long web address into a compact link that redirects to the original. Shorteners save space, look cleaner in messages and social posts, and — when they log each visit — add click analytics the raw link never had. Urlik shortens links for free with custom aliases, expiry, passwords and per-link statistics.

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URL shortener API

Related terms

301 vs 302 redirectA 301 redirect is permanent: it tells browsers and search engines the destination has moved for good, and it passes almost all ranking signals to the new URL. A 302 redirect is temporary: the original stays canonical and signals are not fully transferred. For short links you usually want a 302 unless you are permanently retiring the old address, so the destination — not the short link — accumulates authority.UTM parametersUTM parameters are tags added to a URL (utm_source, utm_medium, utm_campaign, utm_term, utm_content) that tell analytics tools where a visit came from. They let you separate traffic from an email, an ad and a social post even when all point to the same page. Urlik can append UTM tags to any short link automatically so every campaign is measurable.Vanity URLA vanity URL is a short, human-readable custom link — like urlik.xyz/sale — chosen instead of a random code. Vanity links are easier to remember, safer-looking and reinforce a brand every time they are shared. Any Urlik link can use a custom alias to become a vanity URL.Click-through rate (CTR)Click-through rate is the share of people who click a link out of everyone who saw it, written as a percentage. It measures how compelling a link, ad or result is. Tracking clicks per short link — as Urlik does automatically — lets you compare CTR across channels and campaigns.

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Short links, QR codes, UTM tags and click analytics — everything from this glossary, ready to use for free.

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URL shortener

Related terms

From definition to a working link