URL Shortener

How URL Shortening Works

The Science Behind URL Shortening

URL shortening is a process that converts long URLs into shorter, more manageable links. Here's how our URL Shortener works:

1

URL Hashing

We use a cryptographic hash function (CRC32) to generate a unique identifier for your URL. This ensures that the same URL will always generate the same short code.

2

Base62 Encoding

The hash value is converted into a 62-character set (a-z, A-Z, 0-9) to create a compact, URL-friendly code.

3

Domain Prefix

We use a fixed domain (btls.co) as the prefix for all shortened URLs, creating a consistent format.

4

Redirection

In a real URL shortening service, the short code is stored in a database along with the original URL. When someone clicks the short link, they're redirected to the original URL.

Why Our Demo Uses a Fixed Domain

You may notice that our demo always uses btls.co as the domain for shortened URLs. This is because:

It's a demonstration of how URL shortening works
It provides consistency in the demo output
In a real-world scenario, you could use your own custom domain
The short code itself is unique to each URL

Why Use URL Shortener

Save Space

Short URLs take up less space, making them perfect for social media posts, text messages, and other places with character limits.

Track Clicks

Monitor how many times your shortened URLs are clicked, giving you valuable insights into your audience's engagement.

Brand Consistency

Use a custom domain to create branded short URLs that reinforce your brand every time they're shared.

Prevent Link Rot

Short URLs act as a permanent redirect, so even if your original URL changes, your short link remains valid.