Link expander

A link expander is an essential online security tool that reveals the final destination behind shortened, obscured or redirected URLs. With link shorteners and redirects being extremely common on the modern internet, link expanders enable users to preview where a link will ultimately take them before clicking on it. This allows people to verify the authenticity of a link and check for any malicious redirects.

Link expanders work by recursively following all redirects in a link until the final landing page URL is revealed. Many URL shorteners and tracking links will go through multiple hops across different domains before getting to the destination. A link expander will trace each 'hop', unraveling the full redirect path step-by-step.

- Identify malicious or phishing links: Expanders reveal the final site behind cleverly disguised URLs. This lets users avoid malicious redirects to phishing pages that steal personal information.

- Check for affiliate links: Affiliate marketers often mask their links to earn commissions non-transparently. Expanders display the real destination site.

- Troubleshoot broken redirects: Site admins can diagnose and fix broken redirect chains that cause 404 errors in user experiences. Expanders show each individual hop to pinpoint the failure.

- Understand link equity flows: SEO experts analyze redirect chains to ensure optimal link equity flows towards a site to enhance its ranking capabilities.

Overall, link expanders provide transparency into the link redirection process.

What Does a Link Expanders Show?

Link expanders generally provide comprehensive redirect analysis including

- Each individual link hop and domain transition in the redirect sequence. Users can see a trail of each server-side or client-side redirect

- Response codes like HTTP 302 Found that classify the type of redirect at each step.

- Total number of hops taken before the final URL, which impacts page loading speeds

- The location, hosting provider and IP address of the final destination server. This verifies the authenticity of the eventual landing domain

- Total time taken for the full redirect sequence. Long redirect chains slow down site speeds which Google penalizes in rankings

- Whether the final link is categorized as malicious by internet security autorities like Google Safe Browsing or ESET. This builds user trust

In essence, link expanders provide complete visibility into all aspects of a redirect sequence - bringing full transparency to otherwise opaque and obscured URLs

Frequently asked questions about the link extender.

What is the purpose of a URL expander?

A URL expander allows users to preview where a shortened link really leads before clicking on it. This enables assessing the safety and reputation of the final destination.

Is it safe to click on TinyURL?

TinyURL itself is generally safe to use, but you cannot verify where any particular shortened link from TinyURL leads without expanding it first. Malicious users can disguise dangerous links using services like TinyURL.

How do I know if a short URL is safe?

Paste the shortened URL into a trusted link expanding service. The expander will reveal the final destination URL so you can then judge if the website is safe and reputable before clicking.

Why should you use a URL shortener?

Main reasons to use URL shorteners are to save space when sharing lengthy links and also to neatly track clicks on links using the built-in analytics of some shortening services.

How do you expand a shortened URL?

Use the special field at the top of the page and click check and our system will trace all redirects to show you the final URL.

How do you preview a link before clicking?

If the link is short, you can view the endpoint using our link extension service to unravel the main URL. You will then be able to assess the security of the final site before clicking through.