The Google URL shortener, at goo.gl, is a free, online URL shorten service (also called a redirection service). To use the shortener, copy and paste your long URL into the online form to obtain a much shorter URL that redirects to the source address. For example, the following short Google URL redirects to the longer Webopedia URL as below:
- http://goo.gl/xWvnoE
- https://www.webopedia.com/insights/how-to-shorten-a-url-using-a-url-shortener-service/
Additional Features of Google’s Shortener
When using the Google URL shortener, all URLs and click analytics are made public. In addition to tracking your shortened URL, you also have access to a QR code, the date the URL was created and the click history including referrals, browsers, countries and platform.
Recommended Reading: Webopedia’s Complete Guide to URL Shorteners and our List of free URL Shorteners.
