Google URL Shortener

The Google URL Shortener at goo.gl is a service that takes long URLs and squeezes them into fewer characters to make a link easier to share, tweet, or email to friends. Using a shortened URL leaves more room to say what’s on your mind. For example, the short URL http://goo.gl/l6MS is a convenient shorthand representation for the long URL http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2009/12/making-urls-shorter-for-google-toolbar.html

How do I use the Google URL Shortener?

Go to goo.gl and paste the long URL you wish to shorten into the input box at the top of the page. Click “Shorten” and to the right of the box you’ll see a short goo.gl URL that can be copied and pasted anywhere you’d like to share it.

If you’d like to track the analytics of your shortened URL, please sign in to your Google Account before shortening your URL. Your shortened URL will automatically be added to your goo.gl history.

Google URL shortener benefits

The Google URL shortener has the following benefits:

• Stability – reliable service with good uptime
• Security – warning message if the short URL points to a suspected malware, phishing, or spam website
• Speed – fast resolution of short URLs (in a few milliseconds)
• Analytics – track the number of clicks on your link

Goo.gl short URLs are randomly generated, and the mappings of short URLs to long URLs are publicly accessible. Additionally, the short URL to long URL mappings are:

• Immutable – once created by you, no one can change them
• Irrevocable – once created, they do not expire. Note, however, that Google reserves the right to remove any goo.gl short URL, for example for spam, security or legal reasons