Toolsel

URL Shortener

Turn a long link into a short one, with an optional custom alias and QR code.

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What is a URL Shortener?

A URL shortener replaces a long address with a compact one that redirects to the original. The short link is not a copy of the page — it is a pointer stored on a server, so when someone opens it they are sent onward to wherever it points. That indirection is what makes the link short, and it is also what lets the same link be counted, shared in print, or encoded into a QR code that stays readable.

Length matters more than it sounds. A URL with tracking parameters can run past 200 characters, which wraps awkwardly in chat, gets truncated in bios and SMS, and produces a QR code so dense it fails to scan at small print sizes. A seven-character code fixes all three at once.

The trade-off is that a short link hides its destination. Anyone clicking one is trusting whoever created it, which is exactly why shorteners are popular with phishing campaigns — and why this one accepts only http and https addresses, and refuses schemes like javascript: or data: that could execute rather than navigate.

How to use it

  1. Paste the long URL into the first field. A bare domain like example.com works — https is assumed.
  2. Optionally set a custom alias to get a memorable link instead of a random code. Letters, numbers, hyphens and underscores, three characters or more.
  3. Press Shorten, or hit Ctrl+Enter from either field.
  4. Copy the short link, open it in a new tab to check it, or reveal the QR code to share it in print or on screen.

Examples

Random short code

Input
https://example.com/blog/2026/an-extremely-long-article-slug?utm_source=newsletter&utm_campaign=spring
Output
https://toolsel.com/s/aB3xK9p

Custom alias

Input
https://example.com/careers/senior-engineer  ·  alias: we-are-hiring
Output
https://toolsel.com/s/we-are-hiring

Frequently asked questions

Do short links expire?
Links created today do not expire on a timer. They do depend on this service continuing to resolve them, which is the fundamental trade-off of any shortener: the short URL is useless if whoever operates it goes away. For anything that needs to outlive a third party — printed material, archival references — keep a record of the original URL alongside it.
Is this tool private like the others?
Not in the same way, and the page says so. Shortening has to store the mapping on a server, so this is the one tool here that receives your input rather than processing it in your browser. The URL you shorten is stored; it is not sold, and it is deliberately excluded from the analytics events this page sends.
Can I pick my own alias?
Yes — use the custom alias field. Aliases are first come, first served, so if the one you want is already in use you will be told immediately and can pick another. A small set of system words is reserved and cannot be claimed.
Why was my URL rejected?
Only http and https links can be shortened. Schemes like javascript:, data:, file: and vbscript: are refused because a short link on a trusted-looking domain is a convenient way to disguise a payload — the visitor sees the domain, not the destination. A missing hostname or a URL over 2048 characters is also rejected.
Can I see how many times my link was opened?
Yes. Each short link tracks a click count, shown on the result card and refreshed when you revisit the tool in the same session. Counting happens on redirect, so previews and link-checkers that only look up the link do not inflate it.
Does the QR code contain the short link or the original?
The short link. That is the point of pairing the two: encoding a 200-character URL produces a dense, fragile QR code, while a seven-character one scans reliably even printed small or photographed at an angle.