Create short, easy-to-read URL to share

Updated: 09/03/2019 by Computer Hope
TinyURL logo

Sometimes, you want to share the specific web address you're viewing, but the URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is long and confusing. Long URLs can be difficult to send in an SMS (Short Message Service) or a tweet, and awkward to put in an e-mail or text post.

To shorten and simplify long URLs, you can use an online URL shortening service.

For example, the service TinyURL can shorten the long URL https://www.computerhope.com/jargon/c/cmos.htm to the shortened URL http://tinyurl.com/ynkjhp. If you share the shortened URL with someone and they click it, their web browser opens the original URL.

URL shortening services

Below are examples of sites that allow you to copy and paste any URL into them to make them smaller.

Tip

If you're using Firefox or Chrome, download an add-on to integrate a URL shortening service into your browser.