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We all see them, funny links that people post that you're unsure where they go. How can you be sure a particular TinyURL goes to a particular site?

Some sites like TinyURL offer a preview feature. Stick the word preview at the front of the URL (eg: http://preview.tinyurl.com/blah) and you can see where you'll end up without loading it.

Unfortunately not all sites offer that, and you've gotta know about them first. Also it means someone can double hide the link (hide it with TinyURL and hide that link with another shrunken URL. This means when you check the link out you're given the second redirect URL which is unhelpful).

So I got bored one day and tried to make this toy. Here's a link to it.

If you enter a URL into that box it will then check to see where it ends up, and whether you get redirected along the way. If it's an obvious scam site I know about it'll notify you, but you should be given the end site link anyway.

It's not perfect, but it's useful if you want to check a TinyURL (or other redirect site) link out without having to click it.

Any questions/comments/suggestions, poke me.


Some Tests: Try entering one of these URLs (none lead to scam sites, they're demo links really) to show how it works.


Single direct. Links to this journal entry.


Double direct. Links to the above link and then to this journal entry.

Note: I broke some of it's functionality when upgrading, it still works but isn't as pretty. Rewriting now since I'm bored.