How do clean URL sites like TinyURL work?

Answer 1

basic answer:

i believe when you use tiny URL, they insert your URL into a database and recall it when people go to tinyurl.com/xxxx

detailed:

tinyurl.com was written in php and probably uses mysql to store and recal values. tinyurl then uses a basic redirect

ex. <?php header('Location: '.$returned_url.'); ?>

to redirect you to a users site.

or, tinyurl works as a basic proxy like vtunnel or poetrylookup.com and uses condensed encryption to shrink the value