youtube.com vs. youtu.be... What's the difference?

URL shortening is a technique that makes it possible to take an existing URL, modify it in a way that will make it substantially shorter, and still have it direct to the same web page.

The way this is achieved is very simple. Every shortened URL basically uses a redirect which links to the initial web page that has a long URL.

It’s common for redirects to contain domain names that are shorter than the original ones. This is done not only for the purpose of shortening the URL, but sometimes even for creating something that is known as a domain hack which can be achieved by connecting two or more adjacent domain levels that form a name, word or phrase.

For example: inter.net uses the generic top level domain .net in order to complete the word ‘’internet’’, and youtu.be uses the country code top level domain for Belgium .be in order to complete the name of ‘’YouTube’’.

Sources and references:

- Youtube.googleblog.com: ‘’Make Way for youtu.be Links’’
https://goo.gl/uduF3b

- Cis.upenn.edu: ‘’What Is a URL?’’ https://goo.gl/mb35bq

- Differencebetween.net: ‘’Difference Between Youtube.com and Youtu.be’’ https://goo.gl/NTzD2L

- PCWorld: ‘’Link Shortening Mania: Goo.gl, Fb.me and Bit.ly Join Fray’’ https://goo.gl/Xiuqa5

- Independent: ‘’Things get sh.rt on the web with a new URL shortening trend’’ https://goo.gl/UnSbLc

- Wikipedia:

‘’URL shortening’’ https://goo.gl/yQiLoH
‘’URL’’ https://goo.gl/RszXpb
‘’Domain Hack’’ https://goo.gl/7tsgf5

B-Roll:

- Videezy:

‘’Free Youtube Url Address Stock Video Clip In HD’’
https://goo.gl/SGPpLx

- Pond5:

‘’Two Lumberjacks Sawing Felled Tree’’ https://goo.gl/kz69QW

- Videvo:

‘’Push Mower Slow Motion’’ https://goo.gl/gh9QTn

‘’Office Electric Pencil Sharpener’’ https://goo.gl/R9CvGJ

- Pixabay:

https://goo.gl/1aLw2j
https://goo.gl/SgVDRM
https://goo.gl/oepf2N

- Vimeo/Bitly:

‘’Why Optimizing the Link is Key to Customer Experience’’ https://goo.gl/JR1uY1

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The author of this video believes in good faith that it constitutes fair use as per 17 U.S.C § 107.

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Music: ''U Make Me Feel'', ''Rollin Through Osaka'', ''Cloud Wheels, Castle Builder'', ''TFB3'' (YouTube Audio Library)