Subcontext shortens long links, such as the ones in text messages, to save
characters. A short link domain puts them on your own hostname, for
example https://go.example.com/Ab3dE9xQ instead of a Subcontext address.
Short link domains belong to a site. Links made for that site use its verified short domain. Without one, they use Subcontext's own short address, or are sent in full.
Choosing a hostname#
- Use a subdomain you don't use for anything else, such as
go.orlink.. Subcontext needs the whole hostname. - Keep it short. Short links are there to save characters in text messages.
Adding it#
In the dashboard, open Sites, then the site, then Manage on its Short link domains card. Enter the hostname and press Add domain. Its Setup page shows the Origin, the settings below, and the verification address.
Setting it up#
Short link domains are set up the same way as a website on your own domain. The hostname needs a certificate of its own, which Subcontext doesn't issue, so a CNAME straight to Subcontext isn't enough. Put a CDN or reverse proxy in front of it:
| Setting | Value |
|---|---|
| Certificate | One for your short hostname, on your CDN. |
| Origin | go.subcontext.com, over HTTPS. |
| Host header | The visitor's, unchanged. Subcontext finds your links from it. |
| Caching | Off. Each click is counted, and a link can expire. |
| DNS | A CNAME from your short hostname to your CDN. |
The CDN-by-CDN notes on the website domain page
apply here too, with go.subcontext.com as the origin. Short links only use
GET requests, so the default allowed methods are fine.
Verifying#
Press Verify on the domain's Setup page. Subcontext fetches
https://go.example.com/__verify/<the domain's token>through your hostname and checks the token comes back. It runs in the background, so refresh after a moment. The messages are the same as for a website domain.
Short link domains are re-checked automatically, the same way as website domains, with pending ones every 30 minutes and live ones daily. A live domain whose checks start failing keeps working for 3 days while Subcontext keeps checking, and stops after that.
Once it's verified#
- New short links for the site use your hostname. Links already sent keep the address they were sent with.
- A visitor to a link is redirected to the full address. Your hostname only serves your own site's links.
- Removing the domain stops every link on it from working, including ones already sent. Only remove it when those links no longer matter.