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QR & URL Intelligence
What Is Redirect Chain?
A redirect chain is a sequence of redirects between the first URL a user opens and the final destination URL.
Updated 2026-06-17
Quick Definition
A redirect chain is a sequence of redirects between the first URL a user opens and the final destination URL.
Expanded explanation
Redirect chains often appear behind short URLs, QR codes, ad links, email links, and campaign tracking platforms.
Why it matters
Redirect chains affect QR destination trust, attribution accuracy, page speed, and campaign QA. Each hop can add, remove, or hide tracking information.
Common mistakes
- Testing only the final landing page and missing intermediate tracking links.
- Losing visibility into shorteners, click trackers, and campaign redirect domains.
- Missing the hop where UTM parameters are added, changed, or stripped.
Examples
QR code -> short URL -> tracking domain -> landing page
Email link -> click tracker -> campaign page
Practical example
A QR campaign path might be QR code -> bit.ly link -> email tracking domain -> final landing page, with UTMs added or lost along the way.