URL masking, also known as link or domain masking, is a technique for modifying the appearance of a URL or web address. The main aim of this technique is to hide long and complicated web addresses from the user.

As a website owner, it is essential to present your web address (or URL) in a clean and user-friendly manner. Imagine running a marketing campaign with long and complicated product links. Simplifying those product links can make them more attractive and accessible. That’s where link masking comes in. It masks your website’s URL and shows users a shortened or easy-to-understand web address.

While URL masking can be useful in certain situations, it can also be abused for activities, such as phishing attacks or leading users to harmful websites. Therefore, using URL masking carefully and only in legitimate cases is important. Read ahead to know more about URL masking.

What is URL Masking?

URL masking is a technique used to display a website’s content under a different URL than the original website address. It’s often used to make the website’s URL more user-friendly or to hide the original URL for various reasons, such as to prevent users from bypassing certain security measures or redirecting traffic to another site.

URL masking involves creating a webpage or a subdomain on a server and then redirecting the user to the original website while keeping the masked URL in the address bar.

If you don’t want to use URL masking, you can go with URL redirects.

What Are URL Redirects?

URL redirection is the technique of forwarding a user from one URL to another URL. It’s typically used to redirect traffic from an old or outdated URL to a new or updated one. For example, if a website changes its domain name, you can use URL redirection to ensure that those who try to access the old domain are automatically led to the new one.

You can also use URL redirection to redirect traffic to a different page on the same website, to track clicks on links or advertisements, to shorten long URLs, or to redirect traffic to an affiliate program or partner website.

Types of URL Redirection 

There are two main types of URL redirection: server-side redirection and client-side redirection. Server-side redirection involves redirecting the user at the server level, while client-side redirection is performed using client-side scripting languages like JavaScript.

URL redirection is an important tool for website owners and marketers as it helps ensure that users are always directed to the correct page or website, improving website traffic and conversions.

Other Alternatives to URL Masking 

If you are looking for alternatives to URL masking, consider these options:

1. URL Forwarding 

Instead of masking the original URL, you can use URL forwarding to redirect the user to the desired page while displaying the original URL in the address bar. This method ensures that the user sees the original URL and can easily identify the website they are visiting.

2. URL Rewriting

This technique involves changing the structure of the URL to make it more user-friendly, without actually changing the content of the website. Server-side scripting languages, such as PHP or ASP.NET, can be used to do this.

3. Canonical URLs 

Canonical URLs are used to avoid duplicate content issues by specifying the preferred URL for a webpage. This helps improve search engine rankings and ensures that users always land on the correct page.

4. Subdomain 

If you want to create a separate section of your website with a different URL, consider using a subdomain. For example, if your main website is www.example.com, you can create a subdomain called blog.example.com for your blog.

5. Content Delivery Network (CDN) 

CDNs can be used to access website content from multiple servers located in different parts of the world, improving website speed and reliability. Some CDNs also offer custom domain support, allowing you to use your own domain name instead of the CDN’s URL.

Overall, the choice of an alternative depends on your specific use case and the goals you are trying to achieve.

Difference between URL forwarding and URL masking

Both URL forwarding and masking are two different ways of handling web addresses. While URL forwarding redirects users to a new website or a domain, URL masking masks the URL and replaces it with a shorter and more user-friendly URL.

Here’s how they are different

Features URL Masking URL Forwarding
Purpose Masking is often used to hide long, complicated URLs, creating a cleaner, branded appearance. It is typically used to send users from one URL to another, such as when a domain name has changed, or content is moved.

 
Displayed URL in Address Bar Original URL visible in the address bar, even when the content comes from a different location. Shows the new, redirected URL in the address bar once the visitor is redirected.

 
Redirection Type Does not involve traditional redirection; it simply hides the destination URL. Can be permanent (301) or temporary (302) redirection, depending on the intended purpose—permanent move or temporary forwarding.

 
User Perception Makes it look like the content is from an original URL, creating a seamless user experience. Users know they have been redirected, as the new URL is displayed in the browser’s address bar.

 
SEO Impact May hurt SEO if search engines consider it a deceptive or “black hat” technique. Passes SEO value to the redirected page, especially with a 301 permanent redirect, helping preserve search engine rankings.
User Experience Users may not realize they are reading content from a different site, which can enhance the experience but also create confusion. Users are fully aware that they are being redirected, which makes the process more transparent but may disrupt the seamless flow.

 

 

When to Mask a URL: 3 Scenarios to Consider 

URL masking can be used in certain situations where there is a legitimate need to hide the original URL. Here are some scenarios where URL masking can be useful:

  1. Affiliate Marketing 

If you are an affiliate marketer promoting products from another website, you can use URL masking to hide the original affiliate link and make it more user-friendly. This can increase click-through rates and improve your chances of earning a commission.

  1. Branding 

If you want to create a custom URL for your website that reflects your brand or business name, you can use URL masking to display the custom URL instead of the original URL.

  1. Security 

In some cases, you may want to hide the original URL to prevent users from bypassing certain security measures or to protect sensitive information.

How Mask to a URL

Now that we have covered the basis of URL masking, it’s time to look at how to mask a URL. Here’s a step-by-step guide on masking a URL:

Step 1: Navigate to cPanel 

Log into your BigRock account and navigate to the cPanel. Search for domain name. Then, navigate to “Aliases” or “Add on Domains”, depending on where you want to mask. There, click on ”create a new alias” and enter the domain name you want to mask.

Step 2: Enter original and masked URLs 

The next step is filling out details such as your website’s original URL and masked URL. Fill in the required details, such as the document root and FTP username and password.

Step 3: Choose the redirect type 

Choosing the right type of redirect is important when setting up link masking because it directly impacts how search engines and users access your content. Redirects ensure that users are directed to the intended destination while maintaining a seamless browsing experience.

Here are some of the redirects you can opt for:

  • 301
  • 302
  • URL frame or masked direct

Step 4: Save your setting 

Once you have entered all the details, save them. With this, you have successfully completed the URL masking process.

Advantages and Disadvantages of URL Masking 

Advantages 

  • Creates user-friendly and easy-to-remember URLs
  • Promotes branding by displaying a custom URL that reflects the brand or business name
  • Increases click-through rates in affiliate marketing by hiding the original affiliate link
  • Helps protect sensitive information and prevents users from bypassing certain security measures
  • Provides a more seamless user experience by hiding complex or unattractive URLs
  • Enables website owners to change the appearance of the URL without changing the actual website
  • Helps to track website traffic and visitor behavior more accurately by using custom URLs
  • Provides more control over how the website is presented to users and enables customization based on user preferences

Disadvantages 

  • Can mislead users by displaying a different URL than the actual one, which can be harmful if it leads to phishing attacks or redirects users to malicious websites
  • Can hide the actual destination of a link, leading to a lack of transparency and mistrust among users
  • Can lead to duplicate content issues if the same content is displayed on multiple URLs, which can dilute the search engine ranking
  • Can be used to hide low-quality content or spammy links, which can lead to penalties from search engines and a decrease in website rankings
  • Can lead to indexing issues if search engines are unable to properly index the original URL
  • Can confuse users who want to bookmark or share the page, as they may not be able to access the page directly by entering the custom URL

Does URL Masking Impact SEO 

URL masking can have a negative impact on search engine optimization (SEO) because search engines may not be able to recognize the original URL and give it the appropriate ranking. This is because URL masking involves displaying a different URL than the actual one, which can confuse search engines and lead to indexing issues.

URL masking can also lead to duplicate content issues if the same content is displayed on multiple URLs, making it difficult for search engines to determine which URL to display in search results.

Aside from this, URL masking can be used to hide low-quality content or spammy links, which can lead to penalties from search engines and a decrease in website rankings.

READ: SEO 101: A Beginners’ Guide to Understanding SEO

Mask URLs Appropriately 

Overall, URL masking should be used with caution and only for legitimate reasons. It’s important to consider the potential negative impact on SEO and site security before implementing URL masking. Plus, it’s best to ensure that the original URL is still accessible and properly indexed by search engines.

Here are some best practices for URL masking:

  1. Focus on User Experience: When using URL masking, make sure it’s easy for users to navigate your site. They should find what they’re looking for without getting confused.
  2. Keep Your Branding Consistent: If you’re masking URLs for branding, make sure the visible URL matches your brand, so people recognize it as part of your website.
  3. Use Safe and Reliable Methods: Pick secure ways to mask URLs, like server-side scripting or proxy servers, to keep your site running smoothly and protect your data.
  4. Test and Monitor Regularly: Test your URL masking often to make sure it works correctly on all browsers and devices. Keep an eye on how it affects your site’s performance and how users interact with it.

Frequently Asked Questions –URL Masking

 

1. What is an example of URL masking?

URL masking is when a website owner wants to display a user-friendly URL to their visitors while keeping content from a different domain. A great example of URL masking is—when users access www.xyz.com/page but would see the URL as www.xyz.com/specialpromotion.

2. What is DNS forwarding with masking? 

DNS forwarding with masking redirects a domain to another URL while keeping the original domain visible in the browser’s address bar, making the redirection seamless for users.

3. What is the difference between masking and encryption? 

Masking hides URLs from the user, while encryption transforms data into a secure, unreadable format to protect it from unauthorized access.

4. Does DNS mask IP address? 

No, DNS doesn’t mask IP addresses. Instead, it translates domain names into IP addresses, making it easier for users to access websites without needing to remember numeric addresses.