Redirect Chain
A redirect chain is the series of intermediate URLs a click passes through before reaching the final landing page.
A redirect chain is the sequence of intermediate URLs a click passes through, often tracking domains, link shorteners, affiliate networks, and cloakers, before the browser finally arrives at the destination. A single ad click can quietly bounce through several hops in milliseconds.
How it works#
Each hop is typically an HTTP 301 or 302 redirect. A click might start on a Click Tracking Domain, pass through an affiliate network that swaps in a payout, hit a cloaking gateway that checks the visitor, and only then load the real Landing Page. A Click ID is usually carried and rewritten at each step so attribution survives the journey.
Why it matters#
Redirect chains are essential for legitimate tracking, but they are also where ad cloaking and obfuscation hide. Reading the full chain reveals the tracker, the affiliate network, and, at the end, the actual advertiser and offer that the ad creative never names. This is why competitive-intelligence tools follow the entire path: OpenAdLibrary's Click-Trace resolves each hop so you can see the real destination and supply chain behind a native ad. Long or evasive chains can also signal low-quality traffic or Ad Cloaking.
Related terms: Click-Trace, Click Tracking Domain, and Landing Page.
