Gimme a break. Does a URL really have to be this long?

In a comment on a previous thread, I provided a link to an image that illustrated what I was talking about. Never mind what I was talking about; that’s not the point.

The point is, when I copied and pasted the URL for the image, I found it was, in my humble and uninformed opinion, longer than was necessary. Here’s the URL:

data:image/jpeg;base64,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

Really. For those of you keeping score at home, that’s 9,903 characters. Or, to stretch it out, nine thousand, nine hundred and three.

Come on. Even if you assign a different combination of letters and numbers to every image ever created in the history of the planet, or ever will be created before our sun goes cold billions of years from now, you wouldn’t need that many characters to designate a specific one of those images.

That’s just ridiculous. TinyURL, anyone?

6 thoughts on “Gimme a break. Does a URL really have to be this long?

    1. Juan Caruso

      Exactly, but with an important caveat:

      For well over ten (15+?) years anow, and still counting, data villains have hidden malware in image files. Why? Few users ever imagine image contains a digital hazard. Of course, better detection software detects the older (known) encryption schemes, but criminals never stop refining techniques to thwart the status quo, and many cost-conscious users still “go bare” once in a while.

      You, of course, knew this already, but for the benefit of the unwary this was an excellent place to warn others.

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