If the HTTP spec added 2 new VERBS (SHORT, LONG) as a method of shortening and elongating URLs then many things could be done.
1.) The browser could pro-actively lengthening the URL and the same way the server can respond 302/301 now the browser could cache this.
2.) The server could hand-back the final long URL with out needing to redirect the URL multiple times
3.) We could create services that can be integrated into the server software that integrate 3rd parties.
4.) Each domain could create their own shortened URL domains and mask it in a better way.
1.) The browser could pro-actively lengthening the URL and the same way the server can respond 302/301 now the browser could cache this. 2.) The server could hand-back the final long URL with out needing to redirect the URL multiple times 3.) We could create services that can be integrated into the server software that integrate 3rd parties. 4.) Each domain could create their own shortened URL domains and mask it in a better way.