How does affiliate-link cloaking work?

Affiliate-link cloaking places a readable redirect on a controlled domain in front of a long network tracking URL. The public path is easier to manage and can point to a new approved destination later without editing every article, email, or campaign where the branded link appears.

The redirect uses the same Supabase-backed mapping as the URL shortener and normally preserves the referrer needed for attribution. Cloaking does not remove disclosure obligations or make an unsafe destination trustworthy. Mark affiliate anchors with rel="sponsored nofollow" and provide clear, proximate commercial disclosures.