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$ man expand-url

/expand-url

agentutility / web-probe / expand-url
PRICE / CALL
$0.02
USDC · base mainnet · scheme: exact
METHOD
POST
CLUSTER
webprobe
CATEGORY
utilities
STATUS
live
NAME
expand-url expands shortened urls by tracing the full redirect chain hop-by-hop
SYNOPSIS
POST https://x402.agentutility.ai/expand-url
     Content-Type: application/json
     X-PAYMENT:    <signed-transferWithAuthorization>

     { ... }
↳ first call → 402 Payment Required. Sign USDCtransferWithAuthorization, retry with theX-PAYMENT header.
DESCRIPTION

Expands shortened URLs by tracing the full redirect chain hop-by-hop. Each step returns status code, Location header, redirect_type (permanent / temporary / meta / js), per-hop duration, and content-type, plus the final landing URL and total trace time. Useful for unmasking shortened links before fetch, and for forensic / security analysis of suspicious redirects. Use it as a URL expander, redirect chain tracer, link unshortener, shortlink resolver, bit.ly + t.co + lnkd.in + goo.gl + tinyurl resolver, final-URL fetcher, or phishing redirect inspector.

INPUTrequest schema
propertytypedescriptionreq?
urlstringStarting URL (typically a shortlink). Must be http(s).required
max_hopsnumberMaximum redirect hops to follow. 1-20. Default 10.optional
user_agentstringOptional User-Agent header to send (some shorteners gate by UA). Default is a generic browser UA.optional
OUTPUTresponse shape
fieldtypedescription
initial_urlstringOriginal URL submitted for expansion before any redirects were followed.
final_urlstringTerminal URL reached after following the full redirect chain.
final_statusnumberHTTP status code returned at the final hop (200, 404, etc.).
hop_countnumberNumber of redirect hops traversed between the initial and final URL.
total_duration_msnumberTotal wall-clock time in milliseconds to trace the full redirect chain.
hopsarrayOrdered list of each redirect step with URL, status, location header, redirect type, and response time.
truncatedbooleanTrue if the chain hit the max-hop cap before reaching a terminal URL.
errorstringError message if the trace failed (DNS failure, timeout, redirect loop, invalid URL).
EXAMPLEStwo ways to call
EXAMPLE 1 · curl
curl -X POST https://x402.agentutility.ai/expand-url \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  -d '{ }'
first response = 402 Payment Required with payment requirements; sign + retry with X-PAYMENT.
EXAMPLE 2 · mcp
# Install the MCP package for this endpoint's cluster
npx -y @agentutility/mcp-<cluster>

# Required: EVM private key with USDC on Base
export X402_PRIVATE_KEY=0x...

# Then call the expand-url tool from your MCP-aware agent.
MCP server handles payment automatically — your coding agent just calls the tool by name.
METADATA
tags
urlredirectshortlinktracephishing
methods
POST
cluster
webprobe
price
$0.02 USDC per call
ADJACENTother endpoints in webprobe
endpointdescriptionprice
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archive-snapshot-apiFinds archived snapshots of public web pages, returning the closest Wayback Machine captures with timestamps, status codes, and replay URLs.$0.02
archive-urlLooks up the archived copy of a public URL closest to a given timestamp and can fetch cleaned archived page text.$0.02
dmarc-checkAudits a domain's email authentication posture: DMARC, SPF, and DKIM in one check.$0.02
dns-lookupFull DNS lookup over Cloudflare 1.1.1.1 DNS-over-HTTPS.$0.02
domain-age-checkChecks a domain's age and registration date, with registrar metadata, for fraud, phishing, brand-protection, and lead-enrichment workflows.$0.02
domain-expiry-checkChecks a domain's expiration date and days until it expires, for renewal monitoring, vendor-risk checks, and brand-protection agents.$0.02
domain-risk-checkScreens a domain for risk signals: age, expiration, registrar, nameservers, DNSSEC, status codes, and flags such as newly-registered or e…$0.02
SEE ALSO
agentutility · webprobe · x402 · mcp · llms.txt · registry.json · bazaar.x402.org