On this page
A list of bare links is a leap of faith. Is this the right page? Is the download still up? Is that folder 3 files or 300? Thpaste answers those questions before anyone clicks: under every paste, each link gets its own preview card — and the card tells readers when a link looks dead.
What a preview card shows
| Part of the card | Where it comes from |
|---|---|
| Site name and icon | The linked site's own name and favicon |
| Title and description | The page's title and summary, the same ones social apps use |
| Preview image | The page's share image, when it has one |
| ⚠️ Link appears broken | The site answered "not found" or "gone" (HTTP 404 or 410) |
| Address | The link itself, so readers can see exactly where it goes |
| Report broken | Lets readers flag a link that doesn't work for them |
Dead-link detection
Links die all the time: files get removed, folders expire, pages move. When Thpaste checks a link and the site answers not found or gone, the card turns red with Link appears broken.
- 1Checked when the paste is viewed
The first reader triggers a check; the result is remembered so the next readers get it instantly.
- 2Re-checked regularly
Working links are re-checked every 6 hours, broken or unclear ones every 30 minutes — so a link that comes back to life is noticed quickly.
- 3Reported by readers
If a link is wrong in a way a robot can't see, readers can press Report broken and the team takes a look.
For people who share download links
Open your own pastes now and then: a red card is your cue to re-upload the file and edit the paste with the new link. Your paste's address stays the same, so everyone who has it gets the fixed version.
File counts and sizes for storage links
For popular file-hosting services — including Gofile, Pixeldrain and MEGA — the card goes further and shows what's inside: the number of files, how many are images or videos, and the total size. Readers know whether they're about to download a single document or a 4 GB folder.
| Card says | It means |
|---|---|
| 📁 12 files · 1.4 GB | A folder with twelve files, 1.4 GB in total |
| 🖼 40 | Forty of them are pictures |
| 🎬 3 | Three are videos |
Private by design
Showing previews could have meant every reader's browser contacting every linked website — leaking their IP address to sites they never chose to visit. Thpaste does it differently:
The server reads the page title and summary, so readers stay anonymous until they actually click.
Preview images and icons are shown through Thpaste, never loaded straight from the other site.
Only public web addresses are checked — never private networks — and checks are rate-limited.
Works with every kind of paste
Previews appear under plain text, Markdown, code and rich text pastes alike. In rich text pastes a link might be a word or a button — the preview still shows the real address it points to.
FAQ
Can I turn previews off?
Not per paste right now. They're informational only — readers still decide whether to click.
Why does a working link say it's broken?
Some sites answer "not found" to automated checks. If the link works for you, readers will still be able to open it, and the next check may clear the warning.
Do previews slow the paste down?
No. The paste loads first; the cards appear underneath as their checks finish.
Share links people can trust
Paste your links and every one gets a preview card and a health check.
Create a paste
