URL shortening service

[eluser]Dregond Rahl[/eluser]
Thanks everyone ^^ even you Fuzzy :p

I don't quite understand the __remap() method O.o

and xwero your idea works i might add a ~ , what other symbols are allowed?

Also this doesn't seem to be working =/

Code:

$route['~([a-zA-Z0-9]+)'] = "snip/re_link/$1";

EDIT: Also if possible, how would i check if the input was a valid URL, And thanks xwero for that alternative method, I might have a use for it for another project.