diff --git a/src/plugins/discover/public/url_generator.ts b/src/plugins/discover/public/url_generator.ts
index 21bdbf225d6aa5..63dea20fecc0a1 100644
--- a/src/plugins/discover/public/url_generator.ts
+++ b/src/plugins/discover/public/url_generator.ts
@@ -6,16 +6,10 @@
  * Side Public License, v 1.
  */
 
-import {
-  TimeRange,
-  Filter,
-  Query,
-  esFilters,
-  QueryState,
-  RefreshInterval,
-} from '../../data/public';
+import type { UrlGeneratorsDefinition } from '../../share/public';
+import type { TimeRange, Filter, Query, QueryState, RefreshInterval } from '../../data/public';
+import { esFilters } from '../../data/public';
 import { setStateToKbnUrl } from '../../kibana_utils/public';
-import { UrlGeneratorsDefinition } from '../../share/public';
 
 export const DISCOVER_APP_URL_GENERATOR = 'DISCOVER_APP_URL_GENERATOR';
 
@@ -71,10 +65,12 @@ export interface DiscoverUrlGeneratorState {
    * Used interval of the histogram
    */
   interval?: string;
+
   /**
    * Array of the used sorting [[field,direction],...]
    */
   sort?: string[][];
+
   /**
    * id of the used saved query
    */
diff --git a/src/plugins/share/common/url_service/__tests__/locators.test.ts b/src/plugins/share/common/url_service/__tests__/locators.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000000..45d727df7de48c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/plugins/share/common/url_service/__tests__/locators.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,165 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright Elasticsearch B.V. and/or licensed to Elasticsearch B.V. under one
+ * or more contributor license agreements. Licensed under the Elastic License
+ * 2.0 and the Server Side Public License, v 1; you may not use this file except
+ * in compliance with, at your election, the Elastic License 2.0 or the Server
+ * Side Public License, v 1.
+ */
+
+import { of } from 'src/plugins/kibana_utils/common';
+import { testLocator, TestLocatorState, urlServiceTestSetup } from './setup';
+
+describe('locators', () => {
+  test('can start locators service', () => {
+    const {
+      service: { locators },
+    } = urlServiceTestSetup();
+
+    expect(typeof locators).toBe('object');
+    expect(typeof locators.create).toBe('function');
+    expect(typeof locators.get).toBe('function');
+  });
+
+  test('returns "undefined" for unregistered locator', () => {
+    const {
+      service: { locators },
+    } = urlServiceTestSetup();
+
+    expect(locators.get(testLocator.id)).toBe(undefined);
+  });
+
+  test('can register a locator', () => {
+    const {
+      service: { locators },
+    } = urlServiceTestSetup();
+
+    locators.create(testLocator);
+    expect(typeof locators.get(testLocator.id)).toBe('object');
+  });
+
+  test('getLocation() returns KibanaLocation generated by the locator', async () => {
+    const {
+      service: { locators },
+    } = urlServiceTestSetup();
+
+    locators.create(testLocator);
+
+    const locator = locators.get<TestLocatorState>(testLocator.id);
+    const location = await locator?.getLocation({
+      savedObjectId: 'xxxxxxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxxxxxxxxxx',
+      pageNumber: 21,
+      showFlyout: true,
+    });
+
+    expect(location).toEqual({
+      app: 'test_app',
+      route: '/my-object/xxxxxxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxxxxxxxxxx?page=21',
+      state: { isFlyoutOpen: true },
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe('.navigate()', () => {
+    test('throws if navigation method is not implemented', async () => {
+      const {
+        service: { locators },
+      } = urlServiceTestSetup();
+      const locator = locators.create(testLocator);
+      const [, error] = await of(
+        locator.navigate({
+          pageNumber: 1,
+          savedObjectId: 'xxxxxxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxxxxxxxxxx',
+          showFlyout: false,
+        })
+      );
+
+      expect(error).toBeInstanceOf(Error);
+      expect(error.message).toBe('not implemented');
+    });
+
+    test('navigates user when .navigate() method is called', async () => {
+      const {
+        service: { locators },
+        deps,
+      } = urlServiceTestSetup({
+        navigate: jest.fn(async () => {}),
+      });
+      const locator = locators.create(testLocator);
+      const [, error] = await of(
+        locator.navigate({
+          pageNumber: 1,
+          savedObjectId: 'xxxxxxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxxxxxxxxxx',
+          showFlyout: false,
+        })
+      );
+
+      expect(error).toBe(undefined);
+      expect(deps.navigate).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+      expect(deps.navigate).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+        {
+          app: 'test_app',
+          route: '/my-object/xxxxxxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxxxxxxxxxx?page=1',
+          state: {
+            isFlyoutOpen: false,
+          },
+        },
+        { replace: false }
+      );
+    });
+
+    test('can specify "replace" navigation parameter', async () => {
+      const {
+        service: { locators },
+        deps,
+      } = urlServiceTestSetup({
+        navigate: jest.fn(async () => {}),
+      });
+      const locator = locators.create(testLocator);
+
+      await locator.navigate(
+        {
+          pageNumber: 1,
+          savedObjectId: 'xxxxxxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxxxxxxxxxx',
+          showFlyout: false,
+        },
+        {
+          replace: false,
+        }
+      );
+
+      expect(deps.navigate).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+      expect(deps.navigate).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+        {
+          app: 'test_app',
+          route: '/my-object/xxxxxxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxxxxxxxxxx?page=1',
+          state: {
+            isFlyoutOpen: false,
+          },
+        },
+        { replace: false }
+      );
+
+      await locator.navigate(
+        {
+          pageNumber: 2,
+          savedObjectId: 'xxxxxxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxxxxxxxxxx',
+          showFlyout: false,
+        },
+        {
+          replace: true,
+        }
+      );
+
+      expect(deps.navigate).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2);
+      expect(deps.navigate).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+        {
+          app: 'test_app',
+          route: '/my-object/xxxxxxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxxxxxxxxxx?page=2',
+          state: {
+            isFlyoutOpen: false,
+          },
+        },
+        { replace: true }
+      );
+    });
+  });
+});
diff --git a/src/plugins/share/common/url_service/__tests__/setup.ts b/src/plugins/share/common/url_service/__tests__/setup.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000000..ad13bb8d8d2160
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/plugins/share/common/url_service/__tests__/setup.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright Elasticsearch B.V. and/or licensed to Elasticsearch B.V. under one
+ * or more contributor license agreements. Licensed under the Elastic License
+ * 2.0 and the Server Side Public License, v 1; you may not use this file except
+ * in compliance with, at your election, the Elastic License 2.0 or the Server
+ * Side Public License, v 1.
+ */
+
+import type { SerializableState } from 'src/plugins/kibana_utils/common';
+import { LocatorDefinition } from '../locators';
+import { UrlService, UrlServiceDependencies } from '../url_service';
+
+export interface TestLocatorState extends SerializableState {
+  savedObjectId: string;
+  showFlyout: boolean;
+  pageNumber: number;
+}
+
+export const testLocator: LocatorDefinition<TestLocatorState> = {
+  id: 'TEST_LOCATOR',
+  getLocation: async ({ savedObjectId, pageNumber, showFlyout }) => {
+    return {
+      app: 'test_app',
+      route: `/my-object/${savedObjectId}?page=${pageNumber}`,
+      state: {
+        isFlyoutOpen: showFlyout,
+      },
+    };
+  },
+};
+
+export const urlServiceTestSetup = (partialDeps: Partial<UrlServiceDependencies> = {}) => {
+  const deps: UrlServiceDependencies = {
+    navigate: async () => {
+      throw new Error('not implemented');
+    },
+    ...partialDeps,
+  };
+  const service = new UrlService(deps);
+
+  return { service, deps };
+};
diff --git a/src/plugins/share/common/url_service/index.ts b/src/plugins/share/common/url_service/index.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000000..84f74356bcf186
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/plugins/share/common/url_service/index.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright Elasticsearch B.V. and/or licensed to Elasticsearch B.V. under one
+ * or more contributor license agreements. Licensed under the Elastic License
+ * 2.0 and the Server Side Public License, v 1; you may not use this file except
+ * in compliance with, at your election, the Elastic License 2.0 or the Server
+ * Side Public License, v 1.
+ */
+
+export * from './url_service';
+export * from './locators';
diff --git a/src/plugins/share/common/url_service/locators/index.ts b/src/plugins/share/common/url_service/locators/index.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000000..f9f87215eb4db5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/plugins/share/common/url_service/locators/index.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright Elasticsearch B.V. and/or licensed to Elasticsearch B.V. under one
+ * or more contributor license agreements. Licensed under the Elastic License
+ * 2.0 and the Server Side Public License, v 1; you may not use this file except
+ * in compliance with, at your election, the Elastic License 2.0 or the Server
+ * Side Public License, v 1.
+ */
+
+export * from './types';
+export * from './locator';
+export * from './locator_client';
diff --git a/src/plugins/share/common/url_service/locators/locator.ts b/src/plugins/share/common/url_service/locators/locator.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000000..68c3b05a7f4111
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/plugins/share/common/url_service/locators/locator.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,69 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright Elasticsearch B.V. and/or licensed to Elasticsearch B.V. under one
+ * or more contributor license agreements. Licensed under the Elastic License
+ * 2.0 and the Server Side Public License, v 1; you may not use this file except
+ * in compliance with, at your election, the Elastic License 2.0 or the Server
+ * Side Public License, v 1.
+ */
+
+import type { SavedObjectReference } from 'kibana/server';
+import type { PersistableState, SerializableState } from 'src/plugins/kibana_utils/common';
+import type {
+  LocatorDefinition,
+  LocatorPublic,
+  KibanaLocation,
+  LocatorNavigationParams,
+} from './types';
+
+export interface LocatorDependencies {
+  navigate: (location: KibanaLocation, params?: LocatorNavigationParams) => Promise<void>;
+}
+
+export class Locator<P extends SerializableState> implements PersistableState<P>, LocatorPublic<P> {
+  public readonly migrations: PersistableState<P>['migrations'];
+
+  constructor(
+    public readonly definition: LocatorDefinition<P>,
+    protected readonly deps: LocatorDependencies
+  ) {
+    this.migrations = definition.migrations || {};
+  }
+
+  // PersistableState<P> -------------------------------------------------------
+
+  public readonly telemetry: PersistableState<P>['telemetry'] = (
+    state: P,
+    stats: Record<string, any>
+  ): Record<string, any> => {
+    return this.definition.telemetry ? this.definition.telemetry(state, stats) : stats;
+  };
+
+  public readonly inject: PersistableState<P>['inject'] = (
+    state: P,
+    references: SavedObjectReference[]
+  ): P => {
+    return this.definition.inject ? this.definition.inject(state, references) : state;
+  };
+
+  public readonly extract: PersistableState<P>['extract'] = (
+    state: P
+  ): { state: P; references: SavedObjectReference[] } => {
+    return this.definition.extract ? this.definition.extract(state) : { state, references: [] };
+  };
+
+  // LocatorPublic<P> ----------------------------------------------------------
+
+  public async getLocation(params: P): Promise<KibanaLocation> {
+    return await this.definition.getLocation(params);
+  }
+
+  public async navigate(
+    params: P,
+    { replace = false }: LocatorNavigationParams = {}
+  ): Promise<void> {
+    const location = await this.getLocation(params);
+    await this.deps.navigate(location, {
+      replace,
+    });
+  }
+}
diff --git a/src/plugins/share/common/url_service/locators/locator_client.ts b/src/plugins/share/common/url_service/locators/locator_client.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000000..168cc02d03ff15
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/plugins/share/common/url_service/locators/locator_client.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright Elasticsearch B.V. and/or licensed to Elasticsearch B.V. under one
+ * or more contributor license agreements. Licensed under the Elastic License
+ * 2.0 and the Server Side Public License, v 1; you may not use this file except
+ * in compliance with, at your election, the Elastic License 2.0 or the Server
+ * Side Public License, v 1.
+ */
+
+import type { SerializableState } from 'src/plugins/kibana_utils/common';
+import type { LocatorDependencies } from './locator';
+import type { LocatorDefinition, LocatorPublic, ILocatorClient } from './types';
+import { Locator } from './locator';
+
+export type LocatorClientDependencies = LocatorDependencies;
+
+export class LocatorClient implements ILocatorClient {
+  /**
+   * Collection of registered locators.
+   */
+  protected locators: Map<string, Locator<any>> = new Map();
+
+  constructor(protected readonly deps: LocatorClientDependencies) {}
+
+  /**
+   * Creates and register a URL locator.
+   *
+   * @param definition A definition of URL locator.
+   * @returns A public interface of URL locator.
+   */
+  public create<P extends SerializableState>(definition: LocatorDefinition<P>): LocatorPublic<P> {
+    const locator = new Locator<P>(definition, this.deps);
+
+    this.locators.set(definition.id, locator);
+
+    return locator;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Returns a previously registered URL locator.
+   *
+   * @param id ID of a URL locator.
+   * @returns A public interface of a registered URL locator.
+   */
+  public get<P>(id: string): undefined | LocatorPublic<P> {
+    return this.locators.get(id);
+  }
+}
diff --git a/src/plugins/share/common/url_service/locators/types.ts b/src/plugins/share/common/url_service/locators/types.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000000..d811ae0fd4aa23
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/plugins/share/common/url_service/locators/types.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,91 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright Elasticsearch B.V. and/or licensed to Elasticsearch B.V. under one
+ * or more contributor license agreements. Licensed under the Elastic License
+ * 2.0 and the Server Side Public License, v 1; you may not use this file except
+ * in compliance with, at your election, the Elastic License 2.0 or the Server
+ * Side Public License, v 1.
+ */
+
+import { PersistableState, SerializableState } from 'src/plugins/kibana_utils/common';
+
+/**
+ * URL locator registry.
+ */
+export interface ILocatorClient {
+  /**
+   * Create and register a new locator.
+   *
+   * @param urlGenerator Definition of the new locator.
+   */
+  create<P extends SerializableState>(locatorDefinition: LocatorDefinition<P>): LocatorPublic<P>;
+
+  /**
+   * Retrieve a previously registered locator.
+   *
+   * @param id Unique ID of the locator.
+   */
+  get<P>(id: string): undefined | LocatorPublic<P>;
+}
+
+/**
+ * A convenience interface used to define and register a locator.
+ */
+export interface LocatorDefinition<P extends SerializableState>
+  extends Partial<PersistableState<P>> {
+  /**
+   * Unique ID of the locator. Should be constant and unique across Kibana.
+   */
+  id: string;
+
+  /**
+   * Returns a deep link, including location state, which can be used for
+   * navigation in Kibana.
+   *
+   * @param params Parameters from which to generate a Kibana location.
+   */
+  getLocation(params: P): Promise<KibanaLocation>;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Public interface of a registered locator.
+ */
+export interface LocatorPublic<P> {
+  /**
+   * Returns a relative URL to the client-side redirect endpoint using this
+   * locator. (This method is necessary for compatibility with URL generators.)
+   */
+  getLocation(params: P): Promise<KibanaLocation>;
+
+  /**
+   * Navigate using the `core.application.navigateToApp()` method to a Kibana
+   * location generated by this locator. This method is available only on the
+   * browser.
+   */
+  navigate(params: P, navigationParams?: LocatorNavigationParams): Promise<void>;
+}
+
+export interface LocatorNavigationParams {
+  replace?: boolean;
+}
+
+/**
+ * This interface represents a location in Kibana to which one can navigate
+ * using the `core.application.navigateToApp()` method.
+ */
+export interface KibanaLocation<S = object> {
+  /**
+   * Kibana application ID.
+   */
+  app: string;
+
+  /**
+   * A URL route within a Kibana application.
+   */
+  route: string;
+
+  /**
+   * A serializable location state object, which the app can use to determine
+   * what should be displayed on the screen.
+   */
+  state: S;
+}
diff --git a/src/plugins/share/common/url_service/url_service.ts b/src/plugins/share/common/url_service/url_service.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000000..0c3a0aabb750bc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/plugins/share/common/url_service/url_service.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright Elasticsearch B.V. and/or licensed to Elasticsearch B.V. under one
+ * or more contributor license agreements. Licensed under the Elastic License
+ * 2.0 and the Server Side Public License, v 1; you may not use this file except
+ * in compliance with, at your election, the Elastic License 2.0 or the Server
+ * Side Public License, v 1.
+ */
+
+import { LocatorClient, LocatorClientDependencies } from './locators';
+
+export type UrlServiceDependencies = LocatorClientDependencies;
+
+/**
+ * Common URL Service client interface for server-side and client-side.
+ */
+export class UrlService {
+  /**
+   * Client to work with locators.
+   */
+  locators: LocatorClient = new LocatorClient(this.deps);
+
+  constructor(protected readonly deps: UrlServiceDependencies) {}
+}
diff --git a/src/plugins/share/public/plugin.ts b/src/plugins/share/public/plugin.ts
index 14d74e055cbd9a..eb7c46cdaef867 100644
--- a/src/plugins/share/public/plugin.ts
+++ b/src/plugins/share/public/plugin.ts
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ import {
   UrlGeneratorsSetup,
   UrlGeneratorsStart,
 } from './url_generators/url_generator_service';
+import { UrlService } from '../common/url_service';
 
 export interface ShareSetupDependencies {
   securityOss?: SecurityOssPluginSetup;
@@ -27,16 +28,60 @@ export interface ShareStartDependencies {
   securityOss?: SecurityOssPluginStart;
 }
 
+/** @public */
+export type SharePluginSetup = ShareMenuRegistrySetup & {
+  /**
+   * @deprecated
+   *
+   * URL Generators are deprecated use UrlService instead.
+   */
+  urlGenerators: UrlGeneratorsSetup;
+
+  /**
+   * Utilities to work with URL locators and short URLs.
+   */
+  url: UrlService;
+};
+
+/** @public */
+export type SharePluginStart = ShareMenuManagerStart & {
+  /**
+   * @deprecated
+   *
+   * URL Generators are deprecated use UrlService instead.
+   */
+  urlGenerators: UrlGeneratorsStart;
+
+  /**
+   * Utilities to work with URL locators and short URLs.
+   */
+  url: UrlService;
+};
+
 export class SharePlugin implements Plugin<SharePluginSetup, SharePluginStart> {
   private readonly shareMenuRegistry = new ShareMenuRegistry();
   private readonly shareContextMenu = new ShareMenuManager();
   private readonly urlGeneratorsService = new UrlGeneratorsService();
+  private url?: UrlService;
 
   public setup(core: CoreSetup, plugins: ShareSetupDependencies): SharePluginSetup {
     core.application.register(createShortUrlRedirectApp(core, window.location));
+
+    this.url = new UrlService({
+      navigate: async (location, { replace = false } = {}) => {
+        const [start] = await core.getStartServices();
+        await start.application.navigateToApp(location.app, {
+          path: location.route,
+          state: location.state,
+          replace,
+        });
+      },
+    });
+
     return {
       ...this.shareMenuRegistry.setup(),
       urlGenerators: this.urlGeneratorsService.setup(core),
+      url: this.url,
     };
   }
 
@@ -48,16 +93,7 @@ export class SharePlugin implements Plugin<SharePluginSetup, SharePluginStart> {
         plugins.securityOss?.anonymousAccess
       ),
       urlGenerators: this.urlGeneratorsService.start(core),
+      url: this.url!,
     };
   }
 }
-
-/** @public */
-export type SharePluginSetup = ShareMenuRegistrySetup & {
-  urlGenerators: UrlGeneratorsSetup;
-};
-
-/** @public */
-export type SharePluginStart = ShareMenuManagerStart & {
-  urlGenerators: UrlGeneratorsStart;
-};
diff --git a/src/plugins/share/public/url_generators/README.md b/src/plugins/share/public/url_generators/README.md
index 39ee5f2901e916..f948354aad9593 100644
--- a/src/plugins/share/public/url_generators/README.md
+++ b/src/plugins/share/public/url_generators/README.md
@@ -1,3 +1,9 @@
+# URL Generators are deprecated
+
+__Below is documentation of URL Generators, which are now deprecated and will be removed in favor of URL locators in 7.14.__
+
+---
+
 ## URL Generator Services
 
 Developers who maintain pages in Kibana that other developers may want to link to
diff --git a/src/plugins/share/public/url_generators/url_generator_service.ts b/src/plugins/share/public/url_generators/url_generator_service.ts
index 982f0692102df6..5a8e7a1b5c17a8 100644
--- a/src/plugins/share/public/url_generators/url_generator_service.ts
+++ b/src/plugins/share/public/url_generators/url_generator_service.ts
@@ -13,10 +13,20 @@ import { UrlGeneratorInternal } from './url_generator_internal';
 import { UrlGeneratorContract } from './url_generator_contract';
 
 export interface UrlGeneratorsStart {
+  /**
+   * @deprecated
+   *
+   * URL Generators are deprecated, use URL locators in UrlService instead.
+   */
   getUrlGenerator: <T extends UrlGeneratorId>(urlGeneratorId: T) => UrlGeneratorContract<T>;
 }
 
 export interface UrlGeneratorsSetup {
+  /**
+   * @deprecated
+   *
+   * URL Generators are deprecated, use URL locators in UrlService instead.
+   */
   registerUrlGenerator: <Id extends UrlGeneratorId>(
     generator: UrlGeneratorsDefinition<Id>
   ) => UrlGeneratorContract<Id>;
diff --git a/src/plugins/share/server/plugin.ts b/src/plugins/share/server/plugin.ts
index 744a4148215c3e..6e3c68935f77bf 100644
--- a/src/plugins/share/server/plugin.ts
+++ b/src/plugins/share/server/plugin.ts
@@ -12,11 +12,30 @@ import { CoreSetup, Plugin, PluginInitializerContext } from 'kibana/server';
 import { createRoutes } from './routes/create_routes';
 import { url } from './saved_objects';
 import { CSV_SEPARATOR_SETTING, CSV_QUOTE_VALUES_SETTING } from '../common/constants';
+import { UrlService } from '../common/url_service';
+
+/** @public */
+export interface SharePluginSetup {
+  url: UrlService;
+}
+
+/** @public */
+export interface SharePluginStart {
+  url: UrlService;
+}
+
+export class SharePlugin implements Plugin<SharePluginSetup, SharePluginStart> {
+  private url?: UrlService;
 
-export class SharePlugin implements Plugin {
   constructor(private readonly initializerContext: PluginInitializerContext) {}
 
   public setup(core: CoreSetup) {
+    this.url = new UrlService({
+      navigate: async () => {
+        throw new Error('Locator .navigate() does not work on server.');
+      },
+    });
+
     createRoutes(core, this.initializerContext.logger.get());
     core.savedObjects.registerType(url);
     core.uiSettings.register({
@@ -41,10 +60,18 @@ export class SharePlugin implements Plugin {
         schema: schema.boolean(),
       },
     });
+
+    return {
+      url: this.url,
+    };
   }
 
   public start() {
     this.initializerContext.logger.get().debug('Starting plugin');
+
+    return {
+      url: this.url!,
+    };
   }
 
   public stop() {