Shock absorbers work by taking the kinetic energy (movement) of your suspension and converting it to thermal energy (heat) that is then dissipated into the atmosphere through the mechanism of heat exchange. But it's nowhere near as complicated as it may sound. As mentioned, shock absorbers are basically oil pumps.

How do shock absorbers get damaged?

Possible causes:

The end stop for the spring path is defective or missing (e.g. due to an accident). This means that the damper must perform the end stop's function, which causes excessive strain. Incorrect adjustment of the air spring level. Excessive strain caused by extreme use on poor roads.

Do shock absorbers absorb shock?

Generally speaking, a shock absorber is a suspension component that controls the up-and-down motion of the vehicle's wheels. Despite its name, a shock absorber does not actually absorb shock. Actually, the job of absorbing the jolts that result when the wheels pass over bumps or dips is handled mostly by the springs.