URL Shortner API
A simple and efficient API to shorten long URLs and track click redirections.
The URL Shortner API is a powerful backend service that solves the problem of long, unwieldy URLs. It provides a clean and predictable API endpoint for developers to generate shortened links and, more importantly, track their usage. This project is a demonstration of efficient backend routing, data storage, and analytics, all built on a modern, asynchronous JavaScript stack.
Key features
- URL Shortening: Generates a unique, shortened URL for any provided long URL.
- Redirection Tracking: Logs and counts every click on a shortened link, providing valuable analytics.
- Custom Shortening (Optional): Allows users to specify a custom slug for their shortened URL.
- High Performance: Built with a non-blocking I/O model to handle a high volume of requests efficiently.
Technologies Used
Language: TypeScript
Runtime: Node.js
Framework: Express.js
What i have learned
Building this API was an excellent exercise in back-end development. I solidified my skills in asynchronous programming with Node.js, routing with Express.js, and working with data persistence to store and retrieve URL mappings. Using TypeScript also taught me the importance of strong typing for creating more maintainable and error-free code.
Future improvements
Next steps for this project could involve adding user accounts to manage their own shortened links, implementing rate limiting to prevent abuse, or creating a front-end dashboard to visualize the click analytics.