URL Shortener

This project is a simple URL shortener service built using Node.js, Express, and MongoDB. It allows users to shorten long URLs and track visit history for each shortened URL.

Approach

1. Database: MongoDB is used to store the original URL, the shortened URL identifier (shortId), and visit history (timestamps of visits).
2. Backend: Express.js is used to handle API requests and responses.
3. Short ID Generation: The nanoid library is used to generate unique short IDs for URLs.
4. Redirection: When a user accesses a shortened URL, the service redirects them to the original URL and logs the visit timestamp.

Steps to Run the Project Locally

1. Clone the repository:

   git clone <repository-url>
   cd URL_Shortener

2. Install dependencies:

   npm install

3. Set up MongoDB:

   • Ensure you have a MongoDB instance running.
   • Update the MongoDB connection string in the configuration file (e.g., connect.js).

4. Start the server:

   npm start

5. The server will run on http://localhost:8002.

Example API Requests and Responses

1. Shorten a URL

Request:

POST /url
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "url": "https://example.com"
}

Response:

{
  "shortId": "abc123",
  "redirectURL": "https://example.com",
  "visitHistory": []
}

2. Access a Shortened URL

Request:

GET /url/abc123

Response: Redirects to https://example.com.

3. Get Visit History

Request:

GET /url/abc123/history

Response:

{
  "shortId": "abc123",
  "redirectURL": "https://example.com",
  "visitHistory": [
    { "timestamp": 1698765432100 },
    { "timestamp": 1698765432200 }
  ]
}

Notes

• Ensure your MongoDB connection string is valid and accessible.
• The project uses nanoid for generating unique short IDs.