Shortener Service

This is a URL shortener service implemented in ASP.NET Core and MongoDB. It allows users to shorten long URLs into shorter, more manageable ones.

Features

Shorten long URLs into unique, short codes
Redirect users from short URLs to original long URLs
MongoDB database for persisting data
RESTful API for easy integration with other applications

Technologies Used

ASP.NET Core
MongoDB
C#
Minimal APIs
InMemory Cache

Installation

Clone the repository:

git clone https://github.com/thisisnabi/Shortener.git

Give a Star! ⭐

If you find this project helpful or interesting, please consider giving it a star on GitHub. It helps to support the project and gives recognition to the contributors.

Getting Started

To get started with the URL shortener service, follow the installation instructions provided in the Installation section above. Once the service is up and running, you can begin using the API endpoints to shorten URLs, track statistics, and manage your shortened links.

Problem

The primary problem with long URLs is their lack of user-friendliness and practicality in various contexts. Long URLs can be cumbersome to manually input, difficult to remember, and can exceed character limitations imposed by certain platforms, such as social media posts or text messages.

This can result in broken links, truncated URLs, or user frustration when attempting to share or access lengthy URLs in constrained environments.

Solution

To address the problem of long URLs and make them more manageable for users, a URL shortener service provides an effective solution. By condensing lengthy URLs into shorter, more concise forms, users can easily share and access links across various platforms and communication channels.

Shortening URLs

Implement a URL shortening algorithm to generate unique, short codes or aliases for long URLs. This algorithm should produce short codes that are both compact and unlikely to collide with existing codes in the system.

public async Task<string> GenerateShortenUrlAsync(string destinationUrl, CancellationToken cancellation)
{
    var shortenCode = GenerateCode(destinationUrl);

    var link = new Link
    {
        CreatedOn = DateTime.UtcNow,
        DestinationUrl = destinationUrl,
        ShortenCode = shortenCode
    };

    await _dbContext.Links.AddAsync(link, cancellation);
    await _dbContext.SaveChangesAsync(cancellation);

    return $"{_appSettings.BaseUrl}/{shortenCode}";
}

Redirection Mechanism

Set up a redirection mechanism that maps incoming requests for shortened URLs to their corresponding long URLs. When a user accesses a shortened URL.

app.MapGet("/{short_code}", async (
    [FromRoute(Name = "short_code")] string ShortCode,
    ShortenUrlService shortenService,
    CancellationToken cancellationToken)
=> {
    var destinationUrl = await shortenService.GetDestinationUrlAsync(ShortCode, cancellationToken);

    return Results.Redirect(destinationUrl);
});

The service should redirect them seamlessly to the original destination URL without any noticeable delay.

License

This project is licensed under the MIT License: MIT License.

Stay Connected

Feel free to raise any questions or suggestions through GitHub issues.