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Backend Challenge - URL Shortener Service

Introduction

The "URL Shortener Service" challenge involves building an API that shortens long URLs into shorter, more manageable links.

Objectives

  • Develop an understanding of URL shortening techniques and algorithms.
  • Implement a service that generates short URLs from long ones.
  • Ensure redirection from short URLs to original long URLs.

Instructions

  1. Objective: Create an API service that converts long URLs into short URLs and handles redirection.

  2. Environment Setup: Choose your preferred programming language (e.g., JavaScript, Python, Java, C#) and set up the necessary environment.

  3. Implementation Details:

    • Endpoints:
      • Define an endpoint (/shorten) that accepts long URLs via HTTP POST requests and returns a shortened URL.
      • Define an endpoint (/{shortCode}) that handles redirection to the original long URL when accessed via GET requests.
    • URL Shortening:
      • Implement algorithms (e.g., Base62 encoding) to generate short codes from long URLs.
      • Ensure uniqueness of short codes to avoid collisions and maintain integrity.
    • Redirection:
      • Implement logic to redirect users from short URLs to their corresponding long URLs.

  4. Testing: Test your API using a HTTP client (e.g., Postman, curl).

    • Use the /shorten endpoint to generate short URLs from different long URLs.
    • Access the /shortCode endpoint with generated short codes to verify redirection to original long URLs.

Possible Improvements

  • Analytics: Track usage statistics such as click counts and geographical data for shortened URLs.
  • Custom URLs: Allow users to specify custom short URLs for specific long URLs.
  • Expiration: Implement expiration policies for short URLs to automatically disable or delete them after a certain period.
  • Security: Enhance security measures to prevent misuse or abuse of the shortening service.
  • API Documentation: Provide comprehensive documentation for developers to integrate the URL shortener service into their applications.

Conclusion

By completing this challenge, you will gain practical experience in developing a URL shortener service and learn essential practices for handling URL management and redirection in backend systems. Explore additional improvements and challenges to further enhance your skills.

Happy coding!