URL Shortener

A simple Node.js application that shortens long URLs and keeps track of usage analytics, such as click count, IP address, and user agent information for each URL.

Features

• URL Shortening: Converts long URLs into short, easy-to-share links.
• Analytics Tracking: Records data for each click, including:
  • Date and time of click
  • User's IP address
  • User agent information
• Dashboard: Displays a table of shortened URLs, click counts, creation dates, and optional expiration dates.

Installation

1. Clone the repository:

   git clone https://github.com/dnesbala/node-url-shortener.git
   cd node-url-shortener

2. Install dependencies:

  npm install

3. Environment Setup: Create a .env file in the root directory and set the required environment variables:

  PORT=8000
  MONGO_DB_URL=your_mongodb_connection_string

4. Run the application:

  npm start

5. Access the app: Go to http://localhost:8000 in your browser.

Usage

• Shorten a URL: Use the form on the homepage to shorten a URL.
• View Analytics: See click analytics for each URL in a table format on the dashboard.

Future Enhancements

• User Authentication: Secure access for analytics and URL management.
• Custom Short URL: Allows users to specify custom URLs for their shortened links.
• Expiration Logic: Optionally set expiration dates for shortened URLs.
• Enhanced Analytics: Include geographic data and device types.
• API Access: Provide API endpoints for creating and managing shortened URLs.

Technologies Used

• Node.js & Express: Backend server and routing.
• MongoDB: Database for storing URL and analytics data.
• EJS: Template engine for rendering dynamic HTML pages.
• CSS: Styling for the frontend.