Professional overview

The URL Shortener API is a backend service that generates shortened URLs and redirects users to the original URLs using unique short codes,

Purpose of the API

• Provide a stable endpoint to create short URLs for any valid long URL.
• Provide a fast redirect endpoint used by browsers and applications.
• Enforce time-based expiration (10 days) to reduce storage growth and limit stale links.

High-level backend architecture (overview)

• HTTP API built with Express.js and structured using controllers + services.
• Persistence in MongoDB, accessed via Prisma ORM for type-safe queries.
• Deployment on Vercel with environment-based configuration.

Diagram placeholder

flowchart LR
start([Client]) --> api[API]
api --> db[(DateBase)]
db --> redirect([Redirect])

Main features

• URL shortening
  • Accept a long URL and return a shortCode + shortUrl.
• URL redirection
  • Resolve shortCode to originalUrl and redirect.
• Expiration after 10 days
  • Persist expiresAt and block redirects after expiration.
• Collision prevention
  • Ensure shortCode is unique with database constraints + retry logic.
• API testing
  • Automated tests with Jest
  • Manual verification/collections with Postman.

• MongoDB storage

• Deployment
  • CI-ready via GitHub, deployed to Vercel, hosted DB via MongoDB Atlas.