URL Shortener & Analytics

Project Overview

A scalable URL shortening platform designed to handle millions of redirects per day while providing detailed analytics on link performance. The system offers both self-hosted and cloud-based deployment options.

Built for marketers, businesses, and developers who need reliable link tracking with insights into audience behavior, geographic distribution, and referral sources.

Key Features

• High-Performance Redirects

  Sub-millisecond redirect latency with Redis caching and CDN integration

• Comprehensive Analytics

  Track clicks, unique visitors, referrers, devices, and geographic data

• Custom Branded Domains

  Use your own domain for shortened URLs with automatic SSL certificates

• QR Code Generation

  Auto-generate QR codes for any shortened URL with custom styling

• API Access

  RESTful API for programmatic URL creation and analytics retrieval

• Link Expiration & Password Protection

  Set expiration dates and optional password protection for sensitive links

Technical Implementation

The architecture prioritizes speed and reliability. Redis serves as the primary cache for hot URLs, with SQL Server handling persistent storage and analytics. The system processes click events asynchronously to ensure redirects are never blocked.

.NET Core

React

Redis

Azure

Architecture Highlights

• Base62 Encoding: Compact URL slugs using alphanumeric characters
• Multi-tier Caching: CDN, Redis, and in-memory caching for optimal performance
• Event Sourcing: All click events stored for detailed historical analysis
• Geo-IP Resolution: Real-time geographic location tracking
• Rate Limiting: Protection against abuse with configurable limits