URL Shortener Application

This application is a simple URL shortener built with Node.js, Express, MongoDB, and EJS for templating. It allows users to enter a URL to be shortened and provides a simplified link that redirects to the original URL. Additionally, it tracks the number of times each shortened URL is accessed.

Features

• URL shortening: Users can submit a URL to receive a shortened version.
• Access tracking: The application tracks how many times each shortened URL is accessed.
• Responsive design: The application is styled to be responsive, making it accessible on various devices.

Technologies Used

• Node.js: A JavaScript runtime built on Chrome's V8 JavaScript engine.
• Express: A minimal and flexible Node.js web application framework.
• MongoDB: A NoSQL database for storing URL mappings and access counts.
• EJS: A templating language to generate HTML markup with plain JavaScript.
• CSS: For styling the application.

Setup and Installation

1. Clone the repository

   git clone <repository-url>

2. Navigate to the project directory

   cd <project-directory>

3. Install dependencies

   npm install 

4. Connect to MongoDB Ensure MongoDB is installed and running on your system. Update the connection string in the connectToMongoDB function if necessary

5. CStart the application

   npm start
   

The server will start running on http://localhost:8000.

Usage

Creating a Shortened URL

Navigate to http://localhost:8000 and enter the URL you wish to shorten in the provided form. Upon submission, the application will display the shortened URL.

Accessing a Shortened URL

Use the shortened URL provided by the application in any web browser. The application will redirect you to the original URL and increment the access count.

Contributing

Contributions to the project are welcome. Please follow the standard fork and pull request workflow.

License

This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE file for details.