URL Shortener

Shorten URLs instantly! Create short links for the current page or any URL. Fast, simple, and free link shortening.

URL Shortener - Create Short Links Instantly! 🔗 Shorten long URLs with one click! Perfect for social media, emails, presentations, and sharing links anywhere. Fast, simple, and completely free. ✨ KEY FEATURES: 🔗 Multiple Shortening Services: - TinyURL - Popular and reliable service since 2002 - is.gd - Fast and simple shortening - v.gd - Alternative reliable service - Choose your preferred service - Switch between services anytime ⚡ Quick Shortening Options: - Current Page Button - Shorten active tab URL with one click - Custom URL Input - Enter any URL to shorten - Fast Processing - Get short links in seconds - Instant Results - No waiting or delays - One-Click Copy - Copy to clipboard instantly 📊 History & Management: - Recent Links Display - See your last 10 shortened URLs - Quick Copy Access - Copy any previous short link instantly - Clear History Option - Remove all saved links anytime - Persistent Storage - History saves across browser sessions - Service Tracking - See which service created each link 💾 Smart Features: - Auto-Save Preferences - Remembers your favorite service - URL Validation - Checks URLs before shortening - Clean Interface - Intuitive and easy to use - Keyboard Shortcuts - Press Enter to shorten - Error Handling - Clear feedback if something fails 🚀 HOW TO USE: Quick Start (3 Easy Steps): 1. Click the URL Shortener extension icon 2. Click "Current Page" or paste any URL 3. Click "Shorten URL" and copy your short link - Done! Detailed Usage: 1. Click the extension icon in your toolbar 2. Choose how to enter URL: • Click "Current Page" for active tab • Or paste/type any URL in input field 3. Select shortening service (optional): • TinyURL (default) - Best for permanent links • is.gd - Fast and simple • v.gd - Alternative option 4. Click "Shorten URL" button 5. Wait for short link (usually 1-2 seconds) 6. Click "Copy to Clipboard" to copy 7. Paste your short link anywhere! Using History: - View recent shortened URLs in history section - Click "Copy" next to any link to copy it - Click "Clear All" to remove all history - History persists even after closing browser Pro Tips: 💡 Use "Current Page" for quick shortening 💡 Try different services if one is slow 💡 Keep history of important short links 💡 Press Enter key to shorten faster 💡 Check copied link before sharing 🎯 PERFECT FOR: 📱 Social Media Sharing: → Twitter - Fit links within character limits → Instagram - Clean links in bio and stories → Facebook - Professional looking posts → LinkedIn - Neat profile and post links → TikTok - Share links in videos → Pinterest - Clean pin descriptions 💼 Business & Marketing: → Email Campaigns - Track-friendly short links → Print Materials - Easy-to-type URLs for flyers, posters → Business Cards - Memorable links that fit → QR Codes - Shorter URLs create simpler QR codes → Presentations - Clean slides without long URLs → SMS Marketing - Save character space → Advertisements - Professional appearance 📊 Analytics & Tracking: → Campaign URLs - Shorten tracking links → A/B Testing - Create multiple test links → Marketing Attribution - Track different sources → Social Media Analytics - Monitor link performance → Event Tracking - Share event registration links 🎓 Education & Research: → Share Resource Links - Course materials → Assignment Submissions - Clean submission URLs → Collaborative Documents - Easy sharing → Research Papers - Cite online sources → Virtual Classrooms - Meeting and resource links → Student Resources - Library and tool links 💬 Communication & Collaboration: → Messaging Apps - Cleaner messages (WhatsApp, Telegram, Slack) → Forums & Reddit - Better formatted posts → Comments - More readable responses → Documentation - Simplified references → Team Collaboration - Share project links → Customer Support - Provide help links 🔧 SHORTENING SERVICES EXPLAINED: 📌 TinyURL (tinyurl.com) - Founded: 2002 - Reliability: Very High - Speed: Fast - Link Format: tinyurl.com/xxxxx - Permanence: Links typically never expire - Best For: Long-term links, important URLs - Notes: One of the oldest and most trusted services 📌 is.gd - Founded: 2006 - Reliability: High - Speed: Very Fast - Link Format: is.gd/xxxxx - Permanence: May expire after long inactivity - Best For: Quick sharing, temporary links - Notes: Simple, fast, no-frills service 📌 v.gd - Founded: 2006 (sister service to is.gd) - Reliability: High - Speed: Very Fast - Link Format: v.gd/xxxxx - Permanence: Similar to is.gd - Best For: Alternative option, variety - Notes: Same infrastructure as is.gd 💡 TIPS & BEST PRACTICES: Service Selection Guide: - Use TinyURL for permanent, important links - Use is.gd for quick, temporary sharing - Use v.gd as backup or for variety - Try different services if one is slow - Stick with TinyURL for business use Effective Shortening: - Copy short links immediately - Test links before sharing widely - Keep track of important shortened URLs - Don't shorten sensitive login pages - Verify destination before sharing - Use history to find previous links Security & Safety: - Only shorten URLs you trust - Be cautious clicking unknown short links - Verify destination when possible - Don't shorten private/sensitive pages - Consider link permanence needs - Test links after creation 🛡️ PRIVACY & SECURITY: Extension Privacy: ✅ No data collection from extension ✅ No usage tracking or analytics ✅ History stored locally only in browser ✅ No personal information accessed ✅ No data sent to external servers (except shortening APIs) Third-Party Services: - TinyURL, is.gd, and v.gd are used for shortening - These services may have their own privacy policies - Short links are publicly accessible by default - Services may track link clicks (check their policies) - Extension doesn't track your activity Permissions Used: - activeTab - Access current page URL to shorten it - storage - Save history and preferences locally - host_permissions - Connect to shortening services What We DON'T Do: ❌ No browsing history tracking ❌ No personal data collection ❌ No third-party analytics ❌ No advertisements ❌ No data selling ❌ No user profiling ⚡ PERFORMANCE & COMPATIBILITY: Fast & Efficient: ✅ Instant popup loading ✅ Quick API responses (1-2 seconds) ✅ Minimal memory usage ✅ No browser slowdown ✅ Efficient history storage ✅ Smooth user interface Compatible With: ✅ All websites and URLs ✅ HTTP and HTTPS links ✅ Works with other extensions ✅ Chrome and Chromium browsers ✅ Works in normal and incognito mode ✅ Desktop and laptop computers Requirements: - Active internet connection required - Valid URLs (must start with http:// or https://) - Chrome or Chromium-based browser - No account needed - Completely free 📊 TECHNICAL DETAILS: How It Works: - Extension sends URL to background service worker - Service worker calls shortening API - API returns shortened URL - Result displayed in popup with copy option - Link saved to local history URL Validation: - Checks for valid URL format - Requires http:// or https:// protocol - Validates before sending to service - Prevents invalid shortening attempts - Clear error messages History Management: - Stores last 10 shortened URLs locally - Includes original URL, short URL, timestamp - Tracks which service was used - Persists across browser sessions - Can be cleared anytime Background Service Worker: - Handles API communication - Bypasses CORS restrictions - Manages shortening requests - Returns results to popup - Efficient and lightweight ❓ FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS: Q: Does this work with any URL? A: Yes! Any valid http:// or https:// URL can be shortened. Q: Are shortened links permanent? A: TinyURL links are typically permanent. is.gd and v.gd links may expire after extended inactivity (months/years). Q: Can I customize the short URL? A: Not in this version. Custom aliases may be added in future updates. Q: Is there a limit on how many URLs I can shorten? A: No limit from the extension. Services may have rate limits to prevent abuse. Q: Do I need an account? A: No! Completely free and no registration required. Q: Can I track clicks on my short links? A: This extension doesn't include click analytics. Some services offer paid tracking features on their websites. Q: What if a shortening service is down? A: Simply select a different service from the dropdown menu and try again. Q: Can I delete shortened links? A: You can delete from your history, but the actual short URL remains active. Contact the service directly to delete. Q: Does this work offline? A: No, internet connection required to contact shortening services. Q: Are my shortened URLs private? A: No, short URLs are publicly accessible by default. Anyone with the link can access it. Q: Why choose this over other URL shorteners? A: Convenience! Shorten from any page without leaving your browser. Multiple services, history tracking, and completely free. Q: Can I export my history? A: Not yet, but export functionality is planned for future updates. 🌟 WHY CHOOSE URL SHORTENER? ✓ Fast and instant shortening ✓ Multiple trusted services ✓ Clean, simple interface ✓ History tracking included ✓ One-click copy to clipboard ✓ Completely free forever ✓ No ads or premium tiers ✓ No registration required ✓ Works from any page ✓ Saves your preferences ✓ Regular updates ✓ Active support 🔄 COMING SOON: Planned Features (Future Updates): - Custom Short Link Aliases - Choose your own short codes - Link Expiration Options - Set when links should expire - Click Tracking & Analytics - See how many clicks - Batch Shortening - Shorten multiple URLs at once - QR Code Generation - Generate QR codes for short links - Link Preview - Preview destination before shortening - More Services - Additional shortening options - Password Protection - Secure short links with passwords - Link Categories - Organize shortened URLs - Export History - Download history as CSV - Chrome Sync - Sync history across devices - Link Notes - Add descriptions to saved links - Statistics Dashboard - View usage statistics - Link Editing - Update destination URLs - API Integration - Use your own shortening API 💝 SUPPORT THE DEVELOPER: If you find this extension helpful and want to support continued development and improvements, you can buy me a coffee or send a donation: ☕ **Buy Me a Coffee:** https://buymeacoffee.com/wilsonwang 💎 **Solana Wallet Address:** A8VQWsQYWUw6HZFWwCrxGwDpxPGeXPZedyKNCUV6m6CC Your support helps: - Keep extension free for everyone - Add new features like custom aliases - Implement click tracking - Add more shortening services - Provide ongoing maintenance - Fix bugs quickly - Respond to user feedback - Improve performance - Create better documentation Every contribution makes a real difference and helps thousands of users share links more effectively! Thank you for your support! 🙏 --- Shorten links instantly and share anywhere! 🔗✨ Download now and start creating short, shareable links!