# Project Idea: URL Shortener

## Description
A URL shortener is a web application that takes long URLs and generates short aliases for them. When users access the short URL, they are redirected to the original long URL. This type of service is useful for sharing links on social media, in emails, and in situations where concise URLs are desired.

## Features
1. **URL Shortening:** Users can input a long URL, and the application will generate a unique short alias for it.
2. **Redirection:** When users access the short URL, they are redirected to the original long URL.
3. **Statistics:** Keep track of the number of times each short link is clicked, allowing users to see how often their links are being accessed.
4. **Custom Short URLs:** Optionally, allow users to customize the alias for their short URL.
5. **User Authentication:** Implement user accounts to track and manage the short URLs created by each user.
6. **Expiration:** Set an expiration time for short URLs, after which they will no longer be accessible.
7. **Analytics Dashboard:** Provide users with an analytics dashboard where they can view click statistics and other relevant data.

## Technologies
1. **Go:** Use Go as the programming language for building the backend server.
2. **Gorilla Mux:** Utilize the Gorilla Mux router to handle routing and URL parameter parsing.
3. **Database:** Choose a database (e.g., PostgreSQL, MySQL) to store long URLs, short aliases, and statistics.
4. **HTML/CSS:** Design a simple and user-friendly web interface for URL input and statistics display.
5. **Frontend Framework:** Optionally, use a frontend framework like React or Vue.js to build a more dynamic and interactive user interface.
6. **User Authentication:** Implement user authentication using a library like "github.com/gorilla/sessions".
7. **Date and Time Handling:** Utilize Go's time package to manage expiration times and date-related functionality.

## Project Steps
1. **Setup Environment:** Set up your development environment with Go and any necessary dependencies.
2. **Create Database Schema:** Design the database schema to store long URLs, short aliases, user data, and statistics.
3. **Backend Development:** Build the backend server using Go and Gorilla Mux. Implement URL shortening, redirection, and statistics tracking.
4. **User Authentication:** Implement user registration, login, and sessions for managing user accounts and short URLs.
5. **Frontend Development:** Design and create a frontend interface where users can input long URLs, view their short URLs, and access statistics.
6. **Custom Short URLs:** Implement the option for users to customize their short URL aliases.
7. **Expiration Handling:** Implement logic to set expiration times for short URLs and handle their removal from the database.
8. **Analytics Dashboard:** Build an analytics dashboard where users can see the click statistics for their short URLs.
9. **Testing and Debugging:** Test your application thoroughly, handle edge cases, and fix any bugs that arise.
10. **Deployment:** Deploy your application on a web server. You can use cloud platforms like AWS, Heroku, or DigitalOcean.
11. **Documentation:** Create clear documentation on how to use and interact with your URL shortener application.

## Learning Opportunities
This project will provide you with hands-on experience in building a complete web application using Go. You'll gain insights into working with databases, user authentication, routing, and frontend development. Additionally, you'll learn about handling different parts of the application, from URL shortening logic to analytics tracking.

Remember that this is a broad overview, and you can tailor the project to your preferences. As you work through each step, you'll learn more about Go and web development best practices. Good luck with your URL shortener project!


# Project Idea: URL Shortener

## Description
A URL shortener is a web application that takes long URLs and generates short aliases for them. When users access the short URL, they are redirected to th

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Project Idea: URL Shortener

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