How do I create a URL shortener?

Question

I want to create a URL shortener service where you can write a long URL into an input field and the service shortens the URL to \"http://www.example.org/abcdef\

Answer 1

Here is a Node.js implementation that is likely to bit.ly. generate a highly random seven-character string.

It uses Node.js crypto to generate a highly random 25 charset rather than randomly selecting seven characters.

var crypto = require("crypto");
exports.shortURL = new function () {
    this.getShortURL = function () {
        var sURL = '',
            _rand = crypto.randomBytes(25).toString('hex'),
            _base = _rand.length;
        for (var i = 0; i < 7; i++)
            sURL += _rand.charAt(Math.floor(Math.random() * _rand.length));
        return sURL;
    };
}