URL Shortener

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! 🙏

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Shorten links instantly and share anywhere! 🔗✨

Download now and start creating short, shareable links!