UrlShorter Documentation

Everything you need to create, manage, and measure short links on urlshorter.cc — from your first link to programmatic integration with the REST API.

Introduction

UrlShorter converts long web addresses into compact, shareable links that redirect visitors to the original destination. Every link you create can be tracked in real time: total clicks, referrers, device types, and geographic data. Links work anywhere a URL works — social bios, SMS messages, email campaigns, printed QR codes, and paid ads.

You can use UrlShorter in two ways: through the web interface on the homepage (no account required for basic links), or programmatically through the HTTP API described below.

Quick Start Guide

1. Paste your long URL. Go to the homepage and paste any web address into the shortener box. If you omit the protocol, https:// is added automatically.
2. Choose an optional custom alias. Instead of a random code like urlshorter.cc/x7k2p9, pick a readable slug such as urlshorter.cc/spring-sale. See alias rules.
3. Copy and share. Your short link is live immediately and served over HTTPS with a permanent redirect to your destination.
4. Track performance. Sign in with Google to keep links in your dashboard permanently and view click analytics for each one.

Guest links (created without an account) are stored in your browser so you can find them again on your next visit. Creating a free account moves them into a permanent dashboard.

Custom Aliases

Custom aliases follow these rules:

• Between 3 and 16 characters long.
• Letters, numbers, hyphens, and underscores only (a–z, A–Z, 0–9, -, _).
• Must be unique — if an alias is taken you will be asked to choose another.
• Reserved words such as admin, login, and dashboard cannot be used.

Good aliases are short, lowercase, and descriptive: q2-report, menu, yt-tutorial. For naming conventions used by marketing teams, read our custom short links guide.

Link Analytics

Every short link records click events as they happen. From your dashboard you can see:

• Click counts — lifetime totals and recent activity.
• Geography — which countries and cities your visitors come from.
• Devices and browsers — mobile vs. desktop split, operating systems.
• Referrers — the sites and apps that sent the traffic.

You can also append UTM parameters to your destination URL before shortening, so clicks show up in Google Analytics alongside UrlShorter's own stats. Our UTM parameters guide covers a naming system that scales.

QR Codes

Any short link can be turned into a QR code with the free QR code generator. Because the QR code encodes the short link (not the destination), you keep click tracking and can update campaigns without reprinting materials. Practical setups are covered in QR code marketing.

API Overview

The UrlShorter API is a JSON-over-HTTPS interface. Requests are made against the production origin:

Base URL: https://urlshorter.cc/api

Requests made from a signed-in browser session are attributed to your account; anonymous requests create guest links. All endpoints accept and return application/json.

Create a Short Link

POST /api/links/create creates a new short link.

Request body

{
  "url": "https://example.com/very/long/path?utm_source=newsletter",
  "customAlias": "spring-sale"   // optional, 3-16 chars [a-zA-Z0-9-_]
}

Example request

curl -X POST https://urlshorter.cc/api/links/create \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"url": "https://example.com/very/long/path"}'

Successful response

{
  "success": true,
  "data": {
    "originalUrl": "https://example.com/very/long/path",
    "shortCode": "x7k2p9",
    "clicks": 0,
    "createdAt": "2026-07-01T10:15:00.000Z",
    "isActive": true
  }
}

The resulting short link is https://urlshorter.cc/{shortCode}.

Error Handling

Errors return a JSON body with an error message and a matching HTTP status:

{ "error": "Custom alias must be between 3 and 16 characters" }

Limits & Fair Use

• Automated traffic should stay at a reasonable request rate; batch large jobs rather than bursting.
• Links pointing to phishing, malware, or otherwise abusive destinations are disabled, and repeat abuse leads to blocking. See our Terms of Service.
• Guest links may have retention limits; account links persist indefinitely by default.

Building an integration and need something the API doesn't cover yet? Tell us about your use case — API access, bulk operations, and analytics exports are prioritized by real demand. For a broader look at automation patterns, read automating link creation.