YOURLS
Self-hosted URL shortener with analytics, API, and plugins
YOURLS (Your Own URL Shortener) is a set of PHP scripts for running your own branded URL shortener on your domain. It provides full control over short links and includes built-in statistics and an API for automation and integrations.
Key Features
- Create and manage short URLs on your own domain
- Detailed click statistics with historical reports
- Referrer tracking and visitor geolocation insights
- Developer-friendly API for programmatic link creation and management
- Bookmarklets for quick shortening from the browser
- Extensible plugin architecture with a large plugin ecosystem
Use Cases
- Run a branded link shortener for a company, community, or personal domain
- Track engagement on shared links with referrers and click analytics
- Integrate link shortening into internal tools via the API
Limitations and Considerations
- Core storage is typically backed by a relational database; performance depends on database tuning and traffic patterns
- Advanced features (custom workflows, moderation, additional analytics) may require third-party plugins
YOURLS is a mature, lightweight option for operating a private URL shortener with solid analytics and customization. It is well suited for teams and individuals who want ownership of link data and flexible extensibility via plugins and API access.
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