---
id: bd7158d8c443edefaeb5bd0e
title: URL Shortener Microservice
challengeType: 4
forumTopicId: 301509
dashedName: url-shortener-microservice
---
# --description--
Build a full stack JavaScript app that is functionally similar to this: . Working on this project will involve you writing your code using one of the following methods:
- Clone [this GitHub repo](https://github.com/freeCodeCamp/boilerplate-project-urlshortener/) and complete your project locally.
- Use [our Replit starter project](https://replit.com/github/freeCodeCamp/boilerplate-project-urlshortener) to complete your project.
- Use a site builder of your choice to complete the project. Be sure to incorporate all the files from our GitHub repo.
When you are done, make sure a working demo of your project is hosted somewhere public. Then submit the URL to it in the `Solution Link` field. Optionally, also submit a link to your projects source code in the `GitHub Link` field.
# --instructions--
**HINT:** Do not forget to use a body parsing middleware to handle the POST requests. Also, you can use the function `dns.lookup(host, cb)` from the `dns` core module to verify a submitted URL.
# --hints--
You should provide your own project, not the example URL.
```js
(getUserInput) => {
assert(
!/.*\/url-shortener-microservice\.freecodecamp\.rocks/.test(
getUserInput('url')
)
);
};
```
You can POST a URL to `/api/shorturl` and get a JSON response with `original_url` and `short_url` properties. Here's an example: `{ original_url : 'https://freeCodeCamp.org', short_url : 1}`
```js
async (getUserInput) => {
const url = getUserInput('url');
const urlVariable = Date.now();
const fullUrl = `${url}/?v=${urlVariable}`
const res = await fetch(url + '/api/shorturl', {
method: 'POST',
headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/x-www-form-urlencoded' },
body: `url=${fullUrl}`
});
if (res.ok) {
const { short_url, original_url } = await res.json();
assert.isNotNull(short_url);
assert.strictEqual(original_url, `${url}/?v=${urlVariable}`);
} else {
throw new Error(`${res.status} ${res.statusText}`);
}
};
```
When you visit `/api/shorturl/`, you will be redirected to the original URL.
```js
async (getUserInput) => {
const url = getUserInput('url');
const urlVariable = Date.now();
const fullUrl = `${url}/?v=${urlVariable}`
let shortenedUrlVariable;
const postResponse = await fetch(url + '/api/shorturl', {
method: 'POST',
headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/x-www-form-urlencoded' },
body: `url=${fullUrl}`
});
if (postResponse.ok) {
const { short_url } = await postResponse.json();
shortenedUrlVariable = short_url;
} else {
throw new Error(`${postResponse.status} ${postResponse.statusText}`);
}
const getResponse = await fetch(
url + '/api/shorturl/' + shortenedUrlVariable
);
if (getResponse) {
const { redirected, url } = getResponse;
assert.isTrue(redirected);
assert.strictEqual(url,fullUrl);
} else {
throw new Error(`${getResponse.status} ${getResponse.statusText}`);
}
};
```
If you pass an invalid URL that doesn't follow the valid `http://www.example.com` format, the JSON response will contain `{ error: 'invalid url' }`
```js
async (getUserInput) => {
const url = getUserInput('url');
const res = await fetch(url + '/api/shorturl', {
method: 'POST',
headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/x-www-form-urlencoded' },
body: `url=ftp:/john-doe.org`
});
if (res.ok) {
const { error } = await res.json();
assert.isNotNull(error);
assert.strictEqual(error.toLowerCase(), 'invalid url');
} else {
throw new Error(`${res.status} ${res.statusText}`);
}
};
```
# --solutions--
```js
/**
Backend challenges don't need solutions,
because they would need to be tested against a full working project.
Please check our contributing guidelines to learn more.
*/
```