Shlink

Shlink is an open-source, self-hosted application for URL shortening. It allows users to create and manage shortened URLs served under their own custom domains, ensuring that link ownership remains with the host rather than a third party provider. The software is deployed as a server application and can be installed via an official Docker image or manually on a host running PHP.

Users interact with the system through a command line interface or a REST API. While the core server handles the redirection and data management, a separate web client is available for those who prefer a graphical interface over raw API calls or terminal commands. This architecture allows for flexible integration into existing workflows or the use of a standalone dashboard for link administration.

Key features

• Support for custom domains to maintain brand control
• REST API for programmatic link creation and management
• Command line interface for administrative tasks
• Compatibility with MySQL, MariaDB, PostgreSQL, Microsoft SQL Server, and SQLite
• Integration with GeoLite2 for location data
• API key generation for secure access control
• Support for deployment via official Docker images
• Ability to build from source using Composer

The application is built with PHP using the Laminas and Mezzio frameworks. It requires specific PHP extensions including curl, pdo, and intl to function. For high-performance environments, it supports RoadRunner, while APCu is recommended for standard installations. To facilitate integration with RabbitMQ instances, the software utilizes the sockets and bcmath extensions. The installation process is managed via a dedicated command line installer that guides the user through database configuration and directory permissions on the target server.

Shlink is designed for developers and system administrators who require full ownership of their link data and redirection infrastructure. It provides a private, self-managed infrastructure for URL shortening and tracking.