Build a Serverless URL Shortener (Vercel Functions + MongoDB Atlas)

A serverless URL shortener is a powerful yet efficient solution for shortening URLs, without the need to manage a dedicated server. Building this project teaches you about serverless functions, API routing, NoSQL databases like MongoDB, and deployment on Vercel — all essential for modern cloud-native applications.

Allow users to enter long URLs and generate short, shareable links. The app stores mappings between original URLs and shortened versions in MongoDB Atlas and ensures no server management, leveraging Vercel's serverless architecture.

When users submit a URL, Vercel Functions processes the request and generates a unique short URL. This is then stored in MongoDB Atlas. Whenever someone visits the shortened URL, Vercel Functions queries MongoDB to retrieve the original URL and performs a redirect to it.

• Users submit their long URL via a simple web form.
• The API routes created using Vercel Functions generate a unique identifier for the long URL.
• Each shortened URL is stored in MongoDB Atlas, mapped to the original long URL.
• When a shortened URL is accessed, the app performs a lookup in MongoDB and performs a 301 redirect to the long URL.
• Optional: Track user clicks for each shortened URL and generate simple analytics (e.g., click count).

• Vercel Functions Documentation
• MongoDB Atlas Documentation
• Building Serverless APIs with Vercel
• Node.js MongoDB Integration Guide
• URL Shortening Algorithm Example