Automate URL Shortening and Tracking with n8n and Airtable
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This n8n workflow automates the creation of short URLs and tracks their usage by leveraging webhooks and Airtable. It intelligently handles existing URLs and provides a robust solution for managing your links.
About This Workflow
This n8n workflow provides a powerful, automated solution for generating shortened URLs and tracking their associated data. Upon receiving a request via a webhook with a target URL, the workflow first verifies the presence of the URL parameter. If valid, it proceeds to generate a unique, truncated hash using SHA256, which forms the basis of the short URL. This short URL is then checked against your Airtable base to prevent duplicates. If the URL is new, it's stored in Airtable along with its original long URL and host, ready to be used. The second webhook in the flow is designed to handle the redirection of these short URLs, looking up the corresponding long URL in Airtable based on the provided ID and redirecting the user. This comprehensive setup ensures efficient URL management and insightful tracking capabilities.
Key Features
- Automated URL Shortening: Generates unique short URLs from provided long URLs.
- Duplicate URL Detection: Checks Airtable to prevent the creation of redundant short links.
- Data Persistence: Stores long URLs, short URLs, and host information in Airtable.
- Smart Redirection: Handles incoming requests for short URLs and redirects to the original destination.
- Error Handling: Provides clear error messages for missing parameters.
How To Use
- Configure the initial Webhook (Node 1): Set the path to receive incoming long URLs (e.g.,
sh). Ensure theresponseModeis set tolastNode. - Extract URL (Node 2): Configure this Set node to extract the
urlfrom the incoming webhook's query parameters. - Check URL (Node 3): Set up an If node to verify if the
urlparameter exists in the webhook's query. - Crypto (Node 4): Use the Crypto node to generate a SHA256 hash of the extracted URL.
- Set ID, shortUrl, longUrl (Node 5): Configure this Set node to create
id(first 6 chars of hash),longUrl, andshortUrl(formatted ashttp://n8n.ly/w/go?id={{id}}). - Find by ID (Node 6): Set up an Airtable node (List operation) to search your Airtable table for an entry with a matching
id. - Already exists ? (Node 7): Use an If node to check if a record was found in the previous Airtable step.
- Set Output (Node 8): If the URL already exists, use this Set node to output the existing
shortUrl. - Set Input (Node 11): If the URL does not exist, configure this Set node to prepare the data for Airtable, including
clicks(optional),id,longUrl,shortUrl, andhost(extracted from the long URL). - Airtable (Node 4): Use an Airtable node (Append operation) to add the new short URL data to your Airtable base.
- Set Output1 (Node 10): After appending to Airtable, use this Set node to output the generated
shortUrl. - Configure the redirection Webhook (Node 13): Set the path to handle redirection requests (e.g.,
/go). SetresponseModetolastNodeand configureresponseHeadersfor HTML content. - Check Id (Node 15): Use an If node to verify if the
idparameter exists in the redirection webhook's query. - Extract Id (Node 16 - Implicitly needed, but not in snippet): You will need a Set node here to extract the
idfrom the query parameters of the redirection webhook. - Find by ID1 (Node 17): Use an Airtable node (List operation) to find the record in your Airtable base that matches the extracted
id. - Already exists ?1 (Node 18 - Incomplete in snippet): This If node should check if a record was found in the previous Airtable step to ensure a valid redirection.
- Set Output2 (Node 19 - Implicitly needed, but not in snippet): If a record is found, use a Set node to output the
longUrlfor redirection. - Set Error output1 (Node 14): If the
idparameter is missing for redirection, use this Set node to output an error message.
Apps Used
Workflow JSON
{
"id": "bbf0738a-2313-4f8e-ab72-374dae1bb5d2",
"name": "Automate URL Shortening and Tracking with n8n and Airtable",
"nodes": 6,
"category": "DevOps",
"status": "active",
"version": "1.0.0"
}Note: This is a sample preview. The full workflow JSON contains node configurations, credentials placeholders, and execution logic.
Get This Workflow
ID: bbf0738a-2313...
About the Author
DevOps_Master_X
Infrastructure Expert
Specializing in CI/CD pipelines, Docker, and Kubernetes automations.
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