iOS Development: How can I shorten a URL from my code?

Question

I'm building an iPhone app and I'd like to include functionality that allows users to login to twitter and tweet a link to my app. In order to do this, however, the tweet will need to shorten the URL to my app on the App Store. How can I write code to shorten a URL for a tweet?

I've done a search for this and found a tutorial on iCodeBlog, as well as some questions posted on SO, however, they're all either more work than I think is needed or they're using http://api.tr.im, which is no longer available. I'm hoping there's a newer approach to this that is as simple as the iCodeBlog solution.

Thanks for your wisdom!

Solution 1

I just google a few minutes because I'm also interested in that topic. And I found this: TinyURL API I think that's the easiest way to implement something like this. I think I'll write a little class for this to use it in further projects. :-D

Solution 2

Thanks to Sandro and woodleader:

NSString *apiEndpoint = [NSString stringWithFormat:@"http://tinyurl.com/api-create.php?url=%@",active_content_url];
NSString *shortURL = [NSString stringWithContentsOfURL:[NSURL URLWithString:apiEndpoint]
                                                  encoding:NSASCIIStringEncoding
                                                     error:nil];
/* use shortURL */

Solution 3

Here's a blog post on how to shorten a url using bit.ly

http://www.aproposmac.com/2012/01/shorten-url-using-bitly-in-objective-c.html

Solution 4

You simple do a HTTP Request to an Service of your choice. I have choosen l.pr in this example. Many other Services have such an easy API. The magic here is in a method that is a part of NSString. This method is called stringWithContentsOfURL. It will easily allow you to grab the text of any remote source.

As an example:

NSString *url    = @"http://woodleader.org";
NSString *apiEndpoint = [NSString stringWithFormat:@"http:/api.l.pr/shorten?apikey=axbymc46859i685jfk9fk&longurl=%@",url];
NSString *shortURL = [NSString stringWithContentsOfURL:[NSURL URLWithString:apiEndpoint]
         encoding:NSASCIIStringEncoding
         error:nil];
NSLog(@"Long: %@ - Short: %@",url,shortURL);

Solution 5

Very Simple..

Try this sample.. Its working well for me.

Sample: URL Shortner in ios programatically

(Or)

Http Post Method via google api: http://www.warewoof.com/goo-gl-url-shortener-in-ios/

View more solutions

Comments

[Kamar Shad]

Thanks Dude, TinyAPI is Amazing and Gives Response in very Short Time...!!!!!!thanks Again....!!!!!!!!! +1 For this...!!!!!

[Ramdhas]

simple and perfect answer

[B.I.A]

don't use TinyUrl, they are inconsistent with the response you receive.

[jose920405]

my url contain params encoded with base64 and using this method return shortURL ===> (null)

[cs4alhaider]

I have tried your answer but i faced a problem .. can you check back for your answer please

[cs4alhaider]

Also, i tried to read your article but the website seems to be down

[Awais Fayyaz]

Tiny URL gives HTTP. I need in HTTPs. Any work Arounds ?

[Sandro Meier]

You can just change the http you receive from the api to https. Works as expected.