Feature: #108826 - Add Short URL module 

See forge#108826

Description 

A new backend module Link Management > Short URLs has been introduced. It enables editors to create and manage short URLs that redirect visitors to a configurable target. Short URLs are stored as sys_redirect records with the dedicated record type short_url, providing a streamlined editing form that hides redirect-specific fields irrelevant to short URL use cases.

Creating Short URLs 

Short URLs can be created in two ways:

  • Manual entry: Editors type a custom path (e.g. /promo) into the source path field.
  • Auto-generation: Clicking the Generate Short URL button produces a random 8-character path (e.g. /aBcDeFgH). The generated path is guaranteed to be unique through server-side collision checking.

Uniqueness enforcement 

Short URL paths must be unique per source host. Duplicate detection happens at two levels:

  • Client-side validation: While editing, the source path and source host fields are validated against existing records. If a conflict is detected, both fields are highlighted with an error state together with a notification.
  • Server-side enforcement: On save, DataHandler rejects duplicate short URLs and displays a flash message, ensuring data integrity even if client-side validation is bypassed.

Immutability 

Once a short URL record has been saved, the source path and source host fields become read-only. This ensures that published short URLs remain stable and previously shared links continue to work. The redirect target can still be changed at any time.

Clipboard support 

The full short URL (including protocol and host) can be copied to the clipboard from both the list overview and the record edit view.

Impact 

Editors benefit from a dedicated interface for managing short URLs without needing to understand redirect configuration details. The module provides a central location for creating, reviewing, and maintaining short URLs with built-in safeguards against duplicates and accidental modifications.