Developers and power users looking for a unique URL shortening solution can leverage Zero Width Shortener (ZWS), a web service that shortens URLs using invisible zero-width characters. ZWS is an innovative tool created by Jonah Snider that replaces traditional alphanumeric characters with zero-width ones, making shortened URLs appear virtually character-less. This service is ideal for users who need a simple, yet distinctive way to shorten links.
ZWS uses zero-width characters to encode information about the original URL, allowing for a clean and minimalist shortened link. The service is open-source, and its source code is available on GitHub.
To use ZWS, simply visit the website, enter the URL you want to shorten, and click the shortening button. The resulting shortened URL will be copied to your clipboard. You can then test the shortened URL by pasting it into your browser's address bar.
While ZWS offers a unique approach to URL shortening, it may present some challenges, such as difficulty in identifying different shortened URLs or potential issues with certain social media platforms and messaging apps.