=== RoidNet URL Shortener and Link Tracker ===
Contributors: mohamadrw
Donate link: https://roidnet.com/
Tags: url shortener, link shortener, whatsapp link, click tracking, url redirect
Requires at least: 5.8
Tested up to: 7.0
Stable tag: 1.0.0
Requires PHP: 7.2
License: GPLv2 or later
License URI: https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html

A lightweight URL shortener, link tracker, and dynamic WhatsApp chat link generator with click tracking statistics.

== Description ==

A lightweight, secure, and self-hosted solution to shorten URLs, track link clicks, and generate WhatsApp chat links.

**RoidNet URL Shortener and Link Tracker** is a self-hosted link management tool designed specifically for WordPress. You get full access to all features to manage your redirects and click statistics right from your WordPress dashboard.

### 🚀 Key Features

* **Lightweight URL Shortener:** Easily shorten any internal or external URL into clean, readable redirect links (e.g., `yoursite.com/l/promo`).
* **Dynamic WhatsApp Chat Link Generator:** Create direct click-to-chat links with custom pre-filled messages.
* **Dynamic Parameters in Messages:** Build highly contextual customer interactions. Automatically insert dynamic variables like `{page_url}`, `{page_title}`, and `{site_title}` into your WhatsApp or regular redirection URLs. Perfect for product pages and custom landing pages!
* **WhatsApp Message Formatting Support:** Quickly format your pre-filled messages with Bold (`*`), Italic (`_`), and Strikethrough (`~`) using our simple interface helper buttons.
* **Instant Click Tracking & Counter:** Know exactly how many times each short link has been clicked. Statistics are displayed right in your admin list.
* **Top Links Dashboard Widget:** Monitor your best-performing links with a sleek dashboard widget displaying your top 5 short links.
* **100% Self-Hosted & GDPR Compliant:** Your links and tracking statistics are stored directly in your local WordPress database. No third-party servers, no data leakage, and maximum privacy.
* **Fast & Lightweight:** Built with performance in mind. No external CDNs or heavy scripts that slow down your website.

### 💡 Why Choose This Plugin?

1. **Fully Featured:** Every feature is fully functional.
2. **Contextual E-Commerce & WooCommerce Helper:** Send WhatsApp chat links on your product pages that dynamically prefill with the product title and URL, so customers can ask about a specific product with one click!
3. **No External Dependencies:** Fully compatible with WordPress default libraries.

== Installation ==

1. Upload the plugin files to the `/wp-content/plugins/roidnet-url-shortener/` directory, or install the plugin through the WordPress plugins screen directly.
2. Activate the plugin through the 'Plugins' screen in WordPress.
3. Use the new **Short Links** menu item in your WordPress admin sidebar to create your first short link or WhatsApp redirect.

== External services ==

This plugin can redirect visitors to WhatsApp's external service to facilitate click-to-chat.
* **Service:** WhatsApp click-to-chat redirect API (`https://api.whatsapp.com/send`).
* **What data is sent:** The target WhatsApp phone number and the custom pre-filled message text.
* **Terms of Service:** [WhatsApp Terms of Service](https://www.whatsapp.com/legal/terms-of-service)
* **Privacy Policy:** [WhatsApp Privacy Policy](https://www.whatsapp.com/legal/privacy-policy)

== Frequently Asked Questions ==

= Is this plugin free? =
Yes, absolutely! All features, including unlimited short links, WhatsApp chat redirects, click tracking, and dashboard stats, are fully available without any cost.

= How do dynamic parameters work in WhatsApp messages? =
When you insert `{page_title}`, `{page_url}`, or `{site_title}` in your WhatsApp message template, the plugin dynamically detects the referrer page (where the user clicked the link) and inserts that page's specific information. This allows you to set up a single short link that automatically knows which product or page a user was browsing.

= Can I use it to redirect to any website? =
Yes, you can redirect users to any internal page or external website. You can choose between a standard 301/302 Redirect URL or a WhatsApp Direct Link.

= Does it affect my website performance? =
No. The plugin is extremely lightweight, uses native custom post types, and does not load any bloated external scripts or stylesheets on the frontend.

== Screenshots ==

1. The link creation screen with redirection settings, WhatsApp click-to-chat configuration, dynamic placeholders, and click stats.
2. Short Link admin columns listing all created links, destination targets, and click counts.
3. Sleek WordPress dashboard widget displaying the top-performing short links.

== Changelog ==

= 1.0.0 =
* Initial release.
* Support for regular redirects and WhatsApp click-to-chat.
* Support for dynamic message variables (`{page_title}`, `{page_url}`, `{site_title}`).
* Custom column stats and Top Links dashboard widget.
