What is n-url?
n-url is a lightweight URL shortener and QR code generator built by En Dash as part of the Endash Toolkit. It provides simple, reliable short links while automatically generating QR codes for any shortened URL. Users can also generate QR codes for any URL directly, even without shortening it.
The tool focuses on practical, everyday needs—sharing links in presentations, documents, signage, and internal communication—without the friction or uncertainty that often comes with third-party link shorteners.
Why We Built It
n-url was created after a small but memorable failure.
During a presentation, Nick Daniel shared a QR code that pointed to a URL shortened using a popular free shortening service. When the audience tried to scan it, the link had expired and the page no longer worked. In the middle of a live presentation, the QR code was effectively useless.
That moment made it clear that relying on free third-party shorteners introduces risk—especially when links need to work months or years later. En Dash built n-url so we could control the reliability of our links and never face that situation again.
Reliable Links for Real Work
Because n-url is part of the Endash ecosystem, links created through it are intended to remain stable and dependable. We built it for ourselves first—so that links used in presentations, documentation, and long-lived materials would continue working over time.
This reliability matters whenever a link appears in places that can’t easily be updated later: slides, printed materials, QR codes, or documentation shared with partners and clients.
QR Codes by Default
Every shortened link created in n-url automatically comes with a QR code. This makes it easy to move between physical and digital contexts—whether sharing a link in a meeting room, on a poster, in documentation, or during a talk.
You can also generate a QR code for any existing URL without creating a shortened link, keeping the tool flexible for different use cases.
Built for Teams
n-url includes team workspaces, allowing multiple people to manage links within a shared environment. This makes it easy for teams to organize, reuse, and maintain the links they rely on for presentations, internal documentation, and collaborative work.
Instead of individuals creating links scattered across different services, teams can manage them together in one place.
A Simple Tool That Solves a Real Problem
Like many things in the Endash Toolkit, n-url exists because we needed it ourselves. It’s intentionally simple: shorten links, generate QR codes, and ensure they keep working.
Sometimes the best tools come from solving one painful moment—and making sure it never happens again.