Docs/Chart URLs

Short URLs

A short URL (https://c.renderchart.com/s/{id}) is a saved chart. It hides your key and your data, and it is short enough for anywhere a long chart URL would be awkward: SMS, print, tight email templates. Short URLs need a paid plan (Starter or above).

Creating one

• In the app: build a chart, then "Save as short URL".
• With the API: POST /api/v1/charts with the chart's parameters (see REST API).

The parameters are checked when you save, so a short URL never points at an invalid chart.

How they behave

• A short URL renders as if you had signed it: no watermark on paid plans.
• Responses carry Cache-Control: public, max-age=300, so a changed chart shows everywhere within about five minutes.
• Rendering a short URL counts as a unique render once per version of the chart, like any other chart URL.
• Each short URL shows its render count and when it was last rendered.

Live short URLs (Pro)

On Pro you can change a short URL's data after you share it: edit it in the app or PATCH /api/v1/charts/{id} with new params. The URL stays the same and shows the new chart within about five minutes. This suits dashboards in emails and wikis that should always show the latest numbers. On Starter, a short URL is a snapshot: save a new one for new data.

Keys and deletion

A short URL renders with the key it was created with. Rotating that key moves your short URLs to the new key, so they keep working. Revoking it makes them return the 403 image. Deleting a short URL makes it return the 403 image within a minute.

Next: Examples