> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.tyrionurl.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Creating Your First Short Link

> A detailed walkthrough of every option available when creating a short link in TyrionURL.

## Overview

Creating a short link in TyrionURL takes seconds for the basic case — and gives you full control over aliases, password protection, and A/B testing when you need them. This guide covers every option available during link creation.

***

## Basic Link Creation

<Steps>
  <Step title="Navigate to the Dashboard">
    Log in and open your [Dashboard](https://tyrionurl.com/dashboard). The URL shortener input is prominently placed at the top.

    <Frame>
      <img src="https://mintcdn.com/docs-tyrionurl/EYd7JUu9IILeVvjL/images/dashboard-short-link.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=EYd7JUu9IILeVvjL&q=85&s=d526d1195e6e9512a6621e3140c650c8" alt="Dashboard URL shortener input" width="1895" height="902" data-path="images/dashboard-short-link.png" />
    </Frame>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Enter the Destination URL">
    Paste the full URL you want to shorten. TyrionURL validates the URL format before proceeding.

    <Warning>
      Make sure your URL starts with `https://` or `http://`. Bare domains like `example.com` without a protocol may not validate correctly.
    </Warning>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Click Shorten or Configure Advanced Options">
    * **Click Shorten immediately** to generate a link with a random short code.
    * **Open Advanced Settings** to configure a custom alias, password, or other options before generating.
  </Step>
</Steps>

***

## Advanced Settings

Click the **Advanced Settings** toggle to reveal additional configuration options.

### Custom Alias

Instead of a randomly generated code like `/a8f2k`, you can set a human-readable slug.

| Setting              | Details                                  |
| -------------------- | ---------------------------------------- |
| **Input**            | Alphanumeric characters and hyphens only |
| **Uniqueness**       | Must be unique across TyrionURL          |
| **Availability**     | Checked in real time as you type         |
| **Account Required** | Yes — registered users only              |

**Example:**

```
Input URL:    https://yourstore.com/products/blue-running-shoes-v2
Custom alias: /blue-shoes
Result:       t.tyrionurl.com/blue-shoes
```

→ Full details: [Custom Aliases](/url-shortening/custom-aliases)

***

### Password Protection

Add a password that visitors must enter before they're redirected to the destination.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Enable Password Protection">
    Toggle **Password Protect** in the Advanced Settings panel.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Set a Password">
    Enter the password you want to assign to this link. Store it somewhere safe — TyrionURL does not display it again after link creation.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Share the Link and Password Separately">
    Send the short link to your intended audience and communicate the password through a separate channel.
  </Step>
</Steps>

**What visitors see:** A password entry page at `t.tyrionurl.com/[alias]` before being redirected.

→ Full details: [Password Protection](/url-shortening/passwords)

***

## After Link Creation

Once your link is generated, you'll see the link card in your dashboard with these available actions:

| Action        | Description                                |
| ------------- | ------------------------------------------ |
| **Copy**      | Copy the short link to clipboard           |
| **Analytics** | Open the analytics view for this link      |
| **Edit**      | Modify the alias, destination, or settings |
| **A/B Test**  | Set up traffic splitting on this link      |
| **Delete**    | Permanently remove the link                |
| **QR Code**   | Generate a QR code for this link           |

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/docs-tyrionurl/EYd7JUu9IILeVvjL/images/dashboard-first-link.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=EYd7JUu9IILeVvjL&q=85&s=02887c3573a3e238ef7cad34fd71e39c" alt="Link card with action options" width="1892" height="908" data-path="images/dashboard-first-link.png" />
</Frame>

***

## Best Practices

<Check>Use custom aliases for any link you'll share publicly — it builds trust and improves click-through rates.</Check>
<Check>Keep aliases short (2–4 words, hyphen-separated) so they're easy to type and remember.</Check>
<Check>Use password protection for internal documents, pre-launch pages, or exclusive content.</Check>
<Check>Always test your short link in a browser before distributing it at scale.</Check>

***

## Common Mistakes

<Warning>
  **Alias already taken** — If your chosen alias is unavailable, TyrionURL will indicate this in real time. Try a variation or add a date/suffix.
</Warning>

<Warning>
  **Forgetting the password** — There is no "forgot password" for link passwords. If you lose it, you'll need to recreate the link with a new password.
</Warning>

<Warning>
  **Sharing before testing** — Always click your own short link to verify it redirects correctly before distributing it widely.
</Warning>

***

## Related Features

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Custom Aliases" icon="pen" href="/url-shortening/custom-aliases">
    Make links readable and brandable.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Password Protection" icon="lock" href="/url-shortening/passwords">
    Restrict access with a passphrase.
  </Card>

  <Card title="A/B Testing" icon="flask" href="/ab-testing/setup">
    Split traffic to test multiple destinations.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Analytics" icon="chart-line" href="/analytics/overview">
    Track performance after you share.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>