> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.h0p.co/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Quickstart

> Create your first short link in under 5 minutes

This guide walks you through creating your first short link with H0p. By the end, you'll have a working branded link with analytics tracking.

## Prerequisites

Before you begin, you'll need:

* A H0p account ([sign up here](https://dashboard.h0p.co/signup))
* A URL you want to shorten

## Step 1: Sign up and access your dashboard

<Steps>
  <Step title="Create your account">
    Go to [dashboard.h0p.co/signup](https://dashboard.h0p.co/signup) and create your account with your email and password.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Verify your email">
    Check your inbox for a verification email and click the link to verify your account.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Access your dashboard">
    Once verified, you'll be redirected to your dashboard. Your first organization is automatically created.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/h0p/QjVqaHhGLoms7yh4/images/platform/dashboard.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=QjVqaHhGLoms7yh4&q=85&s=0036efdf5d39a84a8cad83d997224e8c" alt="H0p Dashboard Overview" width="2872" height="1552" data-path="images/platform/dashboard.png" />
</Frame>

## Step 2: Create your first short link

<Steps>
  <Step title="Navigate to Links">
    In the sidebar, click on **Links** to open the links management page.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Click Create Link">
    Click the **Create Link** button in the top right corner to open the link creation form.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Enter your destination URL">
    Paste the URL you want to shorten in the **Destination** field. For example:

    ```
    https://example.com/my-very-long-url-that-needs-shortening
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Customize your slug (optional)">
    By default, H0p generates a random 6-character slug. You can customize it by entering your preferred slug in the **Slug** field.

    For example, if you want `h0p.co/my-product`, enter `my-product` as the slug.

    <Tip>
      Keep slugs short, memorable, and relevant to your content. Avoid special characters.
    </Tip>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Save your link">
    Click **Create** to save your short link. Your link is now live and ready to share.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/h0p/QjVqaHhGLoms7yh4/images/platform/short-link-page.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=QjVqaHhGLoms7yh4&q=85&s=9ff4e93405cca2b0530c16ed55a6495c" alt="Create Short Link Form" width="2872" height="1552" data-path="images/platform/short-link-page.png" />
</Frame>

## Step 3: Share and track your link

Once created, your link is ready to use:

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Copy the link" icon="copy">
    Click the copy button next to your link to copy it to your clipboard.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Download QR code" icon="qrcode">
    Every link comes with an auto-generated QR code. Click the QR icon to download it.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

### View analytics

As people click your link, H0p tracks:

* **Total clicks** - Overall click count
* **Geographic data** - Countries, cities, and regions
* **Device info** - Desktop vs mobile, operating system, browser
* **Referrers** - Where traffic is coming from
* **UTM parameters** - Campaign tracking data

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/h0p/QjVqaHhGLoms7yh4/images/platform/stats.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=QjVqaHhGLoms7yh4&q=85&s=f1afad731708ba95dcacf4b27c487a5e" alt="Link Analytics Dashboard" width="2430" height="788" data-path="images/platform/stats.png" />
</Frame>

## Step 4: Add a custom domain (optional)

Want to use your own domain instead of `h0p.co`? Here's how:

<Steps>
  <Step title="Go to Domains">
    Navigate to **Domains** in the sidebar.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add your domain">
    Click **Add Domain** and enter your custom domain (e.g., `links.yourcompany.com`).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Configure DNS">
    Add the CNAME record shown in your DNS provider. This typically takes a few minutes to propagate.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Verify">
    Click **Verify** to confirm your domain is properly configured.
  </Step>
</Steps>

Learn more about [custom domains](/platform/domains).

## What's next?

Now that you've created your first link, explore these features:

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Short links" icon="link" href="/platform/short-links">
    Learn about advanced link features like password protection, expiration, and smart routing.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Custom domains" icon="globe" href="/platform/domains">
    Set up your own branded domain for professional short links.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Webhooks" icon="webhook" href="/platform/webhooks">
    Get real-time notifications when links are clicked or modified.
  </Card>

  <Card title="API integration" icon="code" href="/api-reference/quickstart">
    Automate link creation with our REST API.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Common questions

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="How long do links last?">
    Links are permanent by default and never expire. With Premium, you can set expiration dates or click limits.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can I edit a link after creating it?">
    Yes, you can edit the destination URL, slug, and all other settings at any time from the link details page.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="What happens if I delete a link?">
    Deleted links return a 404 error. If your domain has a fallback URL configured, visitors will be redirected there instead.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="How accurate is the analytics data?">
    Analytics are updated in real-time. Geographic data is provided by Vercel and is accurate at the country and city level.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>