Custom short codes
Replace the random characters at the end of a short link with words people can read, say out loud and remember. How to pick one, and the rules that apply.
By default a short link ends in a few random characters. A custom short code replaces those with something readable: uyou.in/spring-sale instead of uyou.in/a4cRmqB.
If you have used other shorteners, you may know this as a back-half or a vanity URL. Same thing — the part of the link after the slash.
Why it matters
- It survives being spoken. Someone can say it on a call or read it off a slide.
- It survives being retyped. Random characters get transcribed wrong; words do not.
- It gets more clicks. A link that describes where it goes is less risky-looking than one that does not.
That last point is the real one. Most people have learned to be wary of anonymous short links.
Choosing a good one
- Short. It is a short link.
spring-salebeatsspring-sale-2026-final. - Lowercase with hyphens. Easy to read, easy to say, no ambiguity.
- Avoid ambiguous characters.
land1,Oand0cause retyping errors. - Describe the destination, not the channel.
menustays useful;instagram-bio-v3does not.
Rules
- Letters, numbers and hyphens.
- Must be unique on its domain. Two links can share a code only if they are on different domains, so
uyou.in/menuandgo.yourbrand.com/menucan both exist. - Some words are reserved because the site itself uses them —
pricing,help,loginand similar. You will be told immediately if one is unavailable. - Codes are never recycled. Once used, a code stays retired even if the link is deleted, so a card printed three years ago can never lead somewhere unexpected.
Allowances
Custom short codes are counted as a lifetime allowance rather than a monthly one — the count is of codes you have ever claimed, not codes you claimed this month. That is deliberate: a code is reserved permanently, so it cannot be handed back at the end of the month.
Links with automatically generated codes do not count against it. Current allowances are on the pricing page.
Pair it with your own domain
A custom code on your own domain is the strongest combination: go.yourbrand.com/spring-sale tells someone who is sending them where, and where they are going, before they tap. See Use your own domain for short links.
Frequently asked questions
What is a short code?
The part after the slash. In uyou.in/spring-sale the short code is spring-sale. Some tools call this a "back-half" or a "vanity URL" — it is the same thing.
Can I reuse a short code after deleting the link?
No. Codes are not recycled, so an old printed link can never silently point somewhere new.
Can I change the short code later?
No. The code is part of the link's identity — changing it would break everything already shared. You can change the destination instead.
Last updated 2026-08-24