# How do I choose a custom ending?

> Pick your own ending, like zou.sh/launch, on the website or through the API. Endings use 3 to 40 letters, numbers, dashes or underscores.

Source: https://blinkhop.com/help/choose-a-custom-ending

Open the custom ending field before you shorten, type the ending you want, then shorten your link. Instead of a random code, you get a readable link such as `https://zou.sh/launch`.

## Choose a custom ending on the website

1. On blinkhop.com, click **Custom ending** (the pencil icon) next to the link field. On a phone, tap **Choose your ending**.
2. Type your ending after `zou.sh/`, for example `spring-sale`.
3. Paste your long URL into the main field and click **Shorten**.

Your new link, `https://zou.sh/spring-sale`, is copied to your clipboard.

## Rules for custom endings

- 3 to 40 characters
- Letters, numbers, dashes (`-`) and underscores (`_`)
- The first character must be a letter or a number
- Not case-sensitive: `Spring-Sale` and `spring-sale` are the same link, so if one is taken, so is the other
- Some words are reserved, such as `api`, `admin`, `login`, `docs`, `help`, `pricing`, `mcp` and `qr`

An ending that breaks these rules returns the error `invalid_alias`. An ending that is already in use or reserved returns `alias_taken`. [Why was my link refused?](https://blinkhop.com/help/why-was-my-link-refused) explains every error.

## Choose a custom ending with the API

Send the ending in the `alias` field:

```bash
curl https://api.blinkhop.com/v1/links \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"url": "https://example.com/spring/collection", "alias": "spring-sale"}'
```

A new link returns HTTP 201. A taken ending returns HTTP 409 with the code `alias_taken`. See the [API reference](https://blinkhop.com/docs/api) for details.

## Good to know

The "same URL, same link" rule only covers links without a custom ending. If you already shortened a URL and got a random code, you can still create a custom ending for it. You then have two short links to the same destination.

Still stuck? [Contact us](https://blinkhop.com/contact) with the ending you tried.