How your links work

Linktrap gives you one short URL. You choose whether visitors are redirected straight to your destination or see the destination with your short link still in the address bar.

When someone opens your link in a normal browser

By default their browser receives an immediate redirect (HTTP 302) to your destination URL, with any campaign UTMs you configured merged in. If you turn on URL cloaking, the destination loads in a full-page frame while the browser address bar keeps your short link.

When an app shows a “preview card”

Apps like Slack, Discord, iMessage, and many social networks fetch your link with an automated preview bot. Those bots get a small HTML page with Open Graph tags (title, description, optional image)—not a redirect to your destination. Quick-shorten links use safe generic preview text so your real URL does not appear on the card.

See Link previews & social cards for the exact rules.

Shorten vs Cloak

Shorten — visitors go straight to your destination URL.
Cloak — visitors see your destination content with the short URL still in the address bar.

Pick either mode on the homepage or the Create page before you generate the link.

Where to manage everything

The Dashboard lists your links, shows click counts, lets you copy short URLs, edit settings, and delete links. Pro workspaces can also use API keys and custom domains — see Clicks & campaign links.

Next steps

Getting started — sign in and create your first link.
Crawler checklist — if a preview looks wrong on one network.