Create custom shortened URL
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Where ever you use URL addresses, Infobip gives you the option to use **shortened URLs**. URLs are processed with a structured format using a standard protocol and domain. Standard shortened URLs are created automatically and you cannot choose a particular domain.

The **URL Shortener** is a tool that lets you register and verify a preferred custom subdomain for use within your shortened URL.

Custom shortened URLs reduce the length of your URLs with a branded subdomain to make them more readable and memorable.

## Open the URL Shortener

To open the URL Shortener:

1. Login to the web interface and from the left panel, select **Channels and Numbers** > **Tools and Compliance**, and click **URL Shortener**. You see the main URL Shortener page with a list of custom subdomains.
2. From the **Domains** list, you can see which subdomains are **verified** or **unverified**. The three-dot menu gives you the following options:
    - **View** to view the full details of the subdomain
    - **Delete** to delete the subdomain from the list

## Add a subdomain

To add a **subdomain** for custom URL shortening:

1. Select **Add domain**.
2. Enter a subdomain name, and then select **Verify domain**.
    Infobip then checks that the subdomain exists and confirms ownership. You see a message saying that the subdomain is created successfully. The URL Shortener page shows values of the new subdomain and its verification status.
3. You should register and configure a subdomain to be used specifically for URL shortening. To be able to assign a digital certificate to your subdomain, the following CAA record value needs to be present in the domain's DNS setup: `issue "sub.domain.com"`. If this is not already present, then add the value in the following format: `domain.com.  300  IN  CAA  0   issue  "sub.domain.com"`
4. Check the details of the subdomain values:
    | Value | Description |
    | --- | --- |
    | Type | CNAME - a DNS record type for the subdomain aliasTXT - a DNS record type for additional information |
    | Name | The chosen name for the subdomain. Once this name is selected, it cannot be changed. |
    | Expected value | The value that you copy and add to your DNS records. |
    | Current value | The value in use after the subdomain is verified. |
    | Verified/Unverified | Shows whether a custom subdomain has been registered and verified. |
5. To extract the values of the custom subdomain, you can either download the details to a file or copy the details:
    - **Download** - downloads the records for the custom subdomain into an Excel spreadsheet
    - **Copy all** - copies all of the records for the custom subdomain to the clipboard, which can be pasted elsewhere
    - Copy the individual records using the copy icon
6. Copy the **Expected value** and add them to your DNS records.
7. Click **Verify now** to verify the custom subdomain. When the subdomain is verified, the **Expected value** and **Current value** will match. If they do not match, the subdomain remains unverified.
8. To return to the URL Shortener main page, select **Continue to domain list**.