---
title: Introduction
description: Turn a URL, a file, or a text snippet into a tracked short link. Agents and humans use the same CLI, HTTP API, and MCP.
sidebar:
  label: Introduction
  order: 0
---

Linkdash lives at [linkdash.dev](https://linkdash.dev). Short links are served from `https://lida.sh/{id}`. The public id is a generated 6-character slug by default; custom slugs are unique per host. Generated ids and `lida.sh` slugs share one public namespace. Custom domains have their own.

You can skip the dashboard. The CLI, HTTP API, and MCP cover the same operations: links, files, snippets, stats, domains, and webhooks.

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Quickstart" href="/quickstart" icon="rocket">
    Skill, CLI, account, then your first link.
  </Card>
  <Card title="CLI" href="/cli" icon="terminal">
    Commands, flags, JSON stdout, CSV, and auth.
  </Card>
  <Card title="HTTP API" href="/api" icon="code">
    Bearer key, the same operations as the CLI.
  </Card>
  <Card title="MCP" href="/mcp" icon="plug">
    Remote MCP with the same Unkey key.
  </Card>
  <Card title="Agent skill" href="/skill" icon="sparkles">
    Drop the skill into Cursor, Claude Code, or Codex.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## What you can create

Exactly one payload per link:

- **URL** — shorten a destination and keep UTM parameters
- **File** — upload bytes and get a tracked download link
- **Text** — store a snippet

Optional password, start time, expiry, tags, a private name, social preview, and a QR code. Pause and resume without changing the id.

## Surfaces

| Surface | Use it for |
| --- | --- |
| [CLI](/cli) | Agents and terminals. JSON on stdout. |
| [HTTP API](/api) | `https://api.linkdash.dev/v1` with a bearer key |
| [MCP](/mcp) | `https://api.linkdash.dev/mcp` with the same key |
| Dashboard | Account, billing, API keys, and a UI if you want one |
| [Agent skill](/skill) | Teach an agent the CLI, the API, and MCP |

:::note
Agents should prefer the plain markdown files over scraping HTML: [llms.txt](https://linkdash.dev/llms.txt), [cli.md](https://linkdash.dev/cli.md), [api.md](https://linkdash.dev/api.md), [mcp.md](https://linkdash.dev/mcp.md), and [pricing.md](https://linkdash.dev/pricing.md).
:::