# Single-use links

A **single-use link** (also called a *secret link*) is a one-time booking URL for one
specific person. It's tied to one of your [event types](/help/event-types/overview),
backed by a unique token, and once it's been used to book — or once it expires — it
stops working. Manage them from [**Secret Links**](/360/secret).

## What it is

- You **Generate** it for a specific event type (one or several at a time), optionally
  with an **expiry date**. Each one is a unique URL like `42min.us/s/<token>`.
- It's good for **one booking**. After someone books with it, the link is spent.
- Each link has a **status** — **Active**, **Used** (someone booked with it), or
  **Expired** (its expiry date passed) — so you can see at a glance which ones are still
  live. The list also shows the event type, when it was created, and the expiry date.
- You can **filter** the list by event type or status, or **search by token**, and
  **delete** links you no longer want (individually or in bulk via the checkboxes).
- Unlike your public booking page or a regular event link, a single-use link doesn't
  expose your whole profile and can't be passed around to bring in extra bookings.

<Screenshot
  src="/help/screenshots/booking-pages/single-use-links.png"
  alt="The Secret Links page in the 42min dashboard: a 'Generate Links' button, '4 links total', filters for event type and status plus a 'Search by token...' box, and a table of links with columns Link (/s/<token>), Event Type, Status (Active / Used / Expired), Created, and Exp. date, with Copy / open / delete actions on each row"
  caption="Secret Links — generate one-time links for an event type, track each one's status (Active, Used, Expired), and delete the ones you're done with."
/>

## When to use it

- You're inviting **one** person and don't want the link forwarded or reused.
- A high-stakes meeting (a candidate's final-round interview, a VIP demo) where you
  want a clean, private URL just for them.
- You want to be able to **revoke** access — if plans change, kill the link.

For everyday scheduling, share a [regular event link or your booking page](/help/booking-pages/your-booking-page)
instead — single-use links are deliberately one-and-done.

## How to do it

1. Open [**Secret Links**](/360/secret) and click **Generate Links**.
2. Pick the **event type** the link is for, set an **expiry date** if you want one, and
   generate it (you can create several at once).
3. Copy the generated URL (the **Copy** button on the row) and send it to that one
   person.
4. Watch its status — it flips to **Used** once they book, or **Expired** if its date
   passes first. To invalidate one early, **delete** it (the `×` on the row, or select
   several and bulk-delete).

## Common pitfalls

- **Sent the same link to several people.** The first one to book uses it up; everyone
  else sees "not available". For a group, give each person their own single-use link,
  or just share a regular event link.
- **Link expired before they booked.** If you set a short expiry, the link can lapse
  before the invitee gets to it — generate a fresh one (or use a regular link).
- **Reused after the meeting.** A single-use link won't work for a *second* booking,
  including a re-book after a cancellation — issue a new link if they need to book
  again.
- **Looking for a "revoke" button.** There isn't a separate revoke action — to kill a
  link, **delete** it from the Secret Links list.