# File link basics

You can create a file link when you want to share the contents of a [File](https://docs.digitalriver.com/digital-river-api-reference/2021-12-13/files) object with a customer. If you want unauthenticated access to a file that a customer can download, you can create a link containing a URL pointing to the file and then send it to the customer.

## Creating a file link

When you create a file link, we also update the associated file to include the file link's identifier. The file can have an array of file links showing the relationship between the file and file links, including the file link you just created.

### Setting the file links parameter

When you create a File Link, you'll need to provide the required parameters listed in the following table. The remaining parameters are optional:

<table><thead><tr><th width="423">Parameter</th><th>Required/Optional</th><th>Description</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><code>fileId</code></td><td>Required</td><td>The file identifier.</td></tr><tr><td><code>expiresTime</code></td><td>Required</td><td>A future timestamp, after which the link will no longer be usable.</td></tr><tr><td><code>metadata</code></td><td>Optional</td><td>Additional structured information for the object.</td></tr></tbody></table>

### Creating a file link example

Create a [File Link](https://www.digitalriver.com/docs/digital-river-api-reference/#tag/FileLinks) object with a `POST` request:

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="cURL" %}

```
curl --location --request POST 'https://api.digitalriver.com/file-links' \
--header 'Content-Type: application/json' \
--header 'Authorization: Bearer <API_key>' \
  "fileId": "49ca4603-a718-424b-8a5e-0bfa95f98ae8",
  "expiresTime": "2020-10-25T20:36:00Z"
}'
```

{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}

A `201 Created` response returns a File Link object:

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="JSON" %}

```javascript
{
    "id": "e8a63964-9a92-4c71-bc28-332681d8c815",
    "createdTime": "2020-08-10T13:08:33.389Z",
    "expired": false,
    "expiresTime": "2020-10-25T20:36:00Z",
    "fileId": "49ca4603-a718-424b-8a5e-0bfa95f98ae8",
    "url": "https://files-test.digitalriver.com/links/e8a63964-9a92-4c71-bc28-332681d8c815",
    "liveMode": false
}
```

{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}