What Is Meaning Of Referral Code Optional? Nowadays, almost all applications—be it digital wallets, games, or marketplaces—often ask new users to enter a referral code or invitation code when registering. But actually, is the referral code mandatory? Or is it just optional? Learn what is referral code , how it works, and why it's essential for performance marketing. Discover the benefits of referral programs with Trackier. A referral code is a traceable discount code (sometimes in the form of a vanity code ) that ties a transaction to the customer or brand advocate. An advantage of referral codes is that they can incentivize true word-of-mouth advertising especially if they are not single-use codes . A referral code is a unique code consisting of symbols, letters, and numbers that serve as an identification code to validate specific promotions.