The invention is directed to an expandable stent for implanting in a body lumen, such as a coronary artery, peripheral artery, or other body lumen. The invention provides for an intravascular stent having a plurality of cylindrical rings connected by links with apertures and/or undulating links. The apertured links and undulating links provide the stent with a high degree of flexibility in the longitudinal direction, yet the stent has adequate vessel wall coverage and radial strength sufficient to hold open an artery or other body lumen.