A Deep Dive into Deep Links

Deep links are an integral tool to drive users directly to specific screens within your mobile app, entering potential and returning users into a desired action flow. However, deep links can be challenging to implement because developers must manage non-typical points of entry to the app (e.g., entering the app without launching a home screen) while also managing the app’s back stack.

Using the Xfinity app as an example, we will explain how deep links work and describe the process behind creating them. We will also explore the difference between a deep link and an app link, how to associate a website to a mobile app, and how to make an app react to deep links. We will address more advanced concepts, such as:

• Testing deep links via Android Debug Bridge (adb) and Android Studio
• Debugging deep links
• Typical navigational patterns when receiving deep links
• Handling extra parameter additions to deep links
• Using custom schemas

Transcript

1. A Deep Dive into Deep Links CHRYSTIAN VIEYRA CORTÉS ENGINEERING MANAGER SANAT TRIPATHI PRINCIPAL SOFTWARE ENGINEER 1
2. Xfinity 2
3. Overview 1. A primer on deep links 2. Enabling a basic deep link in an Android app 3. Types of deep links and how to enable them 4. Testing deep links 5. Backstack management 6. Deferred deep linking 7. Conclusion 3
4. What is a Deep Link? A deep link takes users to a specific destination within an app. PRIM ER 4
5. Supported Links Users can view URLs that are verified for the app to open via deep links. PRIM ER 5
6. Supported Links Google Play Console has a section for Deep links using which you can browse all the deep links configured in your app Credit: https://android-developers.googleblog.c om/2022/08/monitor-your-deep-links-in- one-place.html PRIM ER 6
7. Disambiguation Multiple apps may be compatible with a single deep link. PRIM ER 7
8. Intent Filter action: category: data: Enablin g 8
9. Intent Filter action: ACTION_VIEW • Needed for intent filter to be reached from Google search category: DEFAULT & BROWSABLE • DEFAULT allows the app to respond to implicit intents. Without it, the intent must specify the app component name for the activity to launch. • BROWSABLE makes the intent accessible from a web browser. data: (can consist of scheme, host, path) • Defines the URI format that resolves to destination activity. Enablin g 9
10. Deep Links Deep links Web links App links Types 10
11. Custom Schemes Types 11
12. Custom Schemes xfinitydigitalhome: Not often recognized on third-party apps Limited to use within the app You don't own the scheme – your scheme can be hijacked by other apps. Types 12
13. Web Links Types 13
14. Web Links Deep links that use http or https schemes. On Android 12 and higher, clicking a web link (that is not an app link) opens a web browser. Example web link intent filter: Types 14
15. App Links Web links (with http / https scheme) that your app supports by default Register your app as default handler for certain Web link by setting “autoVerify“ attribute to “true”. Types 15
16. App Links .well-known/assetlinks.json Asset Links is a protocol to securely capture statements made by digital assets such as web sites or mobile apps about their relationship with other digital assets. (Credit: https://github.com/google/digitalassetlinks/blob/master/well-known/details.md) Types 16
17. Website Ownership Verification Publish a Digital Assets Links JSON file on your website to verify ownership android:autoVerify=true Configure your app to request verification of app links. Digital Assets Link must be accessible without any redirects Update robots.txt to allow crawling of /.well-known/assetslinks.json Types 17
18. assetlinks.json Same assetlinks.json can be used for many apps (debug, release). Google.com has over 10 apps tied to the same domain. Website and app can share sign-in credentials delegate_permission/common .get_login_creds Types 18
19. Assets Link Verification via adb Types 19
20. Deep Link Testing via adb Testing 20
21. Testing via App Links Assistant Testing Step by step wizard to: • Add intent filters to your Activity • Associate app and website with Digital Asset Links • Test deep links 21
22. Inspecting Deep Link Intent Testing 22
23. Backstack with Intent-filter Backstack 23
24. Synthetic Backstack - TaskStackBuilder Backstack 24
25. Synthetic Backstack - TaskStackBuilder Backstack 25
26. DeepLinks via Navigation Component Backstack 26
27. DeepLinks via Navigation Component Backstack 27
28. Backstack via Navigation Component Backstack 28
29. Backstack via Navigation Component Backstack 29
30. Backstack in Compose Backstack 30
31. Backstack in Compose Backstack 31
32. Deferred Deep Linking How do you handle deep links when your app is not installed? - Firebase Dynamic links - Google Play referrer API A deferred deep link works like a normal deep link if the user has the app installed. New users will be redirected to Google Play. The deep link is executed when the app is first launched. Deferred 32
33. Deep Linking Deferred 33
34. Deferred Deep Linking Deferred 34
35. Firebase Dynamic Links Special type of deep link Survives app install process Free product from Google console.firebase.google.com Creates an assetlinks.json file Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zra2DCd0DnY Deferred 35
36. Create Firebase Dynamic Links console.firebase.google.com Dynamic Link Builder API REST API appname.page.link Deferred 36
37. Firebase Dynamic Links: Configuration The same deep link can work across Android and iOS. A deep link can launch instant app, custom URL, or launch the play store app page. Can include UTM parameters. UTM = Urchin Tracking Module Deferred 37
38. Firebase Dynamic Links Analytics Clicks Redirects App Installs First opens Re-opens Deferred 38
39. Firebase Dynamic Links: Dependencies Deferred 39
40. Firebase Dynamic Links Deferred 40
41. Google Play Install Referrer API allows to retrieve content from Google Play: • Referrer URL • Timestamp of referrer click • Timestamp of installation • Whether the user interacted with your app's instant experience in the past 7 days Deferred 41
42. Google Play Install Referrer Establish a connection to the Play Store app Retrieve install referral content Data available for 90 days Deferred 42
43. Google Play Install Referrer Deferred 43
44. Thank you! Questions? Chrystian Vieyra Cortés @ChrystianV1 Code samples: https://github.com/ComcastSamples/Deeplinkstest Sanat Tripathi @sanat51289 44