Deep links in Android Kotlin

Introduction

Deep links let your app open specific screens directly from outside, like from a website or another app. This helps users jump straight to what they want.

You want users to open a product page in your app from a web link.

You want to send a notification that opens a specific chat in your messaging app.

You want to let other apps open your app to a certain screen.

You want to improve user experience by skipping the home screen and going straight to content.

Syntax

Android Kotlin

<intent-filter>
    <action android:name="android.intent.action.VIEW" />
    <category android:name="android.intent.category.DEFAULT" />
    <category android:name="android.intent.category.BROWSABLE" />
    <data android:scheme="https"
          android:host="www.example.com"
          android:pathPrefix="/path" />
</intent-filter>

This code goes inside your AndroidManifest.xml under an <activity> tag.

The scheme, host, and pathPrefix define which links open your app.

Examples

This filter opens your app when a user clicks links like https://www.shop.com/product/123.

Android Kotlin

<intent-filter>
    <action android:name="android.intent.action.VIEW" />
    <category android:name="android.intent.category.DEFAULT" />
    <category android:name="android.intent.category.BROWSABLE" />
    <data android:scheme="https"
          android:host="www.shop.com"
          android:pathPrefix="/product" />
</intent-filter>

This filter handles custom links like myapp://open to open your app.

Android Kotlin

<intent-filter>
    <action android:name="android.intent.action.VIEW" />
    <category android:name="android.intent.category.DEFAULT" />
    <category android:name="android.intent.category.BROWSABLE" />
    <data android:scheme="myapp"
          android:host="open" />
</intent-filter>

Sample App

This activity shows the link used to open the app if any. If opened normally, it shows a default message.

Android Kotlin

class MainActivity : AppCompatActivity() {
    override fun onCreate(savedInstanceState: Bundle?) {
        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState)
        setContentView(R.layout.activity_main)

        val data = intent?.data
        val textView = findViewById<TextView>(R.id.textView)

        if (data != null) {
            textView.text = "Opened with link: ${data.toString()}"
        } else {
            textView.text = "Opened normally"
        }
    }
}

Important Notes

Remember to test your deep links by clicking links on your device or using adb commands.

Use adb shell am start -W -a android.intent.action.VIEW -d "https://www.example.com/path/item123" your.package.name to test.

Make sure your app handles the link data safely to avoid crashes.

Summary

Deep links let apps open specific screens from outside links.

Define deep links in AndroidManifest.xml with intent filters.

Handle the incoming link data in your activity to show the right content.

Practice

1. What is the main purpose of a deep link in an Android app?

easy

A. To open a specific screen inside the app from an external URL

B. To update the app's user interface colors

C. To increase the app's memory usage

D. To change the app's icon on the home screen

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand deep link functionality

   Deep links allow an app to open a specific screen or content when a user clicks a URL outside the app.

2. Step 2: Compare options with this purpose

   Only To open a specific screen inside the app from an external URL describes opening a specific screen from an external URL, which matches deep link behavior.

3. Final Answer:

   To open a specific screen inside the app from an external URL -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Deep link purpose = open specific screen [OK]

Hint: Deep links open app screens from outside links [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing deep links with UI styling
• Thinking deep links change app icons
• Assuming deep links increase memory

2. Which XML element is used to declare a deep link in AndroidManifest.xml?

easy

A. <provider>

B.

C. <service>

D. <activity>

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify where deep links are declared

   Deep links are declared inside an element within an activity in AndroidManifest.xml.

2. Step 2: Match options to this element

   Only is used to specify deep link URL patterns and actions.

3. Final Answer:

   <intent-filter> -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Deep links declared in intent-filter [OK]

Hint: Deep links go inside intent-filter tags [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing activity tag with deep link declaration
• Using service or provider tags incorrectly
• Not nesting intent-filter inside activity

3. Given this intent filter snippet in AndroidManifest.xml, what URL will open the app's activity?

<intent-filter>
  <action android:name="android.intent.action.VIEW" />
  <category android:name="android.intent.category.DEFAULT" />
  <category android:name="android.intent.category.BROWSABLE" />
  <data android:scheme="https" android:host="example.com" android:pathPrefix="/profile" />
</intent-filter>

medium

A. https://example.com/about

B. http://example.com/profile

C. https://example.com/profile/settings

D. https://example.org/profile

Solution

1. Step 1: Analyze the intent filter data attributes

   The scheme is https, host is example.com, and pathPrefix is /profile, so URLs starting with https://example.com/profile will match.

2. Step 2: Check each option against these rules

   https://example.com/profile/settings matches https scheme, example.com host, and path starting with /profile. Options B (http scheme), C (wrong path), and D (wrong host) do not match.

3. Final Answer:

   https://example.com/profile/settings -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Match scheme, host, pathPrefix = https://example.com/profile/settings [OK]

Hint: Match scheme, host, and pathPrefix exactly [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Ignoring scheme (http vs https)
• Confusing host names
• Not checking pathPrefix carefully

4. What is wrong with this intent filter for a deep link?

<intent-filter>
  <action android:name="android.intent.action.VIEW" />
  <category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
  <data android:scheme="myapp" />
</intent-filter>

medium

A. It uses LAUNCHER category instead of BROWSABLE

B. It is missing the action VIEW

C. The scheme attribute is invalid

D. It should be inside a service tag

Solution

1. Step 1: Check required categories for deep links

   Deep links require the BROWSABLE category to allow opening from browsers or external apps.

2. Step 2: Identify incorrect category usage

   This intent filter uses LAUNCHER category, which is for app launchers, not deep links.

3. Final Answer:

   It uses LAUNCHER category instead of BROWSABLE -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Deep links need BROWSABLE category [OK]

Hint: Deep links need BROWSABLE, not LAUNCHER category [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using LAUNCHER category for deep links
• Forgetting to add BROWSABLE category
• Placing intent-filter inside wrong tag

5. You want your app to open a user profile screen when a link like myapp://user/123 is clicked. Which intent filter correctly handles this deep link?

hard

A. \n \n \n \n

B. \n \n \n \n \n

C. \n \n \n \n

D. \n \n \n \n \n

Solution

1. Step 1: Check required action and categories for deep links

   Deep links need action VIEW and categories DEFAULT and BROWSABLE to work properly.

2. Step 2: Verify data attributes match the URL pattern

   The URL myapp://user/123 has scheme="myapp", host="user", path="/123". Needs matching scheme, host, and pathPattern="/.*" for variable IDs.

3. Step 3: Compare options

   The filter with scheme="myapp", host="user", pathPattern="/.*", VIEW action, DEFAULT and BROWSABLE matches perfectly. pathPrefix="/user" without host mismatches path="/123". Missing BROWSABLE limits external opening. MAIN/LAUNCHER is incorrect for deep links.

4. Final Answer:

   Intent filter with VIEW action, DEFAULT/BROWSABLE categories, scheme myapp, host user, pathPattern /.* -> Option D

5. Quick Check:

   scheme=myapp host=user pathPattern=/.* VIEW BROWSABLE [OK]

Hint: VIEW action, DEFAULT/BROWSABLE categories, scheme+host+pathPattern [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Missing BROWSABLE category
• Using MAIN action instead of VIEW
• Confusing pathPrefix with host+pathPattern
• Wrong categories for deep links