2025-01-13 TIL: Custom URI Schemes and Standard Web Links

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Custom URI Schemes and Standard Web Links

Custom URI schemes are application-specific protocols that allow apps to communicate with each other or be launched directly. They are defined by developers to enable deep linking into specific parts of an app.

Example: A custom URI like myapp://section/page can open the “page” in the “section” of the app named “myapp”.

Standard web links use common protocols like HTTP or HTTPS to direct users to web content. When integrated with app linking mechanisms, they can open corresponding content within an app if installed, or fallback to a web browser if not.

Example: A link like https://www.example.com/page can open the corresponding page within an app if installed; otherwise, it opens in the browser.

Here’s how these linking mechanisms are represented across major platforms:

Platform	Custom URI Schemes	Standard Web Links
iOS	URL Schemes (`myapp://`)	Universal Links (`https://www.example.com/page`)
Android	Deep Links (`myapp://`)	App Links (`https://www.example.com/page`)
Windows	URI Schemes (`myapp://`)	Web-to-App Links (`https://www.example.com/page`)

Key Differences:

Security:
- Custom URI Schemes: Less secure; any app can register the same scheme, leading to potential conflicts or malicious hijacking.
- Standard Web Links: More secure; rely on domain verification to ensure only authorized apps handle the links.
Fallback Behavior:
- Custom URI Schemes: If the app isn’t installed, the system may not know how to handle the link, potentially leading to errors or no action.
- Standard Web Links: Provide a seamless user experience by opening the app if installed or defaulting to the web browser if not.
Implementation Complexity:
- Custom URI Schemes: Simpler to implement but require careful management to avoid conflicts.
- Standard Web Links: Require setting up domain associations and hosting verification files but offer a more robust solution.