Types of deep links
- URI schemes (
myapp://product/42) — the oldest kind; only work if the app is installed. - Universal Links (iOS) and App Links (Android) — normal https URLs that open the app if it's installed and the website otherwise. This is the standard today.
- Deferred deep links — remember the target through an install, so a new user lands on the right screen after installing.
Where they're used
- Push notifications and emails.
- Ads and campaigns, together with mobile attribution.
- Sharing: "check out this recipe" opens the recipe in the friend's app.
- QR codes and App Clips.
Example
An email says "Your order has shipped". Tapping it opens the order tracking screen in the shop's app via a Universal Link; on a desktop computer the same link opens the tracking page on the website.