Introduction to Deep Linking

Deep linking refers to the practice of linking directly to a specific page or resource within a mobile app or website, rather than just the homepage or generic landing page. This helps improve user experience by guiding users to relevant content with just a click.

However, conventional deep links come with limitations. For example, if a user doesn’t have the app installed, their device might be unable to handle the link properly, resulting in a broken experience. This is where Firebase Dynamic Links shine.

What Are Firebase Dynamic Links?

Firebase Dynamic Links are smart URLs that work in both Android and iOS platforms, even if the user has not installed your app. They can seamlessly redirect users to specific content within the app or offer a fallback URL that guides them to the app store to download the app.

Dynamic Links automatically detect the platform the user is on and redirect them accordingly. If the app is installed, users land directly in the app; if not, they are directed first to the app store and then to the specific content when they open the app post-installation.

Key Benefits of Using Firebase Dynamic Links

1. Cross-Platform Support: Whether your users are on iOS or Android, dynamic links work perfectly on both.
2. User Retargeting: If a user clicks on a dynamic link but doesn't have the app installed, once they do install it, they are taken directly to the exact content they wanted.
3. Easy Configuration: Setting up dynamic links can be done through the Firebase Console or programmatically via the Firebase SDK.

Creating Firebase Dynamic Links

Step 1: Setting Up Firebase

Make sure you have a Firebase project set up. If you haven’t done this yet, head over to the Firebase Console, create a new project, and add your app to it.

Step 2: Enable Dynamic Links

• Navigate to the Dynamic Links section in the Firebase Console.
• Click on Get Started and follow the instructions to set up your domain for dynamic links. You can use a free domain provided by Firebase.

Step 3: Creating a Dynamic Link

You can create a dynamic link through the console or API.

Using the Firebase Console:

1. In the Dynamic Links section, click on New Dynamic Link.
2. Fill in the desired link information:
   • Link: The URL to which you want to direct users.
   • Domain: Select your project’s Dynamic Links domain.
   • iOS and Android Configuration: Set the fallback URLs if the app is not installed and define the behavior for each platform.
3. Save the link, and you will receive a shareable dynamic link.

Using the Firebase SDK:

In case you want to create dynamic links programmatically, here is a simple example using the Firebase SDK:

const firebase = require("firebase/app");
require("firebase/dynamic-links");

// Initialize Firebase
firebase.initializeApp({
  apiKey: "<API_KEY>",
  authDomain: "<PROJECT_ID>.firebaseapp.com",
  projectId: "<PROJECT_ID>",
  // ...other config
});

// Function to create Dynamic Link
async function createDynamicLink() {
  const linkData = {
    dynamicLinkDomain: "<YOUR_DYNAMIC_LINK_DOMAIN>",
    link: "https://www.example.com/special-offer",
    iosInfo: {
      bundleId: "<YOUR_IOS_BUNDLE_ID>",
      appStoreId: "<YOUR_IOS_APP_STORE_ID>",
    },
    androidInfo: {
      packageName: "<YOUR_ANDROID_PACKAGE_NAME>",
      fallbackLink: "https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=<YOUR_ANDROID_PACKAGE_NAME>",
    },
  };

  try {
    const dynamicLink = await firebase.dynamicLinks().createShortLink(linkData);
    console.log("Dynamic Link Created: ", dynamicLink);
  } catch (error) {
    console.error("Error creating Dynamic Link: ", error);
  }
}

// Call the function
createDynamicLink();

Handling Dynamic Links in Your App

To handle incoming dynamic links within your app, you need to set up event listeners to trigger when the app is opened via a dynamic link.

For Android:

In your MainActivity.java:

@Override
protected void onStart() {
    super.onStart();
    FirebaseDynamicLinks.getInstance()
        .getDynamicLink(getIntent())
        .addOnSuccessListener(this, new OnSuccessListener<PendingDynamicLinkData>() {
            @Override
            public void onSuccess(PendingDynamicLinkData pendingDynamicLinkData) {
                Uri deepLink = null;
                if (pendingDynamicLinkData != null) {
                    deepLink = pendingDynamicLinkData.getLink();
                }
                // Handle the deep link. For example, show content related to the dynamic link
                if (deepLink != null) {
                    // Perform a specific action based on the deep link
                }
            }
        })
        .addOnFailureListener(this, new OnFailureListener() {
            @Override
            public void onFailure(@NonNull Exception e) {
                Log.w(TAG, "getDynamicLink:onFailure", e);
            }
        });
}

For iOS:

In AppDelegate.swift:

func application(_ application: UIApplication, continue userActivity: NSUserActivity, restorationHandler: @escaping ([UIUserActivityRestoring]?) -> Void) -> Bool {
    return DynamicLinks.dynamicLinks().handleUniversalLink(userActivity) { (dynamiclink, error) in
        guard error == nil else {
            print("Error occurred: \(error?.localizedDescription)")
            return
        }
        if let dynamicLink = dynamiclink {
            // Handle the dynamic link here
        }
    }
}

Conclusion

Firebase Dynamic Links provide an impressive solution for effective deep linking in your mobile applications. By facilitating seamless navigation for users across different environments and the capacity to retarget users, these links enhance the overall app experience. Their simplicity in setup and execution makes them an excellent tool for mobile app developers looking to improve user engagement.

You can harness the full potential of Firebase Dynamic Links by integrating them into your application’s user journey and ensuring that your users receive a seamless experience regardless of the platform they are on.