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Chrome Intents

Chrome Intents allow Android apps to open specific content or perform actions directly from a web link.

Why it matters

  • Enhances user experience by seamlessly transitioning from web to app.
  • Increases app engagement and retention by providing direct access to app features.

How to measure

  • Track the number of successful intent launches.
  • Analyze user engagement metrics post-launch.

Details

Chrome Intents are a feature in Android that allows web links to open specific content or actions within an app, rather than just launching the app's main activity. This is particularly useful for deep linking, where a user is taken directly to a specific piece of content or functionality within an app. Implementing Chrome Intents involves defining intent filters in the app's manifest file and ensuring the app can handle the specified actions.

For mobile engineers, Chrome Intents provide a way to enhance the user journey by reducing friction between web and app interactions. Growth teams can leverage this capability to drive higher engagement by directing users to targeted content or promotions within the app.

Examples & formulas

An example scenario is using a Chrome Intent to open a specific product page in an e-commerce app when a user clicks a link in a marketing email.

<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="http" android:host="www.example.com"/>
</intent-filter>

Common mistakes

  • Not handling all possible URL schemes, leading to broken links. Ensure all relevant schemes are covered.
  • Forgetting to test the intent filters across different Android versions, which may cause inconsistencies in behavior.

See also