Universal links vs. deep links: What's the difference?

Universal links and deep links are both mechanisms used in mobile applications to direct users to specific content or pages within an app. Here's the difference between them:

1. Deep Links:
   • Deep links are URLs that take users directly to specific content within an app. They can work both within the app (deep linking within the app) or from outside the app (deep linking from another app or a website).
   • Example: myapp://home/profile would take the user directly to the profile page within the app "myapp".
2. Universal Links:
   • Universal links are a type of deep link that work on both iOS and Android platforms. They use standard web URLs (http:// or https://) instead of a custom scheme (like myapp://).
   • Universal links allow seamless linking to app content from websites, and they can also fall back to a web URL if the app is not installed on the device.
   • They are particularly useful because they provide a unified experience whether the app is installed or not.
   • Example: https://myapp.com/home/profile could be configured as a universal link to open the profile page in the "myapp" app.

Key Differences:

• Platform Support: Deep links can use custom schemes (e.g., myapp://) and are generally used within apps or between apps on the same platform. Universal links use standard web URLs and work across platforms.
• Fallback Behavior: Universal links can fall back to a web URL if the app is not installed, providing a web-based alternative. Deep links typically do not have this fallback capability.
• Setup and Configuration: Setting up universal links involves configuring the app and the associated website with specific details in the app's configuration file and the website's server.

In summary, deep links are URLs that directly link to specific app content, while universal links are a type of deep link that use standard web URLs and work across different platforms, offering a more seamless user experience.