What is Deep Linking?

Turkish: Derin Bağlantı (Deep Linking)

Deep linking sends users to a specific screen, item, or campaign step inside an app instead of only opening the home screen.

What is Deep Linking?

Deep linking opens a mobile app at a specific product, order, campaign, chat, or settings screen instead of dropping the user on the home screen. When a user arrives from a notification, email, or ad, the right destination keeps the flow intact.

How It Works

Mobile platforms support several approaches:

  • Custom URL scheme: Uses app-specific links such as myapp://order/123.
  • Universal Links: Connects a verified web domain to app screens on iOS.
  • Android App Links: Associates web URLs with the app on Android.
  • Deferred deep link: Sends users to the store if the app is not installed, then tries to continue to the target screen after installation.

Where It Is Used

Deep linking is used to move from a push notification to order detail, from an email campaign to a product page, from a QR code to a reservation screen, or from an invitation link to team joining. A deep link describes the individual link; deep linking covers the routing strategy across the app.

What to Watch

Broken links drop users on blank screens or the home page. For protected screens, the app should check session state and preserve the target after login. In push notification campaigns, the deep link should match the promise in the message. In hybrid app projects, web routes and native routes need extra testing.