App Link

An Android mechanism that allows a verified HTTPS URL to open directly in a native app.

May 1, 2026 / About 1 min read

URL Shortening

App Links are Android's equivalent of Apple's Universal Links, allowing verified HTTPS URLs to open directly in a native Android app. When a user taps a verified App Link, the system launches the app immediately without showing a disambiguation dialog, providing a seamless transition from web to app.

App Links work through Digital Asset Links, a JSON file hosted at /.well-known/assetlinks.json on the web domain. This file declares the relationship between the website and the Android app, including the app's package name and signing certificate fingerprint. Android verifies this relationship at app install time and uses it to route matching URLs directly to the app.

The key difference between App Links and traditional Android intent filters is verification. Without verification, Android shows a chooser dialog asking the user which app should handle the URL. With App Links verification, the system automatically opens the designated app, eliminating user friction.

For URL shortening services, supporting App Links means hosting the assetlinks.json file on the short URL domain and coordinating with app developers to configure their intent filters correctly.

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Related Terms

Universal Link

An Apple iOS mechanism that allows a standard HTTPS URL to open directly in a native app if installed.

Deep Link

A URL that points to a specific page or content within a mobile app rather than the app's home screen.

Link in Bio

A single URL placed in a social media profile that directs followers to a landing page with multiple links.

Passage Indexing

A mechanism by which Google evaluates not only the relevance of a page as a whole but also the relevance of specific paragraphs (passages) within the page.

URL Fragment

The portion of a URL after the "#" symbol. Used for direct links to specific page sections and for SPA routing.

Canonical URL

A mechanism that, when multiple URLs exist for the same content, specifies the URL that search engines should index preferentially.

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FAQ

What's the difference between App Links and Universal Links?

App Links are for Android, Universal Links are for iOS. Both use HTTPS URLs to navigate to specific screens within apps, but the setup process differs.

How are App Links verified?

Android automatically verifies the /.well-known/assetlinks.json file on the specified domain when the app is installed.

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