Dynamic Links are a unique type of links whose behaviour can be decided by the programmer or developer. This article will make you aware of Firebase Dynamic Links, its behaviour on different platforms and other topics in relation to it.
Firebase Dynamic Links behaves differently on different platforms. Sometimes it even behaves similarly on different platforms. The platforms include Android, WEB, iOS, and technically, the behaviour of these links is based on the requirement of the user. Moreover, it provides an outcome with content that fits the platform of your choice. One can easily set up Firebase Dynamic Links and change their behaviour on the basis of a single factor, that is whether or not the user has got your App installed. These Dynamic Links can be utilized for multiple purposes such as in marketing campaigns for new applications of the user.
Most of the iOS and Android App development companies have developed enormous applications by using Dynamic Links, for example, PayNowlink payment application is a type of application that generates Dynamic Links in order to complete the transaction without involvement of any human.
This article and tutorial will aid Android developers and Multiple mobile App startups to understand Dynamic Links, its importance, ways of creating it and its usage.
Working of Firebase Dynamic Links:
Dynamic Links provide a wonderful experience to the users when they are created for applications. One can easily create a perfect Dynamic Link in multiple ways. These methods include using the Firebase Console, an Android or an iOS Builder API, a Rest API, or by using a form of URL with the addition of parameters for Dynamic Link to a domain that is unique to your application. These parameters specified by the programmer or developer decides the behaviour of the Dynamic Link after opening the application on the basis of the user's platform and whether or not the application in concern is installed on the device or not.
Whenever a user, using an iOS or an Android device opens a Dynamic Link, they directly reach the destined link/ page on the native app when they click on these Dynamic Links. If the user is using a desktop browser, they will then be taken to a linked content page on your website that would contain an equal amount of content as on your browser.
Some of the users who do not have applications installed on their device can also send dynamic links to their website, or even use them for taking to Play Store. Moreover, these can be utilized for showing interstitial describing the benefits of your application before making a transition to the App Store. This will help users to have a flawless transition in taking their applications to the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
Above written were some of the facts about dynamic links and how you can see them performing their task. Now let us see how one can create such Firebase Dynamic Links for both iOS and Android platforms. Before moving towards tutorials for both the platforms, let's dive into a basic methodology.
Tutorial for creating Firebase Dynamic Links for Android Users
Before creating Dynamic Links in your Android application, one must include the Firebase SDK. If the App is already set up for receiving Dynamic Links the user has already completed the section of steps enlisted below. Hence, one can skip this section and move to the next part.
Part 1
1. Add Firebase to you Android Project
After registering your application, the user needs to specify an SHA-1 signing key. If you have used App links, you are required to specify your SHA-256 key.
2. Firebase Android BoM
With the help of Firebase Android BoM, the user will be able to declare the dependency for the Firebase Dynamic Link in the Android Library in your Module (App-Level) Gradle file (usually comes with app/build.gradle).
For a smooth experience with Dynamic Links, one must try enabling Google analytics in the project. For this part of setting up analytics, the user needs to add the Firebase SDK for Google analytics in your application.
3. Firebase Console
In the Firebase Console, the user must now open the Dynamic Links section. Now accept the terms of service and set a unique domain for your Dynamic Links, whenever prompted. If the user has already taken a Dynamic Link domain, the user will be required to provide a Dynamic Link domain when one creates Dynamic links programmatically.
4. Using the Firebase Console
For generating a single Dynamic Link, the user can follow either for testing purposes or for the marketing team to easily create a link that can be used for something like a media post, social media post, and etcetera. The easiest way to visit the Firebase Console is by creating one manually by following the step to step format.
Creating Dynamic Link from Parameters
For creating a Dynamic Link, first, you need to create a new Dynamic Link object with its builder, and then specify the Firebase Dynamic Link Parameters with the help of builder methods, such as buildDynamicLink or buildShortDynamicLink.
5. Create a project with an empty activity
The user needs to create a new project that will provide a clear palette for new activity, and then configure the project name, package name and select the minimum SDK version. After creating the Firebase project one is required to add a JSON file in the project.
6. Adding Dependencies
After adding JSON file to the project, one needs to add dependencies in the App Gradle and then pass link parameters.
7. Passing Link Parameters
There are two types of Dynamic Links, that are Long Dynamic Link and Short Dynamic Link that have different functions from one another.
Part 2: Receiving Dynamic Links
- Firstly, the user must add an intent filter in the activity tag.
- Derive a code for getting data from your activity.
Use cases of Dynamic Links
Below given are some of the ways in which one can utilize Dynamic Links:
1. Marketing Campaigns
Firebase Dynamic Link is used for multiple marketing campaigns, ranging from emails to banner advertisements to social media, and to QR codes. Users can know which of the campaigns used is getting a higher quality of users for them. Users can provide a customized experience to the application user on the basis of campaigns that lure them and bring them there.
For example, if any user has already installed your music App because of an advertisement for pop music that you showed them, you can ensure that your application takes them to the section of pop music for the first time they open your music application.
2. Analytics
Firebase Dynamic Links are a product of Firebase. This helps you to see the statistics directly in the Firebase Console. One can find the number of people that clicked on a particular link or used Firebase Analytics to find the number of users who first opened the application through a particular link.
3. Converting Web users to App Users
One of the primary issues with standard deep links is that they do not survive the App installation process. If you click on a deep link, it will direct to the App install page, and then all the original link content will get lost. With the help of Dynamic Link, one can overcome this issue. Now, if the user tries to install your application by clicking on a particular Dynamic Link, all the information that was set is visible to the user when he/she opens your application for the first time.
4. Sharing
Even if the Dynamic Link used by you is Firebase or not, it is a great tool for sharing. Users can use these links for sharing a range of products like recipes, the links to their favourite coupon codes or even level on a game. Dynamic links is a unique technology that gives power to Firebase invites.
Wrap up
Conclusively, this article has provided you knowledge about Dynamic Links and helped you in creating Dynamic Links for your application smoothly without any hassle. We would appreciate your thoughts in the comment section and are always available to solve your doubts and queries in the process.
