For MarketersFor DevelopersFor Product
5 min read

What Are Deep Links?

Deep links are URLs that take users directly to specific content inside a mobile app, rather than just opening the app's home screen.

What you'll learn

  • What deep links are and how they work
  • The difference between deep links and regular links
  • Why deep links matter for user experience

The concept

Think of deep links like addresses. A regular link to your app is like saying "go to New York City." A deep link is like saying "go to 350 5th Avenue, Floor 34, Office 3401" — it takes you exactly where you need to be.

When a user taps a deep link:

  1. The device recognizes the link belongs to your app
  2. Your app opens (or the App Store if not installed)
  3. The app navigates directly to the specific content

How regular links work

  1. User clicks https://yourapp.com/product/123
  2. Browser opens the web page
  3. User sees web content (or an app install prompt)

How deep links work

  1. User clicks https://yourapp.com/product/123
  2. App opens directly (bypassing the browser)
  3. User lands on product #123 inside the app

See it in action

Deep Link Flow

Tap link
App check
App opens

User clicks a ULink from email, ad, or social media

Click through to see how a deep link routes users. Toggle to see what happens when the app isn't installed.

Why this matters

Without deep links, users clicking a link from an email, ad, or social post would:

  1. Open your app to the home screen
  2. Have to manually navigate to find the content
  3. Often give up and leave

With deep links, they land exactly where they should be — reducing friction and increasing conversions.

Key Concept

Deep links create a direct bridge between any URL and specific content in your app. This is the foundation of modern mobile marketing and user engagement.

Gotcha

Deep links don't work automatically — they require proper configuration in both your app and your link infrastructure. We'll cover setup in later guides.

Quick recap

  • Deep links open specific content inside apps, not just the app itself
  • They work like precise addresses instead of general locations
  • They significantly improve user experience and conversion rates