Intercepting links from the browser to open my Android app.

Question

I'd like to be able prompt my app to open link (instead of the browser) when the user clicks on a URL of a given pattern. This could be when the user is on a web page in the browser, or in an email client, or a WebView in a freshly minted app.

For example, click on a YouTube link from anywhere in the phone and you'll be given the chance to open the YouTube app.

How do I achieve this for my own app.

Answer 1

Use an android.intent.action.VIEW of category android.intent.category.BROWSABLE.

From Romain Guy's Photostream app's AndroidManifest.xml,

    <activity
        android:name=".PhotostreamActivity"
        android:label="@string/application_name">

        <!-- ... -->            

        <intent-filter>
            <action android:name="android.intent.action.VIEW" />
            <category android:name="android.intent.category.DEFAULT" />
            <category android:name="android.intent.category.BROWSABLE" />
            <data android:scheme="http"
                  android:host="flickr.com"
                  android:pathPrefix="/photos/" />
            <data android:scheme="http"
                  android:host="www.flickr.com"
                  android:pathPrefix="/photos/" />
        </intent-filter>
    </activity>

Once inside you're in the activity, you need to look for the action, and then do something with the URL you've been handed. The Intent.getData() method gives you a Uri.

    final Intent intent = getIntent();
    final String action = intent.getAction();

    if (Intent.ACTION_VIEW.equals(action)) {
        final List<String> segments = intent.getData().getPathSegments();
        if (segments.size() > 1) {
            mUsername = segments.get(1);
        }
    }

It should be noted, however, that this app is getting a little bit out of date (1.2), so you may find there are better ways of achieving this.

Answer 2

private class MyWebViewClient extends WebViewClient {
    @Override
    public boolean shouldOverrideUrlLoading(WebView view, String url) {
        setUrlparams(url);

        if (url.indexOf("pattern") != -1) {
            // do something
            return false;
        } else {
            view.loadUrl(url);
        }

        return true;
    }

}