App deep linking allows developers to send users directly to specific in-app content from search results on mobile devices. This is done by defining intent filters in the app manifest file that specify the URI format and how to reach content within the app. Developers can then test that deep links are working properly and also implement deep links on their mobile website by including app URL alternatives.

1. App Deep Linking
Basics

2. App Deep Linking
Since when the Google had started to show the in-App content in SERPs on
Mobile devices. Developers needed to let the in-App content to be indexed by
Google.
App Deep Linking allows Google to Crawl App Content and allow Users to
enter the App directly from SERPs on Mobile Devices.
Sending the user directly to in-App the content leads to higher App
downloads & more conversions.

3. Understanding App URI Format
Example:
If the Web URL is
http://www.askme.com/delhi/used-cars
Then the App URL would be
android-app://com.askme.android/http/delhi/used-cars
Where;
package_name  com.askme.android
scheme  http
Host path/Path Prefix  delhi/used-cars

4. Implementation
To implement the App Deep Linking, you first need to create Intent-Filters
and add in your AndroidManifest.xml file.
AndroidManifest.xml also called App Manifest is an XML file that describes
assemblies which an app have to consider at run time.
Intent-Filters: Intent Filters are the set of instructions that defines how to
reach the specific content inside the app.
The intent filters have these three Tags:
• Action
• Data
• Category

5. Creating Intent Filters
Action: Specifies the intent action “VIEW” so that the intent filter can be
reached from Google Search.
<action android:name="android.intent.action.VIEW" />
Data: Specifies the URI format.
<data
android:scheme="http"
android:host="askme.com"
android:pathPrefix="/delhi/used-cars"
/>

6. Creating Intent Filters
(for Android App)
Category:
Category BROWSABLE: To enable clicking on App-Link move to App.
Category DEFAULT: To enable App to respond to the click.
<category android:name="android.intent.category.BROWSABLE" />
<category android:name="android.intent.category.DEFAULT" />
Note: Need to create separate Intent Filter for each deep link format.
(App Indexing for iOS is currently available in limited release only.)

7. Test Your Deep Links Syntax
There are few basic steps:
• Download Code Scanner App
• Go to the Deep Link Implementation on Google Developers Tool
• Mention the Deep Link URI
• Run the Code Scanner App
If it takes you to the appropriate App Content, then the Deep Linking is
working fine.

8. Setting Up Website with Android Deep Links
Place the App URL in the Head section of its relevant Webpage, like;
<link rel="alternate" href=" android-
app://com.askme.android/http/delhi/used-cars " />
Place the Alternate App URL of the Webpage in XML Sitemap, like;
<url>
<loc>http://www.askme.com/delhi/used-cars</loc>
<xhtml:link rel="alternate" href=" android-
app://com.askme.android/http/delhi/used-cars " />
<changefreq>daily</changefreq>
</url>