Tim Berners-Lee
Date: 2023-05-29, last change: $Date$
Status: personal view only. Editing status: first draft.

Up to Design Issues


Custom URI Schemes

Up to Design Issues

Tim BL

There is a constant compettion between web sites and native apps. One of the ways in which Apps compete with the HTML web is when they make up a custom UR scheme for their own use. You can argue that they are not competing with the web, they are becoming part of it. The OS then lets the web and the app interact, with the user controlling whether a given link following takes them to the web or the app. For example, you can follow a link to a video clip on the web, and watch it on the web but Netfllix, Youtube, Apple, etc will alwys try to get you to switch to the app so they have more control of your environment, and can store lots more data on your device. Issues include clashes of scheme names, and security issues with malicious links, and problems of lack of access to search, lack of archiving.


@@ Content

Advantges

Issues

Coorination of schmes

OS vs IANA

Search and Archive

Make sure everthing is in the http: bit to get it archived and make it searchable.

Malicious links

Security issues

Conclusion

Avoid custom URI schemes for your app if you can so that your app is on the HTTP web, with eimple links back and forth.

References

Up to Design Issues

Tim BL