This report documents my experience with creating notifications and implementing deep linking in our Android application. The objective was to improve user engagement and navigation by allowing users to seamlessly access specific content within the app via notifications.
Notification Creation: I have successfully implemented the creation of notifications within the Android app. Notifications were designed to provide users with relevant updates, messages, and actions related to the app's content.
Deep Linking: I have integrated deep linking into our app, allowing users to open specific screens or content directly from a deep link, whether the link is clicked within a web browser, another app, email, or notification.
- Handling Deep Link: Implementing the logic to handle deep links required careful consideration of intent filters in the AndroidManifest.xml file. Ensuring that the app correctly responds to various deep links correctly was complex.
- Notification Permission: Before notifying user, we have to ensure that the user has given the notification permission. Even though, it only needed from Android version starting 13 however, it created another challenge to check the API version also.
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Handling Deep Link: I have carefully defined intent filters within the AndroidManifest.xml file, specifying the deep link schemes, hostnames, and paths for the activity.
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Notification Permission: I have leverage the power of Kotlin extension function and property to check permission seamlessly.
- For deep linking, we can use Android's Navigation Component that makes handling of deep linking easier and it automatically navigates the user to the required destination. Also, it promotes Single Activity architecture which ensures that the application will be light weight as Fragments are used mostly instead of Activities.
- For Notification Permission, we should show a rationale before asking for Notification Permission. In that way, that will make the user to understand better why the app needs notification permission.
- Prioritize user experience when designing notifications. Ensure that notifications provide value and relevance to users, leading to increased engagement.
- Implement analytics to track the effectiveness of notifications and deep links. Monitor user engagement and make data-driven decisions to improve notification content and timing.
Deep linking and notifications are powerful tools for user retention and engagement, and we will continue to leverage them to provide a seamless and user-centric experience.