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Introduction to Deferred Linking

Detour enables deferred deep linking for mobile apps, so you can preserve navigation context and campaign data across the install flow.

Detour Dashboard​

Deferred deep linking lets you send users to specific in-app content even when they must first install the app. A deferred link records a click (and lightweight contextual signals) and then, after install and first app open, attempts to deliver the original destination into the app.

The core flow:

  1. A user clicks a Detour link (for example: https://your-org.godetour.link/<app_hash>/campaign-x).
  2. Detour records the click and redirects the user to the store.
  3. After install and first open, your SDK sends a match request (clickId when available, otherwise probabilistic fingerprint data).
  4. Detour matches the install with the click and returns the matched link URL.
  • You preserve marketing context through the store-install friction, increasing the chance users see the exact promotion or content you intended.
  • You get attribution for installs via link-based campaigns.
  • You can improve onboarding by pre-filling flows or showing contextual content on first open.

Deterministic vs probabilistic matching​

Detour uses two matching modes:

  • Deterministic matching uses an explicit identifier generated during click-time that is preserved through the store-install flow and read on first app open (e.g., Android Install Referrer). Deterministic matches are exact and preferred when available. Detour uses click_id from the Play Install Referrer on Android for deterministic matching.

  • Probabilistic matching (fallback) uses multiple signals collected at click time and again on first app open, then computes a similarity score. Signals can include user agent, screen size, system version, locale, timezone, IP and optionally the clipboard contents. If the best candidate's score exceeds a conservative threshold, we return the matched link.

Limitations and important notes​

  • Timing: probabilistic matching is time-sensitive and limited by a configured time window.
  • Cross-device: if a user clicks on device A and installs on device B, matching will not work.
  • Privacy / platform constraints: iOS does not provide an install referrer equivalent. Clipboard-based heuristics can help but require the user's paste permission on iOS and are not guaranteed. Always design your campaigns with these constraints in mind.
  • Accuracy: probabilistic matching is best-effort and cannot guarantee 100% accuracy. Avoid using deferred links for sensitive data routing.

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