Prompt Title: Android app link, assetlinks.json, and .well-known directory

The .well-known directory is a standard part of the web architecture as defined by the IETF (Internet Engineering Task Force). It's a specific directory on a web server that is used to store site-wide metadata files, one of which can be the assetlinks.json file for Android App Links.

Purpose of .well-known

When you're setting up Android App Links, you need to prove ownership of the domain that your app intends to handle. Placing an assetlinks.json file under the .well-known directory of your domain provides a secure and standardized method for Google and Android to verify that you control the website in question.

This helps Android understand that your app is a legitimate handler for the URLs corresponding to your website, thus enabling "deep linking" directly to the relevant content within your app instead of opening it in a web browser.

How it Works

1. Create the assetlinks.json File: This file contains information about the Android app, including its package name and the SHA-256 fingerprints of its signing certificates.

2. Place it in the .well-known Directory: You should place this file in the .well-known directory of your web server, so it should be accessible via https://your_domain.com/.well-known/assetlinks.json.

3. Update Your Android App: Your Android app also needs to be configured to handle App Links, typically via intent filters in the AndroidManifest.xml.

4. Verification: When a user clicks on a link that is configured to be an App Link, Android will fetch the assetlinks.json from the specified .well-known directory of the corresponding domain and match it against the package name and fingerprints specified in the file. If everything matches, the link will open in your app.

Note

• SSL is Mandatory: Your domain must be accessible over HTTPS for Android to successfully retrieve the assetlinks.json file.

By adhering to this standard, Android ensures a secure and seamless user experience where web URLs can intelligently map to native app experiences.