Open external links in the browser with android webview

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06-09-2024

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Opening External Links in Android WebView: A Guide to Seamless Integration

Navigating external links within a WebView can be tricky, especially when you want to seamlessly open them in the user's default browser. This article explores the challenges and provides a clear solution to open external links outside your Android app's WebView.

The Problem:

The provided code snippet aims to open links from the "message2space.es.vu" domain within the WebView, while all other links should open in the default browser. However, the code is currently loading all links (including external ones) within the WebView.

private class CustomWebViewClient extends WebViewClient {
    @Override
    public boolean shouldOverrideUrlLoading(WebView view, String url) {
        if(url.contains("message2space.es.vu")){
            view.loadUrl(url);
            return true;
        } else {
            return super.shouldOverrideUrlLoading(view, url);
        }
    }
}

The Solution:

The issue lies in the logic of the shouldOverrideUrlLoading method. The current implementation always returns true, effectively instructing the WebView to handle all link clicks. To achieve the desired behavior, we need to modify this method to return false for external links. Here's the corrected code:

private class CustomWebViewClient extends WebViewClient {
    @Override
    public boolean shouldOverrideUrlLoading(WebView view, String url) {
        if(url.contains("message2space.es.vu")) {
            view.loadUrl(url);
            return true; // Handle internal links within the WebView
        } else {
            // Launch external links in the default browser
            Intent intent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW, Uri.parse(url));
            view.getContext().startActivity(intent);
            return false; // Let the system handle external links
        }
    }
}

Explanation:

1. shouldOverrideUrlLoading: This method is called whenever a link is clicked within the WebView. It's crucial for controlling how the link is handled.
2. Domain Check: The code checks if the clicked URL contains "message2space.es.vu". If it does, it loads the link within the WebView.
3. External Link Handling: If the URL is not from the specified domain, an Intent is created with the ACTION_VIEW action and the clicked URL. This intent is then launched, opening the link in the user's default browser.
4. Return Value: Returning false from shouldOverrideUrlLoading indicates that the WebView should not handle the link click and the system should take over, opening the link in the appropriate application (in this case, the default browser).

Additional Considerations:

• Custom URL Schemes: If your application uses custom URL schemes (e.g., "myapp://"), you'll need to handle them separately within shouldOverrideUrlLoading to ensure they are opened within your app.
• User Experience: Consider providing a clear visual indication to users when a link will open in the external browser. This could be a small icon or a tooltip.

Conclusion:

By modifying the shouldOverrideUrlLoading method as described above, you can effectively control how links are handled within your Android WebView, ensuring a smooth user experience for both internal and external links. This approach enhances the functionality of your app by allowing users to navigate seamlessly between your content and external resources.