Android — Pathpattern

In this article, we’ll break down how PathPattern works, when to use it, and how to avoid its most common pitfalls. PathPattern is an attribute used within an intent filter’s <data> tag. It allows you to match a subset of a URL’s path using simple wildcard expressions.

In Android development, deep linking is a powerful feature that allows you to launch your app directly from a web URL. But how do you tell your app which URL should open which screen? Enter PathPattern . android pathpattern

Now go forth and link deeply—just watch those slashes. In this article, we’ll break down how PathPattern

Example:

If you’ve worked with intent filters, you’ve likely seen the path , pathPrefix , and pathPattern attributes inside a <data> tag. While path and pathPrefix are straightforward, pathPattern introduces a mini-language of wildcards that gives you flexible, powerful matching—but it also comes with a few hidden traps. In Android development, deep linking is a powerful

Wait — that’s confusing. Let's clarify.

<!-- Wrong --> <data android:pathPattern="user/*" /> <!-- Correct --> <data android:pathPattern="/user/*" /> Unlike regex .* , pathPattern ’s * requires at least one character. For example: