Link terminology
Device-targeted links
A device-targeted link selects a destination using browser and operating-system signals such as desktop, mobile, tablet, iOS, or Android.
Also called: mobile redirect link, iOS Android routing, device detection URL
Definition in plain language
A device-targeted link selects a destination using browser and operating-system signals such as desktop, mobile, tablet, iOS, or Android.
- 1Request
Inspect the request user-agent and available client hints.
- 2Evaluate
Identify operating-system-specific routes such as iOS or Android first.
- 3Decide
Apply generic mobile, tablet, or desktop routing when no OS-specific route wins.
- 4Report
Fall back to the default destination when evidence is absent or ambiguous.
Why device-targeted links matters
A single public link can send people to an app store, mobile page, or desktop experience without forcing them to choose manually. A default destination protects visitors whose device cannot be classified confidently.
The useful question is not merely whether a request happened. It is what kind of request it was, which rule handled it, and what conclusion the resulting data can support. Clear terminology prevents teams from treating every technical event as a person, every redirect as engagement, or every click as a conversion.
How it works step by step
A short-link system evaluates a request in a defined order. The exact sequence matters because an earlier status, access, or routing decision can prevent later rules from running.
For this concept, the practical workflow is:
- Inspect the request user-agent and available client hints.
- Identify operating-system-specific routes such as iOS or Android first.
- Apply generic mobile, tablet, or desktop routing when no OS-specific route wins.
- Fall back to the default destination when evidence is absent or ambiguous.
How to interpret the result
Read the result in the context of the configured link and the evidence available at request time. Browser signals, network location, cookies, referrers, and user agents are useful but imperfect.
Compare like with like: use the same date range, traffic filters, link ownership, and campaign definition. A change in classification or routing can change a report even when audience demand has not changed.
Deterministic example
The values below are example data, shown so every total can be checked from the visible rows.
Device-targeted link compared with Mobile deep link
How DrutoLink handles this
DrutoLink supports desktop, mobile, tablet, iOS, and Android destinations. OS-specific destinations take priority over generic mobile routing.
Device routing follows explicit geo routing and can take precedence over the default A/B experiment. The demo and reports should explain that ordering when rules are combined.
Limitations to keep in mind
- User-agent strings can be missing, changed, or intentionally misleading.
- Device targeting is not the same as a native deep link that opens a specific in-app screen.
- Always test fallback behavior on unknown and unusual clients.
Frequently asked questions
Is device detection perfectly reliable?
No. It uses client signals that can be incomplete or modified.
Can one link support iOS, Android, and desktop?
Yes. Configure specific destinations plus a dependable default.
Is device routing the same as deep linking?
No. Routing selects a URL; deep linking additionally depends on app and operating-system configuration.