Link Management

Mini apps run inside a WebView, so clicking external links won’t work as expected by default. The Alien SDK intercepts external link clicks and routes them through the host app, which opens them in the system browser or handles them natively (e.g., mailto:, solana: URIs).

How It Works

AlienProvider enables link interception by default. External links (different origin) are caught and sent to the host app via link:open. Same-origin links work normally for in-app navigation.

// This just works — no extra setup needed
 

To disable automatic interception:

Open Modes

React Hook

Use useLinkInterceptor only if you disabled interceptLinks on the provider and want to enable it in specific components, or if you need a different openMode.

 
function App() {
  useLinkInterceptor({ openMode: 'external' });
 
  return (
    <div>
      <a href="https://example.com">Opens in browser</a>
      <a href="https://alien.app/miniapp/other-app">Opens in browser</a>
    </div>
  );
}

With internal mode:

function App() {
  useLinkInterceptor({ openMode: 'internal' });
 
  return (
    <a href="https://alien.app/miniapp/other-app">
      Opens inside Alien app
    </a>
  );
}

Options

Bridge API

enableLinkInterceptor

For non-React apps, use the bridge function directly. Returns a cleanup function.

 
const disable = enableLinkInterceptor({ openMode: 'external' });
 
// Later, to stop intercepting:
disable();

Interception rules:

• Ignores clicks with modifier keys (Ctrl, Meta, Shift, Alt)
• Ignores right-clicks and non-primary button clicks
• Ignores links with download attribute
• Ignores javascript: and blob: protocols
• Allows same-origin links through for normal navigation
• Intercepts all other external links

link:open

Open a URL programmatically, without relying on link interception.

 
// Open in system browser
send('link:open', { url: 'https://example.com' });
 
// Open a Solana URI
send('link:open', { url: 'solana:...' });
 
// Send an email
send('link:open', { url: 'mailto:hi@example.com' });
 
// Open another mini app inside Alien
send('link:open', {
  url: 'https://alien.app/miniapp/other-app',
  openMode: 'internal',
});

Payload

{
  url: string;
  openMode?: 'external' | 'internal';
}

This is a fire-and-forget method — no response event.

Version Requirements

The link:open method is available since contract version 0.1.3. Link interception depends on this method internally.

 
const { supported } = useIsMethodSupported('link:open');

Next Steps

• Clipboard — Read and write to the system clipboard
• Haptic Feedback — Haptic feedback
• Payments — Accept payments
• Bridge Reference — Full bridge API reference