The x-callback-url specification is intended to standardize the use of URLs and registered URL schemes for inter-app communication and messaging on Apple’s iOS platforms.
R3: Added “Security Concerns” section.
R2: Added optional “x-cancel” parameter. When supported, this parameter would include a URL to open when the user indicated they want to cancel the action. The action did not succeed, nor generate an error, but the user just wishes to return to the source app.
R1: Removed the “version” from the URL path. The current recommendation if versioning of an x-callback-url API is required would be to register separate URL schemes for each version. This method allows the calling app to determine which versions are available via calls to “canOpenURL”.
iOS runs apps in sandboxes which providing limited means of communication between apps directly on the device. Shared files, messaging systems and other similar solutions used on desktop and server operating systems are not present in iOS.
iOS does provide the ability for apps to register URL schemes. Many apps already use the feature to launch other apps and pass basic data in the URL parameters, but there is no standard for structure of these URLs and no current standard for allowing callbacks to be pass in the URL if the originating app wishes to receive some result based on the action.
The goal of the x-callback-url specification is to provide a standardized means for iOS developers to expose and document the methods they make available to other apps. Using x-callback-url’s source apps can launch other apps passing data and context information, and also provide parameters instructing the target app to return data and control back to the source app after executing an action. Specific supported actions will be dependent on the individual apps and will not be discussed in the specification.
Apps using x-callback-url should provide support for receiving action URLs in the format described below. Details on implementation and sample code will also be available on the x-callback-url website.
Note that starting with iOS 8, Apple has introduced App Extensions which address some of the requirements for inter-app communication in a vendor supported way. There are still areas where URL schemes make more sense, but we recommend using the extension opportunities first.
The scheme should be a unique string identifier the target app. URL schemes are registered with iOS via an app’s Info.plist file. To support receiving x-callback-url message, an app must register a protocol with iOS. If your app uses x-callback-url, it is recommend you register a url scheme specifically for x-callback-url support, so that a source app can test for the registration of the scheme and ensure support is present.
URLs will be identified by the use of “x-callback-url” as the host portion of the URL.
The remaining portion of the URL path after the version make up the name of the action to be executed in the target app. These actions will vary by app and should be documented by the developer of the app supporting x-callback-url.