Microsoft adds URL Protocol Handler Registration support for Progressive Web Apps

Although Microsoft canceled the public preview of PWA applications in the latest beta version of Windows 10, this does not mean that Microsoft will directly abandon PWA applications.

According to Microsoft, the company is currently working with Google to strengthen PWA functionality. Microsoft and Google also hope that PWA will have the same capabilities as traditional applications.

For example, when a user installs a PWA application, he can register a URL protocol handler, and when the user clicks on a specific protocol, he can directly open the PWA application.

mailto:// When a user clicks on a hyperlink that begins with the protocol, it supports the automatic opening of a PWA application for processing mail, such as Outlook PWA.

ms-word:// This protocol supports opening Word applications, and if users do not have the desktop version of Word installed, they will open Word Online through a web page.

web + music:// This protocol is used to call those PWA applications that support streaming music. For example, the protocol triggers YouTube PWA when a user clicks.

magnet:// Old drivers may often send this kind of magnetic link to share resources when chatting, clicking this link can also open a special download tool.

This type of registration protocol can not only open specific PWA applications but also jump to specific applications and open specific files based on protocol parameters.

Microsoft says PWA as a protocol handler could help you in the following ways:

• App integration: If you click on a link to a presentation (ms-powerpoint://deck2378465), the presentation automatically opens in PWA .
• In a native chat app such as Telegram, if you receive a link to some magnet:// URL, the correct PWA is launched.
• When a friend shares a link to a song and you click on it (web+music://songid=1234&time=0:13), the PWA will automatically launch instead of opening a new tab in the browser.

Via: windowslatest