Syntax#

1. // canOpenURL method verifies if there is any app which can handle indicated URL scheme.

2. // Swift

   UIApplication.sharedApplication().canOpenURL(_ aUrl: NSURL)

3. // Objective-C

   [[UIApplication sharedApplication] canOpenURL:(NSURL *)aUrl];

4. // openURL method tries to open a resource located by URL. YES/true if it was opened otherwise NO/false.

5. // Swift

   UIApplication.sharedApplication().openURL(_ aUrl: NSURL)

6. // Objective-C

   [[UIApplication sharedApplication] openURL:(NSURL *)aUrl];

Parameters#

Remarks#

In iOS9 and above your app must list any URL schemes it will want to query. This is done by adding LSApplicationQueriesSchemes to Info.plist

iOS has built-in support for the tel, http/https ,sms, mailto, facetime schemes. It also supports http–based URLs for Youtube, Maps and iTunes apps.

Examples of built-in URL schemes:

tel: tel://123456890 or tel:123456890

http: https://www.google.com

facetime: facetime://azimov@demo.com

mailto: mailto://azimov@demo.com

sms: sms://123456890 or sms:123456890

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-eCaif2QKfA

Maps:

• Using address: https://maps.apple.com/?address=1,Infinite+Loop,Cupertino,California

• Using coordinates: https://maps.apple.com/?ll=46.683155557,6.683155557

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/randy-newman/id200900

Note: Not all special characters are supported in tel scheme (for example * or #). This is done because of security concerns to prevent users from unauthorized redirect of calls, so in this case Phone app won’t be opened.

Using built-in URL scheme to open Mail app

Swift:

if let url = URL(string: "mailto://azimov@demo.com") {
    if UIApplication.shared.canOpenURL(url) {
        UIApplication.shared.openURL(url)
    } else {
        print("Cannot open URL")
    }
}

Objective-C:

NSURL *url = [NSURL URLWithString:@"mailto://azimov@demo.com"];
if ([[UIApplication sharedApplication] canOpenURL:url]) {
    [[UIApplication sharedApplication] openURL:url];
} else {
    NSLog(@"Cannot open URL");
}

Apple URL Schemes

These are URL schemes supported by native apps on iOS, OS X, and watchOS 2 and later.

Opening link in Safari:

Objective-C

NSString *stringURL = @"https://stackoverflow.com/";
NSURL *url = [NSURL URLWithString:stringURL];
[[UIApplication sharedApplication] openURL:url];

Swift:

let stringURL = "https://stackoverflow.com/"
if let url = URL(string: stringURL) {
    UIApplication.shared.openURL(url)
}

Starting a phone conversation

Objective-C

NSString *stringURL = @"tel:1-408-555-5555";
NSURL *url = [NSURL URLWithString:stringURL];
[[UIApplication sharedApplication] openURL:url];

Swift:

let stringURL = "tel:1-408-555-5555"
if let url = URL(string: stringURL) {
    UIApplication.shared.openURL(url)
}

HTML

<a href="tel:1-408-555-5555">1-408-555-5555</a>

Starting a FaceTime conversation

Objective-C

NSString *stringURL = @"facetime:14085551234";
NSURL *url = [NSURL URLWithString:stringURL];
[[UIApplication sharedApplication] openURL:url];

Swift:

let stringURL = "facetime:14085551234"
if let url = URL(string: stringURL) {
    UIApplication.shared.openURL(url)
}

HTML

<a href="facetime:14085551234">Connect using FaceTime</a>
<a href="facetime:user@example.com">Connect using FaceTime</a>

Opening Messages App to compose an sms to recipient:

Objective-C

NSString *stringURL = @"sms:1-408-555-1212";
NSURL *url = [NSURL URLWithString:stringURL];
[[UIApplication sharedApplication] openURL:url];

Swift:

let stringURL = "sms:1-408-555-1212"
if let url = URL(string: stringURL) {
    UIApplication.shared.openURL(url)
}

HTML

<a href="sms:">Launch Messages App</a>
<a href="sms:1-408-555-1212">New SMS Message</a>

Opening Mail app to compose an email to recipient:

Objective-C

NSString *stringURL = @"mailto:foo@example.com";
NSURL *url = [NSURL URLWithString:stringURL];
[[UIApplication sharedApplication] openURL:url];

Swift:

let stringURL = "mailto:foo@example.com"
if let url = URL(string: stringURL) {
    UIApplication.shared.openURL(url)
}

HTML

<a href="mailto:frank@wwdcdemo.example.com">John Frank</a>

You can also include a subject field, a message, and multiple recipients in the To, Cc, and Bcc fields. (In iOS, the from attribute is ignored.) The following example shows a mailto URL that includes several different attributes:

mailto:foo@example.com?cc=bar@example.com&subject=Greetings%20from%20Cupertino!&body=Wish%20you%20were%20here!

Note: Compose email dialog can also be presented within app using MFMailComposeViewController.