Links
Deferred deep link
A deferred deep link carries context, such as which affiliate referred a user, across an app install so the app can read it on first launch. It bridges the gap between a tap on a link and a fresh install.
When someone taps an affiliate link but does not have the app yet, the referral context would normally be lost during the App Store install. A deferred deep link preserves it until the app opens.
On iOS this is done with privacy-respecting matching rather than fingerprinting. The recovered context can then be paired with a StoreKit 2 appAccountToken so the eventual purchase attributes to the right affiliate.
Frequently asked
How is a deferred deep link different from a normal deep link?
A normal deep link opens a specific screen in an already-installed app. A deferred deep link survives the install step so a brand-new user still arrives with the referring context.