Google Chrome Canary implements link capturing for PWAs

Google Chrome Canary, the experimental version of Chrome, has implemented a new feature called Link Capturing for PWAs (Progressive Web Apps). This feature allows PWAs to intercept links and open them directly in the app instead of in a new tab.

Insider @Leopeva64, as shared on X (fka Twitter), shared their discovery of a new flag spotted in the browser called #enable-user-link-capturing-pwa.

Then, the very feature was spotted working in the experimental Canary, and there’s an infobar that allows you to enable it.

Take a look at how it works (so far):

"Link Capturing" already works in Chrome Canary, there is an infobar in the PWA that allows you to enable this feature, Chrome PWAs "intercept" the web link and instead of opening in a tab, the link opens directly in the PWA:https://t.co/CMz6372AHC
.https://t.co/51uc6FewnQ pic.twitter.com/ygNGbnlHD4

— Leopeva64 (@Leopeva64) October 16, 2023

To enable Link Capturing, users must first open a PWA from the browser and choose to remember their choice. Alternatively, users can enable Link Capturing for a specific web app in the app management settings page.

The very feature had actually arrived on Microsoft Edge a long time ago (v. 97), so it’s good that Chrome is catching up what other browser is doing. 

For developers, Link Capturing can help to create more engaging and immersive experiences for their users. By intercepting links and opening them directly in the app, developers can create a more seamless and native-like experience.

Oh, did we also mention that Chrome is testing the ability to delete the last 15 minutes of your browsing history?