branch-sdk
Advanced tools
This README outlines the functionality of the Branch Metrics Web SDK, and how to easily incorporate it into a web app.
Live demo: https://cdn.branch.io/example.html
The Branch Web SDK provides an easy way to interact with the Branch API on your website or web app. It requires no frameworks, and is only ~7K gzipped.
To use the Web SDK, you'll need to first initialize it with your API key found in your Branch dashboard. You'll also need to register when your users login with setIdentity, and when they logout with logout.
Once initialized, the Branch Web SDK allows you to create and share links with a banner, over SMS, or your own methods. It also offers event tracking, access to referrals, and management of credits.
This SDK requires native browser Javascript and has been tested in all modern browsers with sessionStorage capability. No 3rd party libraries are needed to make use of the SDK as is it 100% native Javascript.
| Chrome | Firefox | Safari | IE |
|---|---|---|---|
| ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | 9, 10, 11 |
You will need to create a Branch Metrics app to obtain your app_key.
Be sure to replace APP-KEY with your actual app key found in your account dashboard.
<script type="text/javascript">
(function(b,r,a,n,c,h,_,s,d,k){if(!b[n]||!b[n]._q){for(;s<_.length;)c(h,_[s++]);d=r.createElement(a);d.async=1;d.src="https://cdn.branch.io/branch-v1.1.0.min.js";k=r.getElementsByTagName(a)[0];k.parentNode.insertBefore(d,k);b[n]=h}})(window,document,"script","branch",function(b,r){b[r]=function(){b._q.push([r,arguments])}},{_q:[],_v:1},"init data setIdentity logout track link sendSMS referrals credits redeem banner".split(" "),0);
branch.init('APP-KEY', function(err, data) {
// callback to handle err or data
});
</script>
If you use Bower or npm, you can run bower install branch-web-sdk or npm install branch-sdk respectively to get the SDK.
In addition to working as a standalone library, the Branch SDK works great in CommonJS environments (browserify, webpack) as well as RequireJS environments (RequireJS/AMD). Just require('branch') or define(['branch'], function(branch) { ... }); to get started!
Deeplinking Methods
Referral Methods
Smart Banner
Parameters
app_id: string, required - Your Branch app key.
callback: function | null, optional - callback to read the session data.
Adding the Branch script to your page automatically creates a window.branch object with all the external methods described below. All calls made to Branch methods are stored in a queue, so even if the SDK is not fully instantiated, calls made to it will be queued in the order they were originally called.
The init function on the Branch object initiates the Branch session and
creates a new user session, if it doesn't already exist, in
sessionStorage.
Useful Tip: The init function returns a data object where you can read the link the user was referred by.
branch.init(
app_id,
callback (err, data)
);
callback(
"Error message",
{
data: { }, // If the user was referred from a link, and the link has associated data, the data is passed in here.
referring_identity: '12345', // If the user was referred from a link, and the link was created by a user with an identity, that identity is here.
has_app: true, // Does the user have the app installed already?
identity: 'BranchUser' // Unique string that identifies the user
}
);
Note: Branch.init must be called prior to calling any other Branch functions.
Parameters
callback: function | null, optional - callback to read the session data.
Returns the same session information and any referring data, as
Branch.init, but does not require the app_id. This is meant to be called
after Branch.init has been called if you need the session information at a
later point.
If the Branch session has already been initialized, the callback will return
immediately, otherwise, it will return once Branch has been initialized.
Parameters
identity: string, required - a string uniquely identifying the user – often a user ID or email address.
callback: function | null, optional - callback that returns the user's Branch identity id and unique link.
Sets the identity of a user and returns the data. To use this function, pass a unique string that identifies the user - this could be an email address, UUID, Facebook ID, etc.
branch.setIdentity(
identity,
callback (err, data)
);
callback(
"Error message",
{
identity_id: '12345', // Server-generated ID of the user identity, stored in `sessionStorage`.
link: 'url', // New link to use (replaces old stored link), stored in `sessionStorage`.
referring_data: { }, // Returns the initial referring data for this identity, if exists.
referring_identity: '12345' // Returns the initial referring identity for this identity, if exists.
}
);
Parameters
callback: function | null, optional
Logs out the current session, replaces session IDs and identity IDs.
branch.logout(
callback (err)
);
callback(
"Error message"
);
Parameters
event: String, required - name of the event to be tracked.
metadata: Object | null, optional - object of event metadata.
callback: function | null, optional
This function allows you to track any event with supporting metadata. Use the events you track to create funnels in the Branch dashboard.
The metadata parameter is a formatted JSON object that can contain any data and has limitless hierarchy.
branch.event(
event,
metadata,
callback (err)
);
callback("Error message");
Parameters
linkData: Object, required - link data and metadata.
callback: function | null, optional - returns a string of the Branch deep linking URL.
Creates and returns a deep linking URL. The data parameter can include an
object with optional data you would like to store, including Facebook
Open Graph data.
branch.link(
metadata,
callback (err, data)
);
branch.link({
tags: [ 'tag1', 'tag2' ],
channel: 'facebook',
feature: 'dashboard',
stage: 'new user',
type: 1,
data: {
mydata: 'something',
foo: 'bar',
'$desktop_url': 'http://myappwebsite.com',
'$ios_url': 'http://myappwebsite.com/ios',
'$ipad_url': 'http://myappwebsite.com/ipad',
'$android_url': 'http://myappwebsite.com/android',
'$og_app_id': '12345',
'$og_title': 'My App',
'$og_description': 'My app\'s description.',
'$og_image_url': 'http://myappwebsite.com/image.png'
}
}, function(err, data) {
console.log(err, data);
});
callback(
"Error message",
'https://bnc.lt/l/3HZMytU-BW' // Branch deep linking URL
);
Parameters
phone: String, required - phone number to send SMS to
linkData: Object, required - object of link data
options: Object | null, optional - options: make_new_link, which forces the creation of a new link even if one already exists
callback: function | null, optional - Returns an error if unsuccessful
A robust function to give your users the ability to share links via SMS. If
the user navigated to this page via a Branch link, sendSMS will send that
same link. Otherwise, it will create a new link with the data provided in
the metadata argument. sendSMS also registers a click event with the
channel pre-filled with 'sms' before sending an sms to the provided
phone parameter. This way the entire link click event is recorded starting
with the user sending an sms. Supports international SMS.
branch.sendSMS(
phone,
linkData,
options,
callback (err, data)
);
branch.sendSMS(
phone: '9999999999',
{
tags: ['tag1', 'tag2'],
channel: 'facebook',
feature: 'dashboard',
stage: 'new user',
type: 1,
data: {
mydata: 'something',
foo: 'bar',
'$desktop_url': 'http://myappwebsite.com',
'$ios_url': 'http://myappwebsite.com/ios',
'$ipad_url': 'http://myappwebsite.com/ipad',
'$android_url': 'http://myappwebsite.com/android',
'$og_app_id': '12345',
'$og_title': 'My App',
'$og_description': 'My app\'s description.',
'$og_image_url': 'http://myappwebsite.com/image.png'
}
},
{ make_new_link: true }, // Default: false. If set to true, sendSMS will generate a new link even if one already exists.
function(err) { console.log(err); }
});
callback("Error message");
In a standard referral system, you have 2 parties: the original user and the invitee. Our system is flexible enough to handle rewards for all users for any actions. Here are a couple example scenarios:
These reward definitions are created on the dashboard, under the 'Reward Rules' section in the 'Referrals' tab on the dashboard.
Warning: For a referral program, you should not use unique awards for custom events and redeem pre-identify call. This can allow users to cheat the system.
Parameters
callback: function, required - returns an object with referral data.
Retrieves a complete summary of the referrals the current user has made.
branch.referrals(
callback (err, data)
);
callback(
"Error message",
{
'install': {
total: 5,
unique: 2
},
'open': {
total: 4,
unique: 3
},
'buy': {
total: 7,
unique: 3
}
}
);
Parameters
callback: function, required - returns an object with credit data.
This call will retrieve the entire history of credits and redemptions from the individual user.
branch.credits(
callback (err, data)
);
callback(
"Error message",
{
'default': 15,
'other bucket': 9
}
);
Parameters
amount: Int, required - an amount (int) of number of credits to redeem
bucket: String, required - the name of the bucket (string) of which bucket to redeem the credits from
callback: function | null, optional - returns an error if unsuccessful
Credits are stored in buckets, which you can define as points, currency, whatever makes sense for your app. When you want to redeem credits, call this method with the number of points to be redeemed, and the bucket to redeem them from.
branch.redeem(
amount, // amount of credits to be redeemed
bucket, // String of bucket name to redeem credits from
callback (err)
);
branch.redeem(
5,
"Rubies",
function(data) {
console.log(data);
}
);
callback("Error message");
The Branch Web SDK has a built in sharing banner, that automatically displays a device specific banner for desktop, iOS, and Android. If the banner is shown on a desktop, a form for sending yourself the download link via SMS is shown. Otherwise, a button is shown that either says an "open" app phrase, or a "download" app phrase, based on whether or not the user has the app installed. Both of these phrases can be specified in the parameters when calling the banner function. Styling: The banner automatically styles itself based on if it is being shown on the desktop, iOS, or Android.
Parameters
options: Object, required - object of all the options to setup the banner
linkData: Object, required - object of all link data, same as Branch.link()
Display a smart banner directing the user to your app through a Branch referral link. The linkData param is the exact same as in branch.link().
| iOS Smart Banner | Android Smart Banner | Desktop Smart Banner |
|---|---|---|
 |  |  |
branch.banner(
options, // Banner options: icon, title, description, openAppButtonText, downloadAppButtonText, iframe, showMobile, showDesktop
linkData // Data for link, same as Branch.link()
);
branch.banner({
icon: 'http://icons.iconarchive.com/icons/wineass/ios7-redesign/512/Appstore-icon.png',
title: 'Branch Demo App',
description: 'The Branch demo app!',
openAppButtonText: 'Open', // Text to show on button if the user has the app installed
downloadAppButtonText: 'Download', // Text to show on button if the user does not have the app installed
iframe: true, // Show banner in an iframe, recomended to isolate Branch banner CSS
showMobile: true, // Should the banner be shown on mobile devices?
showDesktop: true // Should the banner be shown on mobile devices?
}, {
phone: '9999999999',
tags: ['tag1', 'tag2'],
feature: 'dashboard',
stage: 'new user',
type: 1,
data: {
mydata: 'something',
foo: 'bar',
'$desktop_url': 'http://myappwebsite.com',
'$ios_url': 'http://myappwebsite.com/ios',
'$ipad_url': 'http://myappwebsite.com/ipad',
'$android_url': 'http://myappwebsite.com/android',
'$og_app_id': '12345',
'$og_title': 'My App',
'$og_description': 'My app\'s description.',
'$og_image_url': 'http://myappwebsite.com/image.png'
}
});
Feel free to report any bugs you might encounter in the repo's issues. Any support inquiries outside of bugs please send to dmitri@branch.io.
[v1.1.0] - 2015-03-05
bower install branch-web-sdk or npm install branch-sdk to get the Branch SDK!require('branch') or define(['branch'], function(branch) { ... });!FAQs
Branch Metrics Deep Linking/Smart Banner Web SDK
The npm package branch-sdk receives a total of 33,477 weekly downloads. As such, branch-sdk popularity was classified as popular.
We found that branch-sdk demonstrated a healthy version release cadence and project activity because the last version was released less than a year ago. It has 8 open source maintainers collaborating on the project.
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