Offering Options for mailto: and tel: Links

While I appreciate the convenience of mailto: links, their limitations are undeniable. Identifying them is almost intuitive, yet their functionality isn't always seamless. A simple click opens the default email client, and a right-click offers a "Copy email address" option. However, this approach presents several usability challenges.

Adam Silver and Amy Hupe highlighted key issues: copying email addresses for sharing is cumbersome; users with multiple email clients lack choice; and users without a default client encounter broken links.

Their solution involved displaying the full email address as a clickable link, enhancing clarity, and adding a "Copy" button for improved user experience.

tel: links pose a different challenge. Many devices lack native calling functionality, and even those that do often support multiple calling apps (e.g., WhatsApp, FaceTime, default phone app).

The core UX problem is providing users with control over how these special links behave. Mailgo, a JavaScript library, addresses this by presenting a user interface upon clicking these links.

Live demo

This approach is appealing. The option to use the default app alongside other choices effectively mitigates the inherent problems of mailto: and tel: links. It offers a comprehensive solution to a common usability issue.

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