10 Quick Links

Apple first detailed the idea for “quick links” in a patent that first appeared in 1992. A quick link is text that is recognized by a computer that then becomes actionable.

iOS uses quick links to make phone numbers and addresses—among other things—become actionable. So if a user is browsing a webpage that displays a contact phone number, they can tap said number and be presented with the option to call it.

This patent was also part of the Samsung slide-to-unlock patent suit that Apple won late last year.