Links connect Front conversations with external systems or applications. A link consists of:
- Name—A descriptive title for the link.
- External URL—A web address that links to the relevant external platform when clicked by a Front teammate.
The following screenshot shows a link to an order record:
Links are designed to provide a simple way to integrate Front with other tools by allowing agents to quickly navigate to external systems in a new tab. This functionality is still supported and accessible through the /links (the resources you are viewing) and the Add conversation link/ Remove conversation links API endpoints.
Relationship between links and application objects
While links offer a basic mechanism for connecting external systems, application objects build upon and enhance this concept.
- Links as the foundation—Application objects include the fundamental functionality of links, allowing for redirection to external URLs.
- Application objects extend capabilities—They go a step further by enabling custom fields to be displayed in Front, which are dynamically populated through a GET request to the linked external URL.
This means that application objects not only link conversations to external systems but also bring key external data directly into Front's interface, reducing the need for agents to switch between tools.
In short, application objects are the next evolution of links, offering deeper integrations and a richer user experience while maintaining compatibility with the original functionality.
For more information on application objects, refer to Connectors.