React Native Linking openURL : Use special characters like # and *-CodePudding

I am building a React Native app able to trigger mobile payment via USSD codes (widely used in Africa).

A USSD code is run from the dialer app of any phone and looks like this : #144# or #1*1*4# for example.

My app should basically redirect a user to the dialer app and fill the phone number with #144#.

It looks like special characters can't be sent to the android dialer app using Linking.openURL...

This Linking.openURL(`tel: 221786756172`)

works perfectly fine, I have a redirection and the phone number is filled.

But this Linking.openURL(`tel:#144#`)

doesn't work, the field of the dialer app remains empty...

I tried to escape the special characters, no success.

Could you guys help me in any way, that's UX improvement

Thanks!!

CodePudding user response：

Encode the USSD code first then use it. You can use below function:

const phoneShare = (number) => {
    let phoneNumber = '';
    if (Platform.OS === 'android') { phoneNumber = `tel:${encodeURIComponent(number)}`; }
    else { phoneNumber = `telprompt:${number}`; }
    Linking.openURL(""   phoneNumber   "");
};

How to use it?

<TouchableOpacity onPress={() => phoneShare('#144#')}>
    <Text>Press Me</Text>
</TouchableOpacity>