From f477aa2391922a399acde23bf50ff095b12a287d Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Adam Bradley <adambradley25@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 13 Sep 2016 17:16:14 -0500
Subject: [PATCH] feat(nav): component url navigation

---
 src/navigation/deep-linker.ts              | 451 +++++++++++++++
 src/navigation/test/deep-linker.spec.ts    | 517 +++++++++++++++++
 src/navigation/test/url-serializer.spec.ts | 628 +++++++++++++++++++++
 src/navigation/url-serializer.ts           | 267 +++++++++
 4 files changed, 1863 insertions(+)
 create mode 100644 src/navigation/deep-linker.ts
 create mode 100644 src/navigation/test/deep-linker.spec.ts
 create mode 100644 src/navigation/test/url-serializer.spec.ts
 create mode 100644 src/navigation/url-serializer.ts

diff --git a/src/navigation/deep-linker.ts b/src/navigation/deep-linker.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..a851e1eff24
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/navigation/deep-linker.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,451 @@
+import { Injectable, OpaqueToken } from '@angular/core';
+import { Location, LocationStrategy, HashLocationStrategy } from '@angular/common';
+
+import { App } from '../components/app/app';
+import { convertToViews, isNav, isTab, isTabs, NavSegment, DIRECTION_BACK } from './nav-util';
+import { isArray, isPresent } from '../util/util';
+import { Nav } from '../components/nav/nav';
+import { NavController } from './nav-controller';
+import { Tab } from '../components/tabs/tab';
+import { Tabs } from '../components/tabs/tabs';
+import { UrlSerializer } from './url-serializer';
+import { ViewController } from './view-controller';
+
+
+/**
+ * Deep Linking Scenarios:
+ * 1) Initialize all NavControllers using the initial browser URL
+ * 2) User clicks browser back button
+ * 3) User clicks browser forward button
+ * 4) User changes browser URL
+ * 5) User clicks link href
+ * 6) App uses NavController push/pop/setRoot/insert/remove
+ *
+ * Terms:
+ * - URL: The string value found in the browser's URL bar
+ * - Segment: Deep linker's data about each section between / in the URL
+ * - Path: Deep linker's array of segments
+ * - History: Deep linker's string array of internal URL history
+ * - Location: Angular's Location provider, which abstracts Hash/Path Location Strategies
+ */
+
+
+@Injectable()
+export class DeepLinker {
+  segments: NavSegment[] = [];
+  history: string[] = [];
+  indexAliasUrl: string;
+
+  constructor(public app: App, public serializer: UrlSerializer, public location: Location) { }
+
+  init() {
+    // scenario 1: Initial load of all navs from the initial browser URL
+    const browserUrl = normalizeUrl(this.location.path());
+    console.debug(`DeepLinker, init load: ${browserUrl}`);
+
+    // update the Path from the browser URL
+    this.segments = this.serializer.parse(browserUrl);
+
+    // remember this URL in our internal history stack
+    this.historyPush(browserUrl);
+
+    // listen for browser URL changes
+    this.location.subscribe((locationChg: { url: string }) => {
+      this.urlChange(normalizeUrl(locationChg.url));
+    });
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * The browser's location has been updated somehow.
+   */
+  urlChange(browserUrl: string) {
+    // do nothing if this url is the same as the current one
+    if (!this.isCurrentUrl(browserUrl)) {
+
+      if (this.isBackUrl(browserUrl)) {
+        // scenario 2: user clicked the browser back button
+        // scenario 4: user changed the browser URL to what was the back url was
+        // scenario 5: user clicked a link href that was the back url
+        console.debug(`DeepLinker, browser urlChange, back to: ${browserUrl}`);
+        this.historyPop();
+
+      } else {
+        // scenario 3: user click forward button
+        // scenario 4: user changed browser URL that wasn't the back url
+        // scenario 5: user clicked a link href that wasn't the back url
+        console.debug(`DeepLinker, browser urlChange, forward to: ${browserUrl}`);
+        this.historyPush(browserUrl);
+      }
+
+      // get the app's root nav
+      const appRootNav = <Nav>this.app.getRootNav();
+      if (appRootNav) {
+        if (browserUrl === '/') {
+          // a url change to the index url
+          if (isPresent(this.indexAliasUrl)) {
+            // we already know the indexAliasUrl
+            // update the url to use the know alias
+            browserUrl = this.indexAliasUrl;
+
+          } else {
+            // the url change is to the root but we don't
+            // already know the url used. So let's just
+            // reset the root nav to its root page
+            appRootNav.goToRoot({
+              updateUrl: false,
+              isNavRoot: true
+            });
+            return;
+          }
+        }
+
+        // normal url
+        this.segments = this.serializer.parse(browserUrl);
+        this.loadNavFromPath(appRootNav);
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Update the deep linker using the NavController's current active view.
+   */
+  navChange(direction: string) {
+    // all transitions completed
+    if (direction) {
+      // get the app's active nav, which is the lowest level one being viewed
+      const activeNav = this.app.getActiveNav();
+      if (activeNav) {
+
+        // build up the segments of all the navs from the lowest level
+        this.segments = this.pathFromNavs(activeNav);
+
+        // build a string URL out of the Path
+        const browserUrl = this.serializer.serialize(this.segments);
+
+        // update the browser's location
+        this.updateLocation(browserUrl, direction);
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  updateLocation(browserUrl: string, direction: string) {
+    if (this.indexAliasUrl === browserUrl) {
+      browserUrl = '/';
+    }
+
+    if (direction === DIRECTION_BACK && this.isBackUrl(browserUrl)) {
+      // this URL is exactly the same as the back URL
+      // it's safe to use the browser's location.back()
+      console.debug(`DeepLinker, location.back(), url: '${browserUrl}'`);
+      this.historyPop();
+      this.location.back();
+
+    } else if (!this.isCurrentUrl(browserUrl)) {
+      // probably navigating forward
+      console.debug(`DeepLinker, location.go('${browserUrl}')`);
+      this.historyPush(browserUrl);
+      this.location.go(browserUrl);
+    }
+  }
+
+  getComponentFromName(componentName: any): any {
+    const segment = this.serializer.createSegmentFromName(componentName);
+    if (segment && segment.component) {
+      return segment.component;
+    }
+    return null;
+  }
+
+  createUrl(nav: any, nameOrComponent: any, data: any, prepareExternalUrl: boolean = true): string {
+    // create a segment out of just the passed in name
+    const segment = this.serializer.createSegmentFromName(nameOrComponent);
+    if (segment) {
+      const path = this.pathFromNavs(nav, segment.component, data);
+      // serialize the segments into a browser URL
+      // and prepare the URL with the location and return
+      const url = this.serializer.serialize(path);
+      return prepareExternalUrl ? this.location.prepareExternalUrl(url) : url;
+    }
+    return '';
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Build a browser URL out of this NavController. Climbs up the tree
+   * of NavController's to create a string representation of all the
+   * NavControllers state.
+   */
+  pathFromNavs(nav: NavController, component?: any, data?: any): NavSegment[] {
+    const segments: NavSegment[] = [];
+    let view: ViewController;
+    let segment: NavSegment;
+    let tabSelector: string;
+
+    // recursivly climb up the nav ancestors
+    // and set each segment's data
+    while (nav) {
+      // this could be an ion-nav, ion-tab or ion-portal
+      // if a component and data was already passed in then use it
+      // otherwise get this nav's active view controller
+      if (!component && isNav(nav)) {
+        view = nav.getActive(true);
+        if (view) {
+          component = view.component;
+          data = view.data;
+        }
+      }
+
+      // the ion-nav or ion-portal has an active view
+      // serialize the component and its data to a NavSegment
+      segment = this.serializer.serializeComponent(component, data);
+
+      // reset the component/data
+      component = data = null;
+
+      if (!segment) {
+        break;
+      }
+
+      // add the segment to the path
+      segments.push(segment);
+
+      if (isTab(nav)) {
+        // this nav is a Tab, which is a child of Tabs
+        // add a segment to represent which Tab is the selected one
+        tabSelector = this.getTabSelector(<any>nav);
+        segments.push({
+          id: tabSelector,
+          name: tabSelector,
+          component: null,
+          data: null
+        });
+
+        // a parent to Tab is a Tabs
+        // we should skip over any Tabs and go to the next parent
+        nav = nav.parent && nav.parent.parent;
+
+      } else {
+        // this is an ion-nav
+        // climb up to the next parent
+        nav = nav.parent;
+      }
+    }
+
+    // segments added from bottom to top, so Ti esrever dna ti pilf
+    return segments.reverse();
+  }
+
+  getTabSelector(tab: Tab): string {
+    if (isPresent(tab.tabUrlPath)) {
+      return tab.tabUrlPath;
+    }
+    if (isPresent(tab.tabTitle)) {
+      return this.serializer.formatUrlPart(tab.tabTitle);
+    }
+    return `tab-${tab.index}`;
+  }
+
+  getSelectedTabIndex(tabsNav: Tabs, pathName: string, fallbackIndex: number = 0): number {
+    // we found a segment which probably represents which tab to select
+    const indexMatch = pathName.match(/tab-(\d+)/);
+    if (indexMatch) {
+      // awesome, the segment name was something "tab-0", and
+      // the numbe represents which tab to select
+      return parseInt(indexMatch[1], 10);
+    }
+
+    // wasn't in the "tab-0" format so maybe it's using a word
+    const tab = tabsNav._tabs.find(t => {
+      return (isPresent(t.tabUrlPath) && t.tabUrlPath === pathName) ||
+             (isPresent(t.tabTitle) && this.serializer.formatUrlPart(t.tabTitle) === pathName);
+    });
+
+    return isPresent(tab) ? tab.index : fallbackIndex;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Each NavController will call this method when it initializes for
+   * the first time. This allows each NavController to figure out
+   * where it lives in the path and load up the correct component.
+   */
+  initNav(nav: any): NavSegment {
+    const path = this.segments;
+
+    if (nav && path.length) {
+      if (!nav.parent) {
+        // a nav without a parent is always the first nav segment
+        path[0].navId = nav.id;
+        return path[0];
+      }
+
+      for (var i = 1; i < path.length; i++) {
+        if (path[i - 1].navId === nav.parent.id) {
+          // this nav's parent segment is the one before this segment's index
+          path[i].navId = nav.id;
+          return path[i];
+        }
+      }
+    }
+    return null;
+  }
+
+  initViews(segment: NavSegment): ViewController[] {
+    let views: ViewController[];
+
+    if (isArray(segment.defaultHistory)) {
+      views = convertToViews(this, segment.defaultHistory);
+
+    } else {
+      views = [];
+    }
+
+    const view = new ViewController(segment.component, segment.data);
+    view.id = segment.id;
+
+    views.push(view);
+
+    return views;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Using the known Path of Segments, walk down all descendents
+   * from the root NavController and load each NavController according
+   * to each Segment. This is usually called after a browser URL and
+   * Path changes and needs to update all NavControllers to match
+   * the new browser URL. Because the URL is already known, it will
+   * not update the browser's URL when transitions have completed.
+   */
+  loadNavFromPath(nav: NavController, done?: Function) {
+    if (!nav) {
+      done && done();
+
+    } else {
+      this.loadViewFromSegment(nav, () => {
+        this.loadNavFromPath(nav.getActiveChildNav(), done);
+      });
+    }
+  }
+
+  loadViewFromSegment(navInstance: any, done: Function) {
+    // load up which nav ids belong to its nav segment
+    let segment = this.initNav(navInstance);
+    if (!segment) {
+      done();
+      return;
+    }
+
+    if (isTabs(navInstance)) {
+      (<Tabs>navInstance).select(
+        this.getSelectedTabIndex((<Tabs>navInstance), segment.name),
+        {
+          updateUrl: false,
+          animate: false
+        }
+      );
+      done();
+      return;
+    }
+
+    let nav = <NavController>navInstance;
+
+    // walk backwards to see if the exact view we want to show here
+    // is already in the stack that we can just pop back to
+    let view: ViewController;
+    const count = nav.length() - 1;
+    for (var i = count; i >= 0; i--) {
+      view = nav.getByIndex(i);
+
+      if (view && view.id === segment.id) {
+        // hooray! we've already got a view loaded in the stack
+        // matching the view they wanted to show
+        if (i === count) {
+          // this is the last view in the stack and it's the same
+          // as the segment so there's no change needed
+          done();
+
+        } else {
+          // it's not the exact view as the end
+          // let's have this nav go back to this exact view
+          nav.popTo(view, {
+            animate: false,
+            updateUrl: false,
+          }, done);
+        }
+        return;
+      }
+    }
+
+    // ok, so they must be pushing a new view to the stack
+    // since we didn't find this same component already in the stack
+    nav.push(segment.component, segment.data, {
+      id: segment.id, animate: false, updateUrl: false
+    }, done);
+  }
+
+  isBackUrl(browserUrl: string) {
+    return (browserUrl === this.history[this.history.length - 2]);
+  }
+
+  isCurrentUrl(browserUrl: string) {
+    return (browserUrl === this.history[this.history.length - 1]);
+  }
+
+  historyPush(browserUrl: string) {
+    if (!this.isCurrentUrl(browserUrl)) {
+      this.history.push(browserUrl);
+      if (this.history.length > 30) {
+        this.history.shift();
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  historyPop() {
+    this.history.pop();
+    if (!this.history.length) {
+      this.historyPush(this.location.path());
+    }
+  }
+
+}
+
+
+export function setupDeepLinker(app: App, serializer: UrlSerializer, location: Location) {
+  const deepLinker = new DeepLinker(app, serializer, location);
+  deepLinker.init();
+  return deepLinker;
+}
+
+
+export const UserDeepLinkConfig = new OpaqueToken('USERLINKS');
+
+
+export function provideDeepLinker(userDeepLinkConfig: any): any[] {
+  return [
+    UrlSerializer,
+    Location,
+    { provide: UserDeepLinkConfig, useValue: userDeepLinkConfig },
+    { provide: LocationStrategy, useClass: HashLocationStrategy },
+    {
+      provide: DeepLinker,
+      useFactory: setupDeepLinker,
+      deps: [
+        App,
+        UrlSerializer,
+        Location
+      ]
+    },
+  ];
+}
+
+
+export function normalizeUrl(browserUrl: string): string {
+  browserUrl = browserUrl.trim();
+  if (browserUrl.charAt(0) !== '/') {
+    // ensure first char is a /
+    browserUrl = '/' + browserUrl;
+  }
+  if (browserUrl.length > 1 && browserUrl.charAt(browserUrl.length - 1) === '/') {
+    // ensure last char is not a /
+    browserUrl = browserUrl.substr(0, browserUrl.length - 1);
+  }
+  return browserUrl;
+}
diff --git a/src/navigation/test/deep-linker.spec.ts b/src/navigation/test/deep-linker.spec.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..39edb9aa9f8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/navigation/test/deep-linker.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,517 @@
+import { DeepLinker, normalizeUrl } from '../deep-linker';
+import { UrlSerializer } from '../url-serializer';
+import { mockApp, mockDeepLinkConfig, mockNavController, mockLocation,
+         mockTab, mockTabs, mockViews, mockView, noop,
+         MockView1, MockView2, MockView3 } from '../../util/mock-providers';
+
+
+describe('DeepLinker', () => {
+
+  describe('updateLocation', () => {
+
+    it('should update the browserUrl to / when the passed in url matches indexAliasUrl', () => {
+      linker.indexAliasUrl = '/my-special/url';
+      linker.updateLocation('/my-special/url', 'forward');
+      expect(linker.history[0]).toEqual('/');
+    });
+
+    it('should update location.back when back direction and previous url is the same', () => {
+      spyOn(linker.location, 'back');
+      spyOn(linker.location, 'go');
+      spyOn(linker, 'historyPop');
+      linker.history = ['first-page', 'some-page', 'current-page'];
+      linker.updateLocation('some-page', 'back');
+      expect(linker.location.back).toHaveBeenCalled();
+      expect(linker.location.go).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+      expect(linker.historyPop).toHaveBeenCalled();
+    });
+
+    it('should not update location.go when same as current page', () => {
+      spyOn(linker.location, 'back');
+      spyOn(linker.location, 'go');
+      linker.history = ['current-page'];
+      linker.updateLocation('current-page', 'forward');
+      expect(linker.location.back).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+      expect(linker.location.go).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    });
+
+    it('should update location.go when back direction but not actually the previous url', () => {
+      spyOn(linker.location, 'back');
+      spyOn(linker.location, 'go');
+      spyOn(linker, 'historyPush');
+      linker.history = ['first-page', 'some-other-page'];
+      linker.updateLocation('some-page', 'forward');
+      expect(linker.location.back).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+      expect(linker.location.go).toHaveBeenCalledWith('some-page');
+      expect(linker.historyPush).toHaveBeenCalledWith('some-page');
+    });
+
+    it('should update location.go when forward direction', () => {
+      spyOn(linker.location, 'back');
+      spyOn(linker.location, 'go');
+      spyOn(linker, 'historyPush');
+      linker.updateLocation('new-url', 'forward');
+      expect(linker.location.back).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+      expect(linker.location.go).toHaveBeenCalledWith('new-url');
+      expect(linker.historyPush).toHaveBeenCalledWith('new-url');
+    });
+
+  });
+
+  describe('loadViewFromSegment', () => {
+
+    it('should call done if the view is the same as the last one in the stack', () => {
+      let nav = mockNavController();
+      let view1 = mockView(MockView1);
+      view1.id = 'MockPage1';
+      let view2 = mockView(MockView2);
+      view2.id = 'MockPage2';
+      mockViews(nav, [view1, view2]);
+      linker.segments = serializer.parse('/MockPage2');
+
+      spyOn(nav, 'push');
+      spyOn(nav, 'popTo');
+
+      linker.loadViewFromSegment(nav, noop);
+
+      expect(nav.push).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+      expect(nav.popTo).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    });
+
+    it('should popTo a view thats already in the stack', () => {
+      let nav = mockNavController();
+      let view1 = mockView(MockView1);
+      view1.id = 'MockPage1';
+      let view2 = mockView(MockView2);
+      view2.id = 'MockPage2';
+      mockViews(nav, [view1, view2]);
+      linker.segments = serializer.parse('/MockPage1');
+
+      spyOn(nav, 'push');
+      spyOn(nav, 'popTo');
+
+      linker.loadViewFromSegment(nav, noop);
+
+      expect(nav.push).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+      expect(nav.popTo).toHaveBeenCalled();
+    });
+
+    it('should push a new page', () => {
+      let nav = mockNavController();
+      linker.segments = serializer.parse('/MockPage1');
+
+      spyOn(nav, 'push');
+      spyOn(nav, 'popTo');
+
+      linker.loadViewFromSegment(nav, noop);
+
+      expect(nav.push).toHaveBeenCalled();
+      expect(nav.popTo).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    });
+
+    it('should call select when its a Tabs nav', () => {
+      let tabs = mockTabs();
+      mockTab(tabs);
+      mockTab(tabs);
+      linker.segments = serializer.parse('/MockPage1');
+
+      spyOn(tabs, 'select');
+
+      linker.loadViewFromSegment(tabs, noop);
+
+      expect(tabs.select).toHaveBeenCalled();
+    });
+
+    it('should not error when no segment found', () => {
+      let calledDone = false;
+      let done = () => { calledDone = true; };
+      let nav = mockNavController();
+
+      linker.loadViewFromSegment(nav, done);
+
+      expect(calledDone).toEqual(true);
+    });
+
+  });
+
+  describe('pathFromNavs', () => {
+
+    it('should climb up through Tab and selected Tabs', () => {
+      let nav1 = mockNavController();
+      let nav1View1 = mockView(MockView1);
+      let nav1View2 = mockView(MockView2);
+      mockViews(nav1, [nav1View1, nav1View2]);
+
+      let tabs = mockTabs();
+      tabs.parent = nav1;
+
+      mockTab(tabs);
+      mockTab(tabs);
+      let tab3 = mockTab(tabs);
+
+      let path = linker.pathFromNavs(tab3, MockView3);
+
+      expect(path.length).toEqual(3);
+      expect(path[0].id).toEqual('viewtwo');
+      expect(path[1].id).toEqual('tab-2');
+      expect(path[2].id).toEqual('viewthree');
+    });
+
+    it('should climb up two navs to set path', () => {
+      let nav1 = mockNavController();
+      let nav1View1 = mockView(MockView1);
+      mockViews(nav1, [nav1View1]);
+
+      let nav2 = mockNavController();
+      nav2.parent = nav1;
+
+      let path = linker.pathFromNavs(nav2, MockView3);
+
+      expect(path.length).toEqual(2);
+      expect(path[0].id).toEqual('viewone');
+      expect(path[0].name).toEqual('viewone');
+      expect(path[1].id).toEqual('viewthree');
+      expect(path[1].name).toEqual('viewthree');
+    });
+
+    it('should get the path for view and nav', () => {
+      let nav = mockNavController();
+      let view = MockView1;
+      let path = linker.pathFromNavs(nav, view, null);
+      expect(path.length).toEqual(1);
+      expect(path[0].id).toEqual('viewone');
+      expect(path[0].name).toEqual('viewone');
+      expect(path[0].component).toEqual(MockView1);
+      expect(path[0].data).toEqual(null);
+    });
+
+    it('should do nothing if blank nav', () => {
+      let path = linker.pathFromNavs(null, null, null);
+      expect(path.length).toEqual(0);
+    });
+
+  });
+
+  describe('getTabSelector', () => {
+
+    it('should get tab url path selector', () => {
+      let tabs = mockTabs();
+      let tab1 = mockTab(tabs);
+      tab1.tabUrlPath = 'some-tab-url-path';
+      tab1.tabTitle = 'My Tab Title';
+      expect(linker.getTabSelector(tab1)).toEqual('some-tab-url-path');
+    });
+
+    it('should get tab title selector', () => {
+      let tabs = mockTabs();
+      let tab1 = mockTab(tabs);
+      tab1.tabTitle = 'My Tab Title';
+      expect(linker.getTabSelector(tab1)).toEqual('my-tab-title');
+    });
+
+    it('should get tab-0 selector', () => {
+      let tabs = mockTabs();
+      let tab1 = mockTab(tabs);
+      expect(linker.getTabSelector(tab1)).toEqual('tab-0');
+    });
+
+  });
+
+  describe('getSelectedTabIndex', () => {
+
+    it('should select index from tab title', () => {
+      let tabs = mockTabs();
+      let tab1 = mockTab(tabs);
+      let tab2 = mockTab(tabs);
+      let tab3 = mockTab(tabs);
+
+      tab1.tabTitle = 'My Account';
+      tab2.tabTitle = 'My Contact';
+      tab3.tabTitle = 'My Settings!!';
+
+      let selectedIndex = linker.getSelectedTabIndex(tabs, 'my-settings');
+      expect(selectedIndex).toEqual(2);
+    });
+
+    it('should select index from tab url path', () => {
+      let tabs = mockTabs();
+      let tab1 = mockTab(tabs);
+      let tab2 = mockTab(tabs);
+      let tab3 = mockTab(tabs);
+
+      tab1.tabUrlPath = 'account';
+      tab2.tabUrlPath = 'contact';
+      tab3.tabUrlPath = 'settings';
+
+      let selectedIndex = linker.getSelectedTabIndex(tabs, 'settings');
+      expect(selectedIndex).toEqual(2);
+    });
+
+    it('should select index 2 from tab-2 format', () => {
+      let tabs = mockTabs();
+      mockTab(tabs);
+      mockTab(tabs);
+      mockTab(tabs);
+
+      let selectedIndex = linker.getSelectedTabIndex(tabs, 'tab-2');
+      expect(selectedIndex).toEqual(2);
+    });
+
+    it('should select index 0 when not found', () => {
+      let tabs = mockTabs();
+      mockTab(tabs);
+      mockTab(tabs);
+      mockTab(tabs);
+
+      let selectedIndex = linker.getSelectedTabIndex(tabs, 'notfound');
+      expect(selectedIndex).toEqual(0);
+    });
+
+  });
+
+  describe('initViews', () => {
+
+    it('should create the ViewController for just the segment', () => {
+      // let segment = serializer.parse('/viewone')[0];
+
+      // let views = linker.initViews(segment);
+      // expect(views[0].component).toEqual(segment.component);
+      // expect(views[0].id).toEqual('VIEWID');
+    });
+
+  });
+
+  describe('initNav', () => {
+
+    it('should load root view that contains tabs, and the selected tabs view', () => {
+      let nav1 = mockNavController();
+      nav1.id = 'nav1';
+      nav1.parent = null;
+      let tabs = mockTabs();
+      tabs.id = 'tabs';
+      tabs.parent = nav1;
+      let tab1 = mockTab(tabs);
+      tab1.id = 'tab1';
+      tab1.parent = tabs;
+      let tab2 = mockTab(tabs);
+      tab2.id = 'tab2';
+      tab2.parent = tabs;
+
+      linker.segments = serializer.parse('/viewone/account/viewtwo');
+
+      let navSegment = linker.initNav(nav1);
+      expect(navSegment.navId).toEqual('nav1');
+      expect(navSegment.id).toEqual('viewone');
+
+      let tabsSegment = linker.initNav(tabs);
+      expect(tabsSegment.navId).toEqual('tabs');
+      expect(tabsSegment.id).toEqual('account');
+
+      let tabSegment = linker.initNav(tab2);
+      expect(tabSegment.navId).toEqual('tab2');
+      expect(tabSegment.id).toEqual('viewtwo');
+    });
+
+    it('should load root and descendant nav', () => {
+      let nav1 = mockNavController();
+      nav1.parent = null;
+      nav1.id = 'nav1';
+      let nav2 = mockNavController();
+      nav2.parent = nav1;
+      nav2.id = 'nav2';
+      let nav3 = mockNavController();
+      nav3.parent = nav2;
+      nav3.id = 'nav3';
+
+      linker.segments = serializer.parse('/viewone/viewtwo/viewthree');
+
+      let p1 = linker.initNav(nav1);
+      expect(p1.navId).toEqual('nav1');
+      expect(p1.id).toEqual('viewone');
+
+      let p2 = linker.initNav(nav2);
+      expect(p2.navId).toEqual('nav2');
+      expect(p2.id).toEqual('viewtwo');
+
+      let p3 = linker.initNav(nav3);
+      expect(p3.navId).toEqual('nav3');
+      expect(p3.id).toEqual('viewthree');
+    });
+
+    it('should load root nav', () => {
+      let nav = mockNavController();
+      nav.id = 'myNavId';
+      linker.segments = serializer.parse('MockPage1');
+      let p = linker.initNav(nav);
+      expect(p.navId).toEqual('myNavId');
+      expect(p.id).toEqual('MockPage1');
+    });
+
+    it('should return null when no nav', () => {
+      linker.segments = serializer.parse('MockPage1');
+      expect(linker.initNav(null)).toEqual(null);
+    });
+
+    it('should return null when segments in path', () => {
+      let nav = mockNavController();
+      linker.segments = [];
+      expect(linker.initNav(nav)).toEqual(null);
+    });
+
+  });
+
+  describe('createSegmentFromName', () => {
+
+    it('should match by the component class name as a string', () => {
+      let segment = serializer.createSegmentFromName('MockView1');
+      expect(segment.component).toEqual(MockView1);
+    });
+
+    it('should match by the links string name', () => {
+      let segment = serializer.createSegmentFromName('viewone');
+      expect(segment.component).toEqual(MockView1);
+    });
+
+    it('should get no match', () => {
+      let segment = serializer.createSegmentFromName('nonofindo');
+      expect(segment).toEqual(null);
+    });
+
+  });
+
+  describe('urlChange', () => {
+
+    it('should use indexAliasUrl when set and browserUrl is /', () => {
+      linker.loadNavFromPath = (nav: any): any => {};
+      linker.app.getRootNav = () => {
+        return mockNavController();
+      };
+      spyOn(serializer, 'parse');
+
+      linker.indexAliasUrl = '/tabs-page/recents/tab1-page1';
+      linker.urlChange('/');
+
+      expect(serializer.parse).toHaveBeenCalledWith('/tabs-page/recents/tab1-page1');
+    });
+
+    it('should use indexAliasUrl when set and browserUrl is /', () => {
+      linker.loadNavFromPath = (nav: any): any => {};
+      linker.app.getRootNav = () => {
+        return mockNavController();
+      };
+      spyOn(serializer, 'parse');
+
+      linker.indexAliasUrl = '/tabs-page/recents/tab1-page1';
+      linker.urlChange('/');
+
+      expect(serializer.parse).toHaveBeenCalledWith('/tabs-page/recents/tab1-page1');
+    });
+
+    it('should historyPush if new url', () => {
+      spyOn(linker, 'historyPop');
+      spyOn(linker, 'historyPush');
+
+      linker.history = ['back-url', 'current-url'];
+      linker.urlChange('new-url');
+
+      expect(linker.historyPop).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+      expect(linker.historyPush).toHaveBeenCalled();
+    });
+
+    it('should historyPop if back url', () => {
+      spyOn(linker, 'historyPop');
+      spyOn(linker, 'historyPush');
+
+      linker.history = ['back-url', 'current-url'];
+      linker.urlChange('back-url');
+
+      expect(linker.historyPop).toHaveBeenCalled();
+      expect(linker.historyPush).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    });
+
+    it('should do nothing if the url is the same', () => {
+      spyOn(linker, 'historyPop');
+      spyOn(linker, 'historyPush');
+
+      linker.history = ['current-url'];
+      linker.urlChange('current-url');
+
+      expect(linker.historyPop).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+      expect(linker.historyPush).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    });
+
+  });
+
+  describe('isBackUrl', () => {
+
+    it('should not be the back path when no history', () => {
+      expect(linker.isBackUrl('some-page')).toEqual(false);
+    });
+
+    it('should not be the back when same as last path', () => {
+      linker.history = ['first-page', 'some-page'];
+      expect(linker.isBackUrl('some-page')).toEqual(false);
+    });
+
+    it('should be the back when same as second to last path', () => {
+      linker.history = ['first-page', 'some-page', 'current-page'];
+      expect(linker.isBackUrl('some-page')).toEqual(true);
+    });
+
+  });
+
+  describe('isCurrentUrl', () => {
+
+    it('should not be the current path when no history', () => {
+      expect(linker.isCurrentUrl('some-page')).toEqual(false);
+    });
+
+    it('should be the current when same as last path', () => {
+      linker.history = ['first-page', 'some-page'];
+      expect(linker.isCurrentUrl('some-page')).toEqual(true);
+    });
+
+    it('should not be the current when not the last path', () => {
+      linker.history = ['first-page', 'some-page', 'current-page'];
+      expect(linker.isCurrentUrl('some-page')).toEqual(false);
+    });
+
+  });
+
+  describe('normalizeUrl', () => {
+
+    it('should parse multiple segment with leading and following / path', () => {
+      expect(normalizeUrl('   /MockPage1/MockPage2/   ')).toEqual('/MockPage1/MockPage2');
+    });
+
+    it('should parse following / path', () => {
+      expect(normalizeUrl('MockPage1/')).toEqual('/MockPage1');
+    });
+
+    it('should parse leading / path', () => {
+      expect(normalizeUrl('/MockPage1')).toEqual('/MockPage1');
+    });
+
+    it('should parse / path', () => {
+      expect(normalizeUrl('/')).toEqual('/');
+    });
+
+    it('should parse empty path with padding', () => {
+      expect(normalizeUrl('    ')).toEqual('/');
+    });
+
+    it('should parse empty path', () => {
+      expect(normalizeUrl('')).toEqual('/');
+    });
+
+  });
+
+  var linker: DeepLinker;
+  var serializer: UrlSerializer;
+
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    serializer = new UrlSerializer(mockDeepLinkConfig());
+    linker = new DeepLinker(mockApp(), serializer, mockLocation());
+  });
+
+});
diff --git a/src/navigation/test/url-serializer.spec.ts b/src/navigation/test/url-serializer.spec.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..2b0e4ad6f2f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/navigation/test/url-serializer.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,628 @@
+import { NavLink, NavSegment } from '../nav-util';
+import { UrlSerializer, isPartMatch, fillMatchedUrlParts, parseUrlParts, createMatchedData, normalizeLinks } from '../url-serializer';
+import { mockDeepLinkConfig, noop, MockView1, MockView2, MockView3, MockView4, MockView5 } from '../../util/mock-providers';
+
+
+describe('UrlSerializer', () => {
+
+  describe('serializeComponent', () => {
+
+    it('should create segment if component found in links', () => {
+      serializer.createSegment = noop;
+      spyOn(serializer, 'createSegment');
+      serializer.serializeComponent(MockView1, null);
+      expect(serializer.createSegment).toHaveBeenCalled();
+    });
+
+    it('should return null if component not found in links', () => {
+      serializer.createSegment = noop;
+      spyOn(serializer, 'createSegment');
+      serializer.serializeComponent(NotFound, null);
+      expect(serializer.createSegment).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    });
+
+    it('should create tab segment if component found in deep links', () => {
+      serializer.createSegment = noop;
+      spyOn(serializer, 'createSegment');
+      serializer.serializeComponent(MockView1, null);
+      expect(serializer.createSegment).toHaveBeenCalled();
+    });
+
+  });
+
+  describe('createSegment', () => {
+
+    it('should create segement path data', () => {
+      let link: NavLink = {
+        parts: ['a', ':id', ':name'],
+        component: MockView1
+      };
+      let data: any = {
+        id: 8675309,
+        name: 'jenny'
+      };
+      let p = serializer.createSegment(link, data);
+      expect(p.id).toEqual('a/8675309/jenny');
+      expect(p.component).toEqual(MockView1);
+    });
+
+    it('should create segement with encodeURIComponent data', () => {
+      let char = '道';
+      let encoded = encodeURIComponent(char);
+
+      let link: NavLink = {
+        parts: ['a', ':id'],
+        component: MockView1
+      };
+      let data: any = {
+        id: char
+      };
+      let p = serializer.createSegment(link, data);
+      expect(p.id).toEqual('a/' + encoded);
+      expect(p.component).toEqual(MockView1);
+      expect(p.data.id).toEqual(char);
+    });
+
+    it('should create segement with no data', () => {
+      let link: NavLink = {
+        parts: ['a'],
+        component: MockView1
+      };
+      let p = serializer.createSegment(link, null);
+      expect(p.id).toEqual('a');
+      expect(p.component).toEqual(MockView1);
+      expect(p.data).toEqual(null);
+    });
+
+  });
+
+  describe('parse', () => {
+
+    it('should parse mix match of component paths', () => {
+      serializer = mockSerializer([
+        { segment: 'b/c', name: 'viewone', component: MockView1 },
+        { segment: 'a/:id', name: 'viewtwo', component: MockView2 }
+      ]);
+      let p = serializer.parse('a/b/c');
+      expect(p.length).toEqual(2);
+      expect(p[0].component).toEqual(null);
+      expect(p[0].data).toEqual(null);
+      expect(p[1].name).toEqual('viewone');
+      expect(p[1].data).toEqual(null);
+    });
+
+    it('should parse by higher priority with data in middle', () => {
+      serializer = mockSerializer([
+        { segment: 'viewone/:id/viewtwo', name: 'viewone', component: MockView1 },
+        { segment: 'viewone/viewtwo', name: 'viewtwo', component: MockView2 },
+        { segment: 'viewtwo', name: 'viewthree', component: MockView3 }
+      ]);
+      let p = serializer.parse('viewone/viewtwo/viewtwo');
+      expect(p.length).toEqual(1);
+      expect(p[0].name).toEqual('viewone');
+      expect(p[0].data.id).toEqual('viewtwo');
+    });
+
+    it('should parse by higher priority, two segments', () => {
+      serializer = mockSerializer([
+        { segment: 'viewone/:id', name: 'viewone', component: MockView1 },
+        { name: 'viewtwo', component: MockView2 }
+      ]);
+      let p = serializer.parse('viewone/viewtwo');
+      expect(p.length).toEqual(1);
+      expect(p[0].name).toEqual('viewone');
+      expect(p[0].data.id).toEqual('viewtwo');
+    });
+
+    it('should parse path with one slash and data', () => {
+      serializer = mockSerializer([
+        { segment: 'a/:id', name: 'a', component: MockView1 },
+      ]);
+      let p = serializer.parse('a/b');
+      expect(p.length).toEqual(1);
+      expect(p[0].name).toEqual('a');
+      expect(p[0].data.id).toEqual('b');
+    });
+
+    it('should parse multiple url part path', () => {
+      serializer = mockSerializer([
+        { segment: 'c/a/b/d', name: 'five', component: MockView5 },
+        { segment: 'c/a/b', name: 'four', component: MockView4 },
+        { segment: 'a/b/c', name: 'three', component: MockView3 },
+        { segment: 'a/b', name: 'two', component: MockView2 },
+        { segment: 'a', name: 'one', component: MockView1 }
+      ]);
+      let p = serializer.parse('a/b');
+      expect(p.length).toEqual(1);
+      expect(p[0].name).toEqual('two');
+
+      p = serializer.parse('a');
+      expect(p.length).toEqual(1);
+      expect(p[0].name).toEqual('one');
+    });
+
+    it('should parse multiple segments with data', () => {
+      let p = serializer.parse('viewone/viewtwo');
+      expect(p.length).toEqual(2);
+      expect(p[0].name).toEqual('viewone');
+      expect(p[1].name).toEqual('viewtwo');
+    });
+
+    it('should parse one segment path', () => {
+      let p = serializer.parse('viewone');
+      expect(p.length).toEqual(1);
+      expect(p[0].id).toEqual('viewone');
+      expect(p[0].name).toEqual('viewone');
+      expect(p[0].data).toEqual(null);
+    });
+
+    describe('serialize', () => {
+
+      it('should bring together two paths that are not the index', () => {
+        let path: NavSegment[] = [
+          { id: 'a', name: 'a', component: MockView1, data: null },
+          { id: 'b', name: 'b', component: MockView1, data: null }
+        ];
+        expect(serializer.serialize(path)).toEqual('/a/b');
+      });
+
+      it('should bring together one path, not the index', () => {
+        let path: NavSegment[] = [
+          { id: 'a', name: 'a', component: MockView1, data: null }
+        ];
+        expect(serializer.serialize(path)).toEqual('/a');
+      });
+
+      it('should bring together one path that is the index', () => {
+        let path: NavSegment[] = [
+          { id: '', name: 'a', component: MockView1, data: null }
+        ];
+        expect(serializer.serialize(path)).toEqual('/');
+      });
+
+    });
+
+    describe('createMatchedData', () => {
+
+      it('should get data from multiple parts', () => {
+        let matchedUrlParts = ['a', 'ellie', 'blacklab'];
+        let link: NavLink = {
+          parts: ['a', ':name', ':breed'], partsLen: 3, component: MockView1
+        };
+        let data = createMatchedData(matchedUrlParts, link);
+        expect(data.name).toEqual('ellie');
+        expect(data.breed).toEqual('blacklab');
+      });
+
+      it('should get data within the config link path', () => {
+        let char = '道';
+
+        let matchedUrlParts = ['a', 'b', encodeURIComponent(char), 'd'];
+        let link: NavLink = {
+          parts: ['a', ':id', ':name', 'd'], partsLen: 4, component: MockView1
+        };
+        let data = createMatchedData(matchedUrlParts, link);
+        expect(data.id).toEqual('b');
+        expect(data.name).toEqual(char);
+      });
+
+      it('should get data within the config link path', () => {
+        let matchedUrlParts = ['a', '8675309'];
+        let link: NavLink = {
+          parts: ['a', ':num'], partsLen: 2, component: MockView1
+        };
+        let data = createMatchedData(matchedUrlParts, link);
+        expect(data.num).toEqual('8675309');
+      });
+
+      it('should get uri decode data', () => {
+        let char = '道';
+
+        let matchedUrlParts = [`${encodeURIComponent(char)}`];
+        let link: NavLink = {
+          parts: [':name'], partsLen: 1, component: MockView1
+        };
+        let data = createMatchedData(matchedUrlParts, link);
+        expect(data.name).toEqual(char);
+      });
+
+      it('should get null data if nothing in the url', () => {
+        let matchedUrlParts = ['a'];
+        let link: NavLink = {
+          parts: ['a'], partsLen: 1, component: MockView1
+        };
+        let data = createMatchedData(matchedUrlParts, link);
+        expect(data).toEqual(null);
+      });
+
+    });
+
+    describe('parseUrlParts', () => {
+
+      it('should match with complex path', () => {
+        let urlParts = ['a', 'b', 'c', 'd', 'e', 'f', 'g'];
+        let configLinks: NavLink[] = [
+          { parts: ['a', 'b', 'c', 'e'], partsLen: 4, component: MockView2 },
+          { parts: ['a', ':key', ':val'], partsLen: 3, component: MockView1 },
+          { parts: ['a', 'c', 'd'], partsLen: 3, component: MockView5 },
+          { parts: ['d', 'e'], partsLen: 2, component: MockView4 },
+          { parts: ['d', ':x'], partsLen: 2, component: MockView3 },
+          { parts: ['f'], partsLen: 1, component: MockView2 },
+          { parts: [':last'], partsLen: 1, component: MockView1 },
+        ];
+
+        let segments = parseUrlParts(urlParts, configLinks);
+        expect(segments.length).toEqual(4);
+        expect(segments[0].id).toEqual('a/b/c');
+        expect(segments[0].data.key).toEqual('b');
+        expect(segments[0].data.val).toEqual('c');
+        expect(segments[1].id).toEqual('d/e');
+        expect(segments[1].data).toEqual(null);
+        expect(segments[2].id).toEqual('f');
+        expect(segments[3].id).toEqual('g');
+        expect(segments[3].data.last).toEqual('g');
+      });
+
+      it('should not get a match on already matched parts', () => {
+        let urlParts = ['a', 'b', 'c', 'd', 'e', 'f', 'g'];
+        let configLinks: NavLink[] = [
+          { parts: ['a', 'b', 'c'], partsLen: 3, component: MockView1 },
+          { parts: ['b', 'c', 'd'], partsLen: 3, component: MockView1 }, // no match
+          { parts: ['a', 'b'], partsLen: 2, component: MockView1 }, // no match
+          { parts: ['d', 'e'], partsLen: 2, component: MockView1 },
+          { parts: ['e', 'f'], partsLen: 2, component: MockView1 }, // no match
+          { parts: ['e'], partsLen: 1, component: MockView1 }, // no match
+          { parts: ['f'], partsLen: 1, component: MockView1 },
+        ];
+
+        let segments = parseUrlParts(urlParts, configLinks);
+        expect(segments.length).toEqual(4);
+        expect(segments[0].id).toEqual('a/b/c');
+        expect(segments[1].id).toEqual('d/e');
+        expect(segments[2].id).toEqual('f');
+        expect(segments[3].id).toEqual('g');
+      });
+
+      it('should get a one part match', () => {
+        let urlParts = ['a', 'b', 'c'];
+        let configLinks: NavLink[] = [
+          { parts: ['a'], partsLen: 1, component: MockView1 },
+          { parts: ['b'], partsLen: 1, component: MockView2 },
+          { parts: ['c'], partsLen: 1, component: MockView3 },
+        ];
+        let segments = parseUrlParts(urlParts, configLinks);
+        expect(segments.length).toEqual(3);
+        expect(segments[0].id).toEqual('a');
+        expect(segments[1].id).toEqual('b');
+        expect(segments[2].id).toEqual('c');
+      });
+
+      it('should not match', () => {
+        let urlParts = ['z'];
+        let configLinks: NavLink[] = [
+          { parts: ['a'], partsLen: 1, component: MockView1 }
+        ];
+        let segments = parseUrlParts(urlParts, configLinks);
+        expect(segments.length).toEqual(1);
+        expect(segments[0].id).toEqual('z');
+        expect(segments[0].name).toEqual('z');
+        expect(segments[0].component).toEqual(null);
+        expect(segments[0].data).toEqual(null);
+      });
+
+    });
+
+    describe('fillMatchedUrlParts', () => {
+
+      it('should match w/ many url parts and many config parts w/ : data', () => {
+        let urlParts = ['a', 'b', 'c', 'd', 'e', 'b', 'c'];
+        let configLink: NavLink = { parts: ['b', 'c', ':key'], partsLen: 3, component: MockView1 };
+        let segments: NavSegment[] = new Array(urlParts.length);
+        fillMatchedUrlParts(segments, urlParts, configLink);
+
+        expect(segments[0]).toEqual(undefined);
+        expect(segments[1].id).toEqual('b/c/d');
+        expect(segments[1].data.key).toEqual('d');
+
+        expect(urlParts[0]).toEqual('a');
+        expect(urlParts[1]).toEqual(undefined);
+        expect(urlParts[2]).toEqual(undefined);
+        expect(urlParts[3]).toEqual(undefined);
+        expect(urlParts[4]).toEqual('e');
+        expect(urlParts[5]).toEqual('b');
+        expect(urlParts[6]).toEqual('c');
+      });
+
+      it('should not match w/ many url parts and many config parts', () => {
+        let urlParts = ['a', 'b', 'c', 'd', 'e', 'f', 'g'];
+        let configLink: NavLink = { parts: ['e', 'c', 'd'], partsLen: 3, component: MockView1 };
+        let segments: NavSegment[] = new Array(urlParts.length);
+        fillMatchedUrlParts(segments, urlParts, configLink);
+        expect(segments.filter(f => !!f).length).toEqual(0);
+
+        expect(urlParts[0]).toEqual('a');
+        expect(urlParts[1]).toEqual('b');
+        expect(urlParts[2]).toEqual('c');
+        expect(urlParts[3]).toEqual('d');
+        expect(urlParts[4]).toEqual('e');
+        expect(urlParts[5]).toEqual('f');
+        expect(urlParts[6]).toEqual('g');
+      });
+
+      it('should match w/ two sets of the same parts', () => {
+        let urlParts = ['a', 'b', 'c', 'd', 'b', 'c'];
+        let configLink: NavLink = { parts: ['b', 'c'], partsLen: 2, component: MockView1 };
+        let segments: NavSegment[] = new Array(urlParts.length);
+        fillMatchedUrlParts(segments, urlParts, configLink);
+
+        expect(segments[0]).toEqual(undefined);
+        expect(segments[1].id).toEqual('b/c');
+        expect(segments[2]).toEqual(undefined);
+        expect(segments[3]).toEqual(undefined);
+        expect(segments[4].id).toEqual('b/c');
+        expect(segments[5]).toEqual(undefined);
+
+        expect(urlParts[0]).toEqual('a');
+        expect(urlParts[1]).toEqual(undefined);
+        expect(urlParts[2]).toEqual(undefined);
+        expect(urlParts[3]).toEqual('d');
+        expect(urlParts[4]).toEqual(undefined);
+        expect(urlParts[5]).toEqual(undefined);
+      });
+
+      it('should match w/ many url parts and many config parts', () => {
+        let urlParts = ['a', 'b', 'c', 'd'];
+        let configLink: NavLink = { parts: ['c', 'd'], partsLen: 2, component: MockView1 };
+        let segments: NavSegment[] = new Array(urlParts.length);
+        fillMatchedUrlParts(segments, urlParts, configLink);
+
+        expect(segments[0]).toEqual(undefined);
+        expect(segments[1]).toEqual(undefined);
+        expect(segments[2].id).toEqual('c/d');
+        expect(segments[3]).toEqual(undefined);
+
+        expect(urlParts[0]).toEqual('a');
+        expect(urlParts[1]).toEqual('b');
+        expect(urlParts[2]).toEqual(undefined);
+        expect(urlParts[3]).toEqual(undefined);
+      });
+
+      it('should match the repeated url parts', () => {
+        let urlParts = ['a', 'a', 'a', 'a'];
+        let configLink: NavLink = { parts: ['a'], partsLen: 1, component: MockView1 };
+        let segments: NavSegment[] = new Array(urlParts.length);
+        fillMatchedUrlParts(segments, urlParts, configLink);
+
+        expect(segments[0].id).toEqual('a');
+        expect(segments[1].id).toEqual('a');
+        expect(segments[2].id).toEqual('a');
+        expect(segments[3].id).toEqual('a');
+
+        expect(urlParts[0]).toEqual(undefined);
+        expect(urlParts[1]).toEqual(undefined);
+        expect(urlParts[2]).toEqual(undefined);
+        expect(urlParts[3]).toEqual(undefined);
+      });
+
+      it('should not match w/ two url parts', () => {
+        let urlParts = ['a', 'b'];
+        let configLink: NavLink = { parts: ['c'], partsLen: 1, component: MockView1 };
+        let segments: NavSegment[] = new Array(urlParts.length);
+        fillMatchedUrlParts(segments, urlParts, configLink);
+
+        expect(segments[0]).toEqual(undefined);
+        expect(segments[1]).toEqual(undefined);
+
+        expect(urlParts[0]).toEqual('a');
+        expect(urlParts[1]).toEqual('b');
+      });
+
+      it('should match data only config link part', () => {
+        let urlParts = ['a', 'b'];
+        let configLink: NavLink = { parts: [':key'], partsLen: 1, component: MockView1 };
+        let segments: NavSegment[] = new Array(urlParts.length);
+        fillMatchedUrlParts(segments, urlParts, configLink);
+
+        expect(segments[0].id).toEqual('a');
+        expect(segments[0].data.key).toEqual('a');
+        expect(segments[1].id).toEqual('b');
+        expect(segments[1].data.key).toEqual('b');
+
+        expect(urlParts[0]).toEqual(undefined);
+        expect(urlParts[1]).toEqual(undefined);
+      });
+
+      it('should match w/ many url parts', () => {
+        let urlParts = ['a', 'b', 'c', 'd'];
+        let configLink: NavLink = { parts: ['d'], partsLen: 1, component: MockView1 };
+        let segments: NavSegment[] = new Array(urlParts.length);
+        fillMatchedUrlParts(segments, urlParts, configLink);
+
+        expect(segments[0]).toEqual(undefined);
+        expect(segments[1]).toEqual(undefined);
+        expect(segments[2]).toEqual(undefined);
+        expect(segments[3].id).toEqual('d');
+
+        expect(urlParts[0]).toEqual('a');
+        expect(urlParts[1]).toEqual('b');
+        expect(urlParts[2]).toEqual('c');
+        expect(urlParts[3]).toEqual(undefined);
+      });
+
+      it('should match single part', () => {
+        let urlParts = ['a'];
+        let configLink: NavLink = { parts: ['a'], partsLen: 1, component: MockView1 };
+        let segments: NavSegment[] = new Array(urlParts.length);
+        fillMatchedUrlParts(segments, urlParts, configLink);
+
+        expect(segments[0].id).toEqual('a');
+        expect(segments[0].component).toEqual(MockView1);
+        expect(segments[0].data).toEqual(null);
+
+        expect(urlParts[0]).toEqual(undefined);
+      });
+
+      it('should not match single part', () => {
+        let urlParts = ['a'];
+        let configLink: NavLink = { parts: ['b'], partsLen: 1, component: MockView1 };
+        let segments: NavSegment[] = new Array(urlParts.length);
+        fillMatchedUrlParts(segments, urlParts, configLink);
+        expect(segments[0]).toEqual(undefined);
+        expect(urlParts[0]).toEqual('a');
+      });
+
+    });
+
+    describe('isPartMatch', () => {
+
+      it('should match if parts are equal', () => {
+        expect(isPartMatch('a', 'a')).toEqual(true);
+      });
+
+      it('should not match if parts are not equal', () => {
+        expect(isPartMatch('a', 'b')).toEqual(false);
+      });
+
+      it('should not match if configLinkPart has a : thats not index 0', () => {
+        expect(isPartMatch('urlPart', 'my:id')).toEqual(false);
+      });
+
+      it('should match if configLinkPart starts with :', () => {
+        expect(isPartMatch('urlPart', ':id')).toEqual(true);
+      });
+
+      it('should not match an empty urlPart', () => {
+        expect(isPartMatch(null, 'configLinkPart')).toEqual(false);
+      });
+
+      it('should not match an empty configLinkPart', () => {
+        expect(isPartMatch('urlPart', null)).toEqual(false);
+      });
+
+    });
+
+  });
+
+  describe('formatUrlPart', () => {
+
+    it('should encodeURIComponent', () => {
+      let name = '你好';
+      let encoded = encodeURIComponent(name);
+      expect(serializer.formatUrlPart(name)).toEqual(encoded);
+    });
+
+    it('should not allow restricted characters', () => {
+      expect(serializer.formatUrlPart('!!!Restricted \'?$,.+"*^|/\#%`><;:@&[]=! Characters!!!')).toEqual('restricted-characters');
+    });
+
+    it('should trim and replace spaces with dashes', () => {
+      expect(serializer.formatUrlPart('   This is the name   ')).toEqual('this-is-the-name');
+    });
+
+    it('should not have multiple dashes', () => {
+      expect(serializer.formatUrlPart('Contact Detail Page')).toEqual('contact-detail-page');
+    });
+
+    it('should change to pascal case for multiple words', () => {
+      expect(serializer.formatUrlPart('ContactDetailPage')).toEqual('contact-detail-page');
+    });
+
+    it('should change to pascal case for one work', () => {
+      expect(serializer.formatUrlPart('View1')).toEqual('view1');
+    });
+
+  });
+
+  describe('normalizeLinks', () => {
+
+    it('should sort with four parts, the most number of paths w/out data first', () => {
+      let links: NavLink[] = [
+        { segment: 'a/:val/:id/:name', component: MockView1, name: 'viewone' },
+        { segment: 'a/:id/:name/d', component: MockView1, name: 'viewone' },
+        { segment: 'a/b/c/d', component: MockView1, name: 'viewone' },
+        { segment: 'a/b/:id/d', component: MockView1, name: 'viewone' },
+        { segment: 'a/b/:id/:name', component: MockView1, name: 'viewone' },
+        { segment: 'a/b/c/:id', component: MockView1, name: 'viewone' },
+      ];
+      let sortedLinks = normalizeLinks(links);
+
+      expect(sortedLinks[0].segment).toEqual('a/b/c/d');
+      expect(sortedLinks[1].segment).toEqual('a/b/c/:id');
+      expect(sortedLinks[2].segment).toEqual('a/b/:id/d');
+      expect(sortedLinks[3].segment).toEqual('a/b/:id/:name');
+      expect(sortedLinks[4].segment).toEqual('a/:id/:name/d');
+      expect(sortedLinks[5].segment).toEqual('a/:val/:id/:name');
+    });
+
+    it('should sort with the most number of paths w/out data first', () => {
+      let links: NavLink[] = [
+        { segment: 'a/:id', component: MockView1, name: 'viewone' },
+        { segment: 'a/b', component: MockView1, name: 'viewone' },
+        { segment: 'a/:id/c', component: MockView1, name: 'viewone' },
+      ];
+      let sortedLinks = normalizeLinks(links);
+
+      expect(sortedLinks[0].segment).toEqual('a/:id/c');
+      expect(sortedLinks[1].segment).toEqual('a/b');
+      expect(sortedLinks[2].segment).toEqual('a/:id');
+    });
+
+    it('should sort with the most number of paths first', () => {
+      let links: NavLink[] = [
+        { segment: 'c', component: MockView1, name: 'viewone' },
+        { segment: 'b', component: MockView1, name: 'viewone' },
+        { segment: 'a', component: MockView1, name: 'viewone' },
+        { segment: 'd/c/b/a', component: MockView1, name: 'viewone' },
+        { segment: 'aaaaa/bbbb/ccccc', component: MockView1, name: 'viewone' },
+        { segment: 'bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb/c', component: MockView1, name: 'viewone' },
+        { segment: 'a/b', component: MockView1, name: 'viewone' },
+        { segment: 'a/b/c', component: MockView1, name: 'viewone' },
+        { segment: 'aa/b/c', component: MockView1, name: 'viewone' },
+      ];
+      let sortedLinks = normalizeLinks(links);
+
+      expect(sortedLinks[0].segment).toEqual('d/c/b/a');
+      expect(sortedLinks[1].segment).toEqual('aaaaa/bbbb/ccccc');
+      expect(sortedLinks[2].segment).toEqual('a/b/c');
+      expect(sortedLinks[3].segment).toEqual('aa/b/c');
+      expect(sortedLinks[4].segment).toEqual('bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb/c');
+      expect(sortedLinks[5].segment).toEqual('a/b');
+      expect(sortedLinks[6].segment).toEqual('c');
+      expect(sortedLinks[7].segment).toEqual('b');
+      expect(sortedLinks[8].segment).toEqual('a');
+    });
+
+    it('should create a parts from the name', () => {
+      let links: NavLink[] = [
+        { name: 'somename', component: ContactDetailPage },
+      ];
+      expect(normalizeLinks(links)[0].parts).toEqual(['somename']);
+    });
+
+    it('should create path from name if path missing', () => {
+      let links: NavLink[] = [
+        { component: ContactDetailPage, name: 'contact-detail-page' },
+        { component: MockView2, name: 'view-two'  },
+      ];
+      expect(normalizeLinks(links)[0].segment).toEqual('contact-detail-page');
+      expect(normalizeLinks(links)[1].segment).toEqual('view-two');
+    });
+
+  });
+
+  var serializer: UrlSerializer;
+
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    serializer = mockSerializer();
+  });
+
+});
+
+
+class ContactDetailPage {}
+class NotFound {}
+
+function mockSerializer(navLinks?: NavLink[]) {
+  let deepLinkConfig = mockDeepLinkConfig(navLinks);
+  return new UrlSerializer(deepLinkConfig);
+}
diff --git a/src/navigation/url-serializer.ts b/src/navigation/url-serializer.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..b9d9327bc6d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/navigation/url-serializer.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,267 @@
+import { Inject, Injectable } from '@angular/core';
+
+import { DeepLinkConfig, NavLink, NavSegment } from './nav-util';
+import { isArray, isBlank, isPresent, pascalCaseToDashCase } from '../util/util';
+import { UserDeepLinkConfig } from './deep-linker';
+
+
+@Injectable()
+export class UrlSerializer {
+  links: NavLink[];
+
+  constructor(@Inject(UserDeepLinkConfig) config: DeepLinkConfig) {
+    if (config && isArray(config.links)) {
+      this.links = normalizeLinks(config.links);
+
+    } else {
+      this.links = [];
+    }
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Parse the URL into a Path, which is made up of multiple NavSegments.
+   * Match which components belong to each segment.
+   */
+  parse(browserUrl: string): NavSegment[] {
+    if (browserUrl.charAt(0) === '/') {
+      browserUrl = browserUrl.substr(1);
+    }
+
+    // trim off data after ? and #
+    browserUrl = browserUrl.split('?')[0].split('#')[0];
+
+    return parseUrlParts(browserUrl.split('/'), this.links);
+  }
+
+  createSegmentFromName(nameOrComponent: any): NavSegment {
+    const configLink = this.links.find((link: NavLink) => {
+      return (link.component === nameOrComponent) ||
+             (link.name === nameOrComponent) ||
+             (link.component.name === nameOrComponent);
+    });
+
+    return configLink ? {
+      id: configLink.name,
+      name: configLink.name,
+      component: configLink.component,
+      data: null
+    } : null;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Serialize a path, which is made up of multiple NavSegments,
+   * into a URL string. Turn each segment into a string and concat them to a URL.
+   */
+  serialize(path: NavSegment[]): string {
+    return '/' + path.map(segment => segment.id).join('/');
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Serializes a component and its data into a NavSegment.
+   */
+  serializeComponent(component: any, data: any): NavSegment {
+    if (component) {
+      const link = this.links.find(l => component === l.component || component.name === l.name);
+      if (link) {
+        return this.createSegment(link, data);
+      }
+    }
+    return null;
+  }
+
+  createSegment(configLink: NavLink, data: any): NavSegment {
+    let urlParts = configLink.parts;
+
+    if (isPresent(data)) {
+      // create a copy of the original parts in the link config
+      urlParts = urlParts.slice();
+
+      // loop through all the data and convert it to a string
+      const keys = Object.keys(data);
+      const keysLength = keys.length;
+
+      if (keysLength) {
+        for (var i = 0; i < urlParts.length; i++) {
+          if (urlParts[i].charAt(0) === ':') {
+            for (var j = 0; j < keysLength; j++) {
+              if (urlParts[i] === `:${keys[j]}`) {
+                // this data goes into the URL part (between slashes)
+                urlParts[i] = encodeURIComponent(data[keys[j]]);
+                break;
+              }
+            }
+          }
+        }
+      }
+    }
+
+    return {
+      id: urlParts.join('/'),
+      name: configLink.name,
+      component: configLink.component,
+      data: data,
+      defaultHistory: configLink.defaultHistory
+    };
+  }
+
+  formatUrlPart(name: string): string {
+    name = pascalCaseToDashCase(name.replace(URL_REPLACE_REG, '-'));
+    while (name.indexOf('--') > -1) {
+      name = name.replace('--', '-');
+    }
+    if (name.charAt(0) === '-') {
+      name = name.substring(1);
+    }
+    if (name.substring(name.length - 1) === '-') {
+      name = name.substring(0, name.length - 1);
+    }
+    return encodeURIComponent(name);
+  }
+
+}
+
+export const parseUrlParts = (urlParts: string[], configLinks: NavLink[]): NavSegment[] => {
+  const configLinkLen = configLinks.length;
+  const urlPartsLen = urlParts.length;
+  const segments: NavSegment[] = new Array(urlPartsLen);
+
+  for (var i = 0; i < configLinkLen; i++) {
+    // compare url parts to config link parts to create nav segments
+    var configLink = configLinks[i];
+    if (configLink.partsLen <= urlPartsLen) {
+      fillMatchedUrlParts(segments, urlParts, configLink);
+    }
+  }
+
+  // remove all the undefined segments
+  for (var i = urlPartsLen - 1; i >= 0; i--) {
+    if (segments[i] === undefined) {
+      if (urlParts[i] === undefined) {
+        // not a used part, so remove it
+        segments.splice(i, 1);
+
+      } else {
+        // create an empty part
+        segments[i] = {
+          id: urlParts[i],
+          name: urlParts[i],
+          component: null,
+          data: null
+        };
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  return segments;
+};
+
+export const fillMatchedUrlParts = (segments: NavSegment[], urlParts: string[], configLink: NavLink) => {
+  for (var i = 0; i < urlParts.length; i++) {
+    var urlI = i;
+
+    for (var j = 0; j < configLink.partsLen; j++) {
+      if (isPartMatch(urlParts[urlI], configLink.parts[j])) {
+        urlI++;
+      } else {
+        break;
+      }
+    }
+
+    if ((urlI - i) === configLink.partsLen) {
+      var matchedUrlParts = urlParts.slice(i, urlI);
+      for (var j = i; j < urlI; j++) {
+        urlParts[j] = undefined;
+      }
+      segments[i] = {
+        id: matchedUrlParts.join('/'),
+        name: configLink.name,
+        component: configLink.component,
+        data: createMatchedData(matchedUrlParts, configLink)
+      };
+    }
+  }
+};
+
+export const isPartMatch = (urlPart: string, configLinkPart: string) => {
+  if (isPresent(urlPart) && isPresent(configLinkPart)) {
+    if (configLinkPart.charAt(0) === ':') {
+      return true;
+    }
+    return (urlPart === configLinkPart);
+  }
+  return false;
+};
+
+export const createMatchedData = (matchedUrlParts: string[], link: NavLink): any => {
+  let data: any = null;
+
+  for (var i = 0; i < link.partsLen; i++) {
+    if (link.parts[i].charAt(0) === ':') {
+      data = data || {};
+      data[link.parts[i].substring(1)] = decodeURIComponent(matchedUrlParts[i]);
+    }
+  }
+
+  return data;
+};
+
+export const normalizeLinks = (links: NavLink[]): NavLink[] => {
+  for (var i = 0, ilen = links.length; i < ilen; i++) {
+    var link = links[i];
+
+    if (isBlank(link.segment)) {
+      link.segment = link.name;
+    }
+
+    link.parts = link.segment.split('/');
+    link.partsLen = link.parts.length;
+
+    // used for sorting
+    link.staticLen = link.dataLen = 0;
+    var stillCountingStatic = true;
+
+    for (var j = 0; j < link.partsLen; j++) {
+      if (link.parts[j].charAt(0) === ':') {
+        link.dataLen++;
+        stillCountingStatic = false;
+
+      } else if (stillCountingStatic) {
+        link.staticLen++;
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  // sort by the number of parts, with the links
+  // with the most parts first
+  return links.sort(sortConfigLinks);
+};
+
+function sortConfigLinks(a: NavLink, b: NavLink) {
+  // sort by the number of parts
+  if (a.partsLen > b.partsLen) {
+    return -1;
+  }
+  if (a.partsLen < b.partsLen) {
+    return 1;
+  }
+
+  // sort by the number of static parts in a row
+  if (a.staticLen > b.staticLen) {
+    return -1;
+  }
+  if (a.staticLen < b.staticLen) {
+    return 1;
+  }
+
+  // sort by the number of total data parts
+  if (a.dataLen < b.dataLen) {
+    return -1;
+  }
+  if (a.dataLen > b.dataLen) {
+    return 1;
+  }
+
+  return 0;
+}
+
+const URL_REPLACE_REG = /\s+|\?|\!|\$|\,|\.|\+|\"|\'|\*|\^|\||\/|\\|\[|\]|#|%|`|>|<|;|:|@|&|=/g;