Creating Rules
Learn how matching works and route links to the right browser or profile with domain, wildcard, and regex rules.
Updated July 24, 2026
Rules are the heart of Sylphi Route. Each rule says: “when a link matches this pattern, open it in that browser.” This guide covers how matching works, how to target profiles, and how rule order decides ties.
How matching works
When you click a link, Sylphi Route checks its URL against your rules from top to bottom and uses the first rule that matches. If nothing matches, the link opens in your default target browser.
Sylphi Route supports three kinds of pattern (labels may vary slightly in the app):
| Type | Example pattern | Matches |
|---|---|---|
| Domain | github.com |
Any URL on that host, including subpaths |
| Wildcard | *.slack.com |
Any subdomain of slack.com |
| Regex | ^https://mail\.google\.com/ |
Any URL the expression matches |
Use domain rules for the common case, wildcards when you want to catch every subdomain, and regex when you need precise control.
Choosing a target browser or profile
Each rule points at a target. A target can be:
- An installed browser — Safari, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Arc, and so on.
- A specific profile within a browser that supports profiles (for example, a “Work” Chrome profile vs. a “Personal” one).
Targeting a profile is what makes Sylphi Route especially handy for keeping work and personal life separate: work links open signed into your work account, everything else into your personal one.
Rule order and priority
Because the first matching rule wins, order matters. Put your most specific rules near the top and broad catch-alls near the bottom.
For example, if you have both:
mail.google.com→ Work profile*.google.com→ Personal browser
…keep the mail.google.com rule above the *.google.com rule, or Gmail would be
caught by the broader wildcard first.
You can reorder rules by dragging them in the list (exact interaction may differ in the shipping app).
A worked example: separating work and personal
A common setup:
*.slack.com→ Work (Chrome, Work profile)mail.google.com→ Work (Chrome, Work profile)*.atlassian.net→ Work (Chrome, Work profile)- (no rule) → Personal (Safari) — your default target
With these rules:
- Slack, Gmail, and Jira links open in your work Chrome profile.
- Every other link falls through to Safari.
Testing a rule
After adding a rule, click a matching link from anywhere on your Mac and confirm it opens in the expected browser. If it doesn’t, check that:
- The rule is above any broader rule that might match first.
- The pattern type matches what you intended (a domain rule won’t match a different subdomain the way a wildcard would).
Still stuck? See Troubleshooting & FAQ.