Heterogeneity is present in most of natural and engineering systems. In this contribution, I present the recent developments of a combined phase field method for bulk fracture and interface-like cracks. This methodology allows triggering the competition between crack penetration and deflection at an interface, recalling fundamental results from Linear Elastic Fracture Mechanics (LEFM). Following the fundamental developments, I revisit the numerical implementation as well as its application to different systems such as shell-like structures, composite materials, dynamics among others.