Basic Of Android OS
Basic Of Android OS
- Android is an open-source mobile operating system developed by Google, based on the Linux
kernel and designed primarily for touchscreen mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets.
2. **Architecture**:
- Android follows a layered architecture comprising four main layers: Linux kernel, libraries,
application framework, and applications.
- The Linux kernel provides core system services such as memory management, process
management, and hardware drivers.
- Libraries consist of various C/C++ libraries for functions such as graphics rendering, data storage,
and networking.
- The application framework provides high-level building blocks for developing applications,
including activities, services, content providers, and broadcast receivers.
- Applications are the end-user programs written in Java or Kotlin that run on the Android platform.
3. **User Interface**:
- Android's user interface is based on direct manipulation, using touch inputs that correspond to
real-world actions, such as swiping, tapping, pinching, and reverse pinching.
- The user interface components in Android are called Views, and they can be arranged in layouts to
create complex UIs.
- Android provides various built-in UI widgets such as buttons, text fields, checkboxes, radio
buttons, and more.
4. **Application Components**:
- Content Providers: Manage access to a structured set of data, typically stored in a SQLite
database, and offer data to applications.
5. **Development Tools**:
- Android Studio: The official IDE for Android development, based on IntelliJ IDEA.
- Android SDK: Provides the tools and APIs necessary to develop, test, and debug Android
applications.
- Emulator: Allows developers to test their applications on virtual Android devices without needing
physical hardware.
6. **Programming Languages**:
- Java: Historically, Android development primarily used Java for writing applications.
- Kotlin: Introduced as an official programming language for Android development, Kotlin offers
modern features and seamless interoperability with Java.
7. **App Distribution**:
- Google Play Store: The primary distribution platform for Android applications, allowing developers
to publish and distribute their apps to millions of users globally.
- Alternative Markets: Besides the Play Store, there are other third-party Android app stores where
developers can distribute their applications.
8. **Security**:
- Android incorporates various security features such as sandboxing, permissions, encryption, and
regular security updates to protect users and their data.
9. **Version History**:
- Android versions are named after desserts or sweet treats and are released periodically with new
features and improvements. Notable versions include Cupcake, Donut, Eclair, Gingerbread, Ice Cream
Sandwich, Jelly Bean, KitKat, Lollipop, Marshmallow, Nougat, Oreo, Pie, and Android 10, 11, 12, etc.,
following a yearly naming convention.
Unit II –
- Android resources can be categorized into various types such as layouts, drawables, strings,
dimensions, colors, styles, and more.
- Layouts (XML files) define the structure and appearance of user interface elements.
- Strings store text that is displayed to the user, facilitating localization and internationalization.
- Dimensions specify sizes and distances using density-independent pixels (dp) or other units.
- Resources are organized into directories within the 'res' directory of the Android project.
- Each resource type has its own directory, such as 'layout' for layout XML files, 'drawable' for
drawable resources, 'values' for strings, colors, dimensions, and styles, among others.
- Additionally, resource directories can have qualifiers appended to their names, such as 'drawable-
hdpi' or 'values-fr' for specific configurations like screen density or language.
- In XML layout files, resources are referenced using the `@` symbol followed by the resource type
and name, such as `@layout/my_layout`, `@string/my_string`, or `@drawable/my_drawable`.
- Resource IDs are automatically generated in the R.java file during compilation, allowing easy
referencing of resources in code.
5. **Resource Qualifiers**:
- Android supports resource qualifiers to provide alternative resources for different device
configurations such as screen size, density, orientation, language, and more.
- By organizing resources with qualifiers, developers can ensure that the application adapts to
various device configurations seamlessly.
6. **Resource Localization**:
- Android supports localization by providing alternative resource directories for different languages
and regions. For example, strings.xml can have separate versions for English, French, Spanish, etc.,
allowing the application to display text in the user's preferred language automatically.
7. **Resource Merging**:
- During the build process, Android merges resources from various sources, including the main 'res'
directory and any library projects, to generate the final resources that are packaged into the APK
(Android Package).
- Android tools optimize resources during the build process, including compressing images,
removing unused resources, and generating resource indices to improve runtime performance and
reduce APK size.
Efficient organization and access of resources contribute to a better development experience and
ensure that applications are adaptable to different device configurations and user preferences.
In Android development, alternative resources and accessing resources efficiently are crucial
for building flexible and user-friendly applications. Here are some notes on these topics:
1. **Alternative Resources**:
- Android supports the use of alternative resources to provide different versions of assets
based on device configurations such as screen size, density, orientation, language, and more.
- Alternative resources allow developers to create adaptable layouts, images, strings, and
other assets to ensure optimal user experience across various devices and settings.
2. **Resource Qualifiers**:
- Resource qualifiers are used to specify conditions under which a particular set of
resources should be used.
7. **Resource Localization**:
By leveraging alternative resources and accessing resources efficiently, developers can create
applications that provide a consistent and optimized experience across diverse device
configurations and user preferences.
UI Layouts Android Layout Types
1. Relative Layout Attributes
2. Grid view Attributes
3. Sub-Activity
4. Layout Attributes
5. View Identification
Certainly! Here are some notes on UI layouts and layout types in Android, covering the
specified topics:
2. **GridView Attributes**:
3. **Sub-Activity**:
5. **View Identification**:
- View identification in Android involves assigning unique identifiers (IDs) to UI elements to
facilitate programmatic access and manipulation.
- The `android:id` attribute is used to assign an ID to a view within a layout XML file.
- IDs are typically defined in the `res/values/ids.xml` resource file to maintain consistency
and avoid conflicts across multiple layout files.
- Views can be identified programmatically using the `findViewById()` method, passing the
assigned ID as an argument.
Understanding these layout types and attributes is essential for designing and implementing
user interfaces in Android applications. By leveraging the appropriate layout types and
attributes, developers can create responsive, visually appealing, and intuitive user
experiences for their applications.
1. **TextView Overview**:
- `android:typeface`: Sets the typeface of the text, allowing customization of the font
family.
- `android:textAlignment`: Defines the alignment of the text within the TextView, such as
start, end, center, or textStart, textEnd, etc. (for RTL layouts).
Understanding and effectively utilizing these TextView attributes is crucial for designing text-
rich user interfaces in Android applications. Proper customization enhances readability,
usability, and overall user experience.
Edittext Attributes
1. **EditText Overview**:
- EditText is a UI control used to accept user input in the form of text.
- It extends the TextView class to provide text editing capabilities.
- `android:hint`: Sets a hint text that is displayed when the EditText is empty to provide a
suggestion or prompt to the user.
- `android:maxLength`: Defines the maximum number of characters allowed in the
EditText.
1. **AutoCompleteTextView Overview**:
- AutoCompleteTextView is a subclass of EditText that provides auto-completion
suggestions as the user types.
- It displays a drop-down list of completion suggestions based on the user's input, helping
users quickly enter data by providing suggestions based on previously entered text or
predefined data sets.
- `android:inputType`: Specifies the type of input expected from the user, such as text,
number, phone, email, etc. This attribute determines the keyboard layout and input
restrictions.
- `android:hint`: Sets a hint text that is displayed when the AutoCompleteTextView is
empty to provide a suggestion or prompt to the user.
- `android:completionThreshold`: Specifies the minimum number of characters the user
must type before the auto-completion suggestions are displayed.
3. **Adapter Attributes**:
- `android:completionHint`: Sets the hint text displayed in the drop-down list to guide the
user on the purpose of the suggestions.
- `android:adapter`: Specifies the adapter used to provide data for auto-completion
suggestions. This can be a simple ArrayAdapter or a custom adapter implementation.
4. **Filtering Attributes**:
- `android:completionThreshold`: Sets the minimum number of characters the user must
type before the suggestions are displayed.
1. **Button Overview**:
- A Button is a standard UI control used to trigger an action or perform a task when clicked
by the user.
- `android:translationZ`: Specifies a translation in the z-axis for the button, shifting it above
or below other views without affecting its size.
Understanding and utilizing these Button attributes enables developers to create interactive
and visually appealing buttons that effectively communicate their functionality to users.
Image Button Attributes
1. **ImageButton Overview**:
- An ImageButton is a subclass of ImageView that displays a button with an image instead
of text.
- It allows users to trigger an action or perform a task when clicked, similar to a standard
Button but with an image as its content.
- `android:padding`: Defines padding around the button's content, ensuring proper spacing
between the image and the button's boundaries.
- `android:layout_margin`: Sets the margin around the button, controlling its positioning
within its parent layout.
- `android:stateListAnimator`: Sets the state list animator for the button, defining
animations to be applied when the button changes state (e.g., pressed, focused, disabled).
- `android:elevation`: Sets the elevation of the button, controlling its z-axis position relative
to other views and casting shadows.
- `android:translationZ`: Specifies a translation in the z-axis for the button, shifting it above
or below other views without affecting its size.
CheckBox Attributes
Here are some notes on CheckBox attributes in Android:
1. **CheckBox Overview**:
- CheckBox is a UI control that allows users to toggle between two states: checked and
unchecked.
- It is typically used to represent binary choices or settings that can be enabled or disabled.
- `android:textStyle`: Defines the style of the text, such as normal, bold, italic, or a
combination.
- `android:button`: Specifies a custom drawable or color to be used as the checkbox
indicator.
ToggleButton Attributes
1. **ToggleButton Overview**:
- ToggleButton is a UI control that represents a two-state button with an on/off or
checked/unchecked state.
- It allows users to toggle between two states by clicking on it.
3. **Appearance Attributes**:
- `android:background`: Specifies the background drawable or color of the ToggleButton.
- `android:button`: Specifies a custom drawable or color to be used as the button indicator
for the ToggleButton.
4. **Behavior and Interaction Attributes**:
- `android:checked`: Indicates whether the ToggleButton is currently in the "on" state.
- `android:clickable`: Specifies whether the ToggleButton is clickable or not.
RadioButton Attributes
1. **RadioButton Overview**:
- RadioButton is a UI control used in radio groups to allow users to select a single option
from a set of mutually exclusive options.
- It presents a circular button with an optional label indicating the choice.
- `android:textColor`: Sets the color of the text displayed alongside the RadioButton.
- `android:textStyle`: Defines the style of the text, such as normal, bold, italic, or a
combination.
RadioButton attributes allow developers to customize the appearance and behavior of radio
buttons, including the text displayed alongside them, to match the application's design and
user interaction requirements effectively.
RadioGroup Attributes
**RadioGroup Overview**:
- RadioGroup is a ViewGroup that groups multiple RadioButton controls together.
- It enforces a single selection from the grouped RadioButtons, ensuring that only one
RadioButton can be checked at a time.
**Attributes**:
1. **Orientation**:
2. **Checked RadioButton**:
- `android:checkedButton`: Specifies the ID of the RadioButton that should be initially
checked within the RadioGroup.
3. **Behavior**:
- `android:gravity`: Sets the gravity of the child RadioButtons within the RadioGroup.
4. **Event Handling**:
- `android:onCheckedChanged`: Specifies the name of the method to invoke when the
checked RadioButton within the RadioGroup changes. This method must be defined in the
activity or fragment associated with the RadioGroup.
RadioGroup attributes provide control over the layout and behavior of grouped
RadioButtons, allowing developers to create intuitive and interactive selection interfaces
efficiently.
Unit 2 End
Unit 3
1. **Definition**:
- An Intent in Android is a messaging object used to request an action from another app
component (e.g., activity, service, broadcast receiver).
- It serves as a messaging mechanism to start activities, services, or deliver broadcasts.
2. **Components of Intent**:
4. **Intent Filters**:
- Intent filters are declarations in the AndroidManifest.xml file that specify the types of
intents an app component can respond to.
- Each intent filter declares the types of actions, data, and categories the component can
handle.
- Components with matching intent filters are eligible to respond to implicit intents that
match those filters.
5. **Intent Resolution**:
- When an implicit Intent is broadcasted, Android system searches through the installed
app's manifest files to find components that can handle the action specified in the intent.
- If multiple components match the criteria, the system presents a dialog to the user to
select the desired app to handle the action.
6. **Usage**:
- Intents are used extensively for inter-component communication within an Android
application as well as for communication between different applications.
- They are used for starting activities, starting services, sending broadcasts, and more.
7. **Example**:
- Opening a webpage in a browser app:
- Action: ACTION_VIEW
- Data: URI of the webpage
- Implicit Intent: The system will find the appropriate browser app based on its intent
filter to handle the ACTION_VIEW action for the given URI.
Intents and intent filters form the backbone of Android's inter-component communication
system, enabling apps to interact with each other seamlessly and facilitating the creation of
versatile and integrated user experiences.
Actions
**Actions in Android**
1. **Definition**:
- Actions in Android are strings that identify the type of operation or task that an Intent or
Intent Filter represents.
- They specify what the sender wants to do and what the receiver can handle.
2. **Role in Intents**:
- In an Intent, the action string specifies the general action to be performed (e.g., opening
a webpage, sending an email, starting an activity).
- It indicates the desired behavior or operation without specifying the exact component to
handle it.
3. **Predefined Actions**:
- Android provides a set of predefined action strings as constants in the `Intent` class, such
as `ACTION_VIEW`, `ACTION_SEND`, `ACTION_EDIT`, etc.
- These predefined actions cover common tasks and operations performed by apps.
4. **Custom Actions**:
- Developers can define custom action strings specific to their app's functionality.
- Custom actions should follow a naming convention to ensure uniqueness and clarity.
5. **Usage**:
- Actions are used to initiate communication between app components (e.g., activities,
services, broadcast receivers) via Intents.
- When sending an Intent, the sender specifies the action that represents the desired
operation.
- When declaring an Intent Filter, the receiver specifies the action it can handle, allowing
other components to send matching Intents.
7. **Example**:
- Opening a webpage in a browser app:
- Action: `ACTION_VIEW`
- The browser app's Intent Filter declares that it can handle the `ACTION_VIEW` action for
URIs.
- The Intent specifies the action as `ACTION_VIEW` and includes the URI of the webpage
to be opened.
Actions play a crucial role in facilitating communication and interaction between app
components in the Android ecosystem, enabling a wide range of functionalities and use
cases within apps.
1. **Definition**:
- Android Intent Standard Actions are predefined action strings provided by the Android
platform to represent common operations and tasks that can be performed by app
components.
- They are constants defined in the `Intent` class and serve as a standardized way to specify
the desired behavior when creating Intents.
3. **Usage**:
- Developers use these standard actions when creating Intents to perform common tasks
or invoke standard functionality provided by other apps or system components.
- Standard actions simplify the process of communicating the intent of an operation
between app components and ensure consistency across different apps.
4. **Flexibility**:
- While standard actions cover many common tasks, developers can also define custom
actions for specialized functionalities specific to their apps.
5. **Example**:
- Suppose an app wants to allow the user to view a webpage. It can create an Intent with
the action `ACTION_VIEW` and specify the URI of the webpage. When this Intent is sent, the
system will launch a suitable activity (e.g., a web browser) to handle the `ACTION_VIEW`
action and display the webpage.
6. **Standardized Communication**:
- Standard actions facilitate interoperability between apps by providing a common
language for communication. Apps can send and receive Intents with standard actions,
ensuring compatibility across different devices and platforms.
Android Intent Standard Actions streamline the process of specifying desired operations and
tasks when creating Intents, enabling developers to build versatile and interoperable apps
that leverage common functionalities provided by the Android platform.
Data
1. **Definition**:
- Data in Android refers to information that apps manipulate, store, or exchange during
their execution.
- It encompasses various types of information, including user input, files, databases,
network resources, and more.
2. **Types of Data**:
- **User Input**: Data entered by users through UI elements like EditText, CheckBox, etc.
- **Files**: Binary or text data stored on the device's file system, including media files,
configuration files, and app-specific data files.
- **Databases**: Structured data stored in SQLite databases within the app's local storage
for efficient data management.
- **Network Resources**: Data obtained from web services, APIs, or remote servers via
HTTP requests for fetching content, exchanging data, or performing operations.
- **Content Providers**: Data accessed through Content Providers, which offer a
structured interface for querying and modifying data across different apps.
- **Activities**: Activities manage user interactions and display data to users through their
UI.
- **Services**: Services perform background tasks and process data asynchronously
without a user interface, such as downloading files or syncing data.
Category
**Notes on Category in Android**
1. **Definition**:
- In Android, a category is a classification or grouping mechanism used within Intents and
Intent Filters to specify additional information about the intent's purpose or the type of
components that can handle it.
- Categories provide metadata that helps the Android system identify suitable components
to handle an intent based on their declared capabilities.
3. **Predefined Categories**:
- Android provides several predefined categories as constants in the `Intent` class, such as
`CATEGORY_DEFAULT`, `CATEGORY_LAUNCHER`, `CATEGORY_BROWSABLE`,
`CATEGORY_APP_BROWSER`, etc.
- These predefined categories cover common scenarios and functionalities used in app
development.
4. **Usage**:
- Categories are used to refine the scope of an intent or to specify the types of components
that can handle it.
- They help in targeting intents to specific types of activities, services, or broadcast
receivers based on their declared capabilities or functionalities.
- While predefined categories cover common use cases, developers can also define custom
categories specific to their app's functionality or requirements.
- Custom categories should follow a naming convention to ensure uniqueness and clarity.
7. **Example**:
- Suppose an app wants to handle web links. It can declare an intent filter with the action
`ACTION_VIEW` and the category `CATEGORY_BROWSABLE` to indicate that its activity can
be launched from a web browser to handle web links.
Categories in Android's Intent and Intent Filter system provide a flexible and extensible way
to specify the purpose, behavior, and target components of intents, facilitating efficient
communication and interaction between app components.
Extras
**Notes on Extras in Android Intents**
1. **Definition**:
- Extras in Android Intents refer to additional pieces of information that can be attached to
an Intent object.
2. **Role in Intents**:
- Extras provide a way to include additional data along with an Intent to be used by the
receiving component.
- They enable communication of complex data structures, such as strings, integers, arrays,
bundles, and Parcelable or Serializable objects, between different parts of an application or
between different applications.
3. **Usage**:
- Extras are commonly used to pass parameters, configuration settings, or user input from
one activity to another, between activities and services, or from the app to external apps via
implicit intents.
- They are also used for passing data to broadcast receivers or for specifying additional
information in pending intents for notifications.
4. **Types of Extras**:
- **Primitive Data Types**: Extras can include primitive data types such as strings,
integers, booleans, floats, etc.
- **Arrays**: Extras can include arrays of primitive data types, such as String arrays or
integer arrays.
- **Bundles**: Bundles are key-value pairs that can hold multiple types of data. They are
commonly used to pass a collection of different types of data as a single extra.
- **Parcelable or Serializable Objects**: Extras can include objects that implement the
Parcelable or Serializable interface for passing custom data objects between components.
5. **Accessing Extras**:
- In the receiving component (e.g., activity, service, broadcast receiver), extras can be
accessed using the `getXXXExtra()` methods provided by the Intent class, where "XXX"
corresponds to the data type of the extra.
- If the extra is not present, default values or null can be provided as fallback options.
6. **Example**:
- Suppose an app wants to pass a user's name and age from one activity to another. It can
create an Intent, add extras for the name and age, and then start the target activity with this
Intent. In the receiving activity, it can retrieve these extras using `getStringExtra()` and
`getIntExtra()` methods.
Extras in Android Intents facilitate the transfer of data between different components of an
application or between different applications, enabling seamless communication and
interaction in the Android ecosystem.
Flags
1. **Definition**:
- Flags in Android Intents are integer values that provide additional instructions or modify
the behavior of the Intent or the component that handles it.
- They allow developers to customize how Intents are handled and how the Android system
processes them.
2. **Role in Intents**:
- Flags help control various aspects of Intent behavior, such as how the Intent is delivered,
how the target component is launched, and how the task containing the component is
managed.
- They influence navigation, task behavior, and the back stack of activities.
- **FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK**: If set, this flag launches the activity in a new task stack,
regardless of whether it's defined as a single task in the manifest.
- **FLAG_ACTIVITY_CLEAR_TOP**: If set, this flag clears all activities on top of the target
activity from the current task before launching the target activity.
- **FLAG_ACTIVITY_SINGLE_TOP**: If set, this flag ensures that the target activity is not
recreated if it's already at the top of the activity stack.
- **FLAG_ACTIVITY_CLEAR_TASK**: If set, this flag clears all activities from the current task
before launching the target activity.
- **FLAG_ACTIVITY_NO_HISTORY**: If set, this flag prevents the activity from being added
to the back stack, meaning it won't be kept in the navigation history.
- **FLAG_ACTIVITY_EXCLUDE_FROM_RECENTS**: If set, this flag prevents the activity from
appearing in the list of recent tasks.
- **FLAG_ACTIVITY_FORWARD_RESULT**: If set, this flag forwards the result to the
starting activity.
- **FLAG_ACTIVITY_REORDER_TO_FRONT**: If set, this flag brings the target activity to
the front of the task stack if it's already running.
- **FLAG_ACTIVITY_CLEAR_WHEN_TASK_RESET**: If set, this flag clears the activity from
the task if the task is reset.
4. **Usage**:
- Flags are typically used when creating Intents to customize how the Intent is handled or
how the target component is launched.
- They can be combined using bitwise OR operations to apply multiple flags simultaneously.
5. **Example**:
- Suppose an app wants to launch an activity in a new task and clear all activities on top of
it. It can create an Intent and set the `FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK` and
`FLAG_ACTIVITY_CLEAR_TOP` flags before starting the activity.
Flags in Android Intents provide developers with fine-grained control over the behavior of
Intents and the navigation flow within their applications. By using appropriate flags,
developers can ensure optimal user experience and task management in their Android apps.
Component Names
**Notes on Component Names in Android**
1. **Definition**:
- They are used in manifest declarations, Intent objects, and other contexts where
components need to be specified or referenced.
3. **Format**:
- The format of a component name is "package name" + "." + "class name".
4. **Manifest Declarations**:
- Component names are used to create Intent objects to start activities, bind to services,
send broadcasts, or access content providers.
6. **Usage in Intents**:
- Component names are used to explicitly specify the target component when creating
explicit Intents.
- They are included in Intent objects to indicate which activity, service, broadcast receiver,
or content provider should handle the Intent.
8. **Example**:
- Suppose an app wants to start an activity named "DetailActivity" from another activity. It
would create an Intent object and set the component name as
"com.example.myapp.DetailActivity" before starting the activity.
1. **Explicit Intents**:
- **Definition**: Explicit intents are used to specify the target component (e.g., activity,
service, broadcast receiver) by explicitly naming the component's class.
- **Usage**: They are commonly used to start components within the same application,
where the target component is known at compile-time.
- **Format**: To create an explicit intent, developers need to specify the target
component's class name using the `setClass()` or `setComponent()` method of the Intent
object.
- **Example**:
```java
Intent explicitIntent = new Intent(context, TargetActivity.class);
startActivity(explicitIntent);
```
2. **Implicit Intents**:
- **Definition**: Implicit intents do not specify the target component's class explicitly but
instead declare an action to be performed or a type of data to be handled.
- **Usage**: They are used to initiate actions or tasks for which the target component may
vary or is not known at compile-time.
- **Format**: Developers specify the action to be performed (e.g., `ACTION_VIEW`,
`ACTION_SEND`) and optionally include data (e.g., URI, MIME type) relevant to the action.
- **Example**:
```java
Intent implicitIntent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW);
implicitIntent.setData(Uri.parse("https://www.example.com"));
```
3. **Comparison**:
- **Target Component**: Explicit intents target a specific component within the same
application, while implicit intents target any component capable of handling the specified
action and data.
- **Known Component**: In explicit intents, the target component is known at compile-
time and explicitly specified. In implicit intents, the target component is determined at
runtime based on the available components that can handle the action and data.
- **Flexibility**: Implicit intents provide more flexibility as they can be handled by any
compatible component registered to handle the specified action, allowing for greater
reusability and interoperability between apps.
4. **Use Cases**:
- Explicit Intents: Used for navigation within the same application, starting specific
activities, or invoking services or broadcast receivers within the app.
- Implicit Intents: Used for invoking system functionalities (e.g., opening a webpage,
sending an email, sharing content) or for requesting actions from other apps without
specifying the exact component.
5. **Intent Resolution**:
- When an implicit intent is broadcasted, the Android system resolves the intent to find the
appropriate component capable of handling the action and data specified in the intent's
filter.
Understanding the differences between explicit and implicit intents is essential for
determining the appropriate approach for initiating actions and communicating between
components within an Android application or between different applications.
1. **Definition of Fragments**:
- Fragments represent a reusable portion of a user interface or behavior within an Activity.
- They enable modularization and reusability of UI components, allowing developers to
build flexible and dynamic UIs.
2. **Fragment Lifecycle**:
- **onAttach()**: The fragment is attached to its hosting activity. This method is called
first, and the fragment can access the host activity through the onAttach() callback.
- **onCreate()**: The fragment is being created. Initialization tasks such as creating data
structures or setting up initial UI elements are performed here.
- **onCreateView()**: The fragment creates its view hierarchy, typically by inflating a
layout file using LayoutInflater.
- **onActivityCreated()**: Called when the hosting activity's onCreate() method has
completed. At this point, the fragment's view hierarchy is accessible.
- **onStart()**: The fragment becomes visible to the user as the hosting activity is about
to become visible.
- **onResume()**: The fragment is visible and actively running. This is where UI updates,
animations, and interactions are typically handled.
- **onPause()**: The fragment is partially visible or loses focus but remains attached to
the hosting activity. Any ongoing UI updates or animations should be paused here.
- **onStop()**: The fragment is no longer visible to the user as the hosting activity is
stopped or becomes invisible.
- **onDetach()**: The fragment is detached from its hosting activity. This is the final
callback before the fragment is destroyed, and it allows the fragment to perform any final
clean-up tasks.
4. **Use Cases**:
- **Initialization**: Fragment lifecycle methods are used to initialize UI components, set up
data structures, and perform other initialization tasks.
- **UI Updates**: Developers use lifecycle methods to handle UI updates, animations, and
interactions based on the fragment's visibility and lifecycle state.
- **Resource Management**: Lifecycle methods are used to manage resources such as
memory, network connections, database transactions, etc., by releasing or acquiring them at
appropriate lifecycle stages.
Understanding the fragment lifecycle is crucial for developing robust and responsive UIs in
Android applications. By leveraging lifecycle methods effectively, developers can create
dynamic and flexible UIs that adapt to changes in the application state and user interactions.
1. **Definition of Fragments**:
- Fragments are modular, reusable UI components that represent a portion of a user
interface or behavior within an activity.
- They enable developers to build flexible and dynamic UIs by encapsulating UI elements
and logic within self-contained units.
2. **Creating Fragments**:
5. **Fragment Communication**:
- **Through Activity**: Fragments can communicate with their hosting activity by calling
methods defined in the activity or by implementing interfaces defined by the activity.
- **Between Fragments**: Fragments can communicate with each other indirectly through
their hosting activity by using the activity as a mediator or by using shared ViewModels.
6. **Best Practices**:
- **Reusability**: Design fragments to be reusable across multiple activities and scenarios.
- **Modularity**: Keep fragments modular by encapsulating UI elements and logic within
self-contained units.
- **Backstack Management**: Be mindful of fragment backstack management when
adding, replacing, or removing fragments dynamically to ensure a smooth user experience.
7. **Example**:
- Below is a simple example of creating and adding a new fragment to an activity:
```java
// Define a new fragment class
Fragment States
- **Active State (Resumed)**: The fragment is visible to the user and actively running. It
corresponds to the onResume() state in the fragment lifecycle.
- **Paused State**: The fragment is partially visible or loses focus but remains attached to
the hosting activity. Corresponds to the onPause() state.
- **Stopped State**: The fragment is no longer visible to the user as the hosting activity is
stopped or becomes invisible. Corresponds to the onStop() state.
- **Destroyed State**: The fragment is being destroyed, and its resources are being
released. Corresponds to the onDestroy() state.
- **Detached State**: The fragment is detached from its hosting activity. Corresponds to
the onDetach() state.
3. **Visibility States**:
- **Visible State**: The fragment is visible to the user and is either in the resumed or
paused state.
- **Invisible State**: The fragment is not visible to the user but remains attached to the
activity. It corresponds to the stopped or destroyed state.
- **Gone State**: The fragment is removed from the activity, and its view hierarchy is
destroyed. Corresponds to the detached state.
5. **Retaining State**:
- Fragments can retain their instance state across configuration changes (e.g., screen
rotation) by calling setRetainInstance(true) in onCreate(). This allows fragments to preserve
their state and data across configuration changes without being destroyed and recreated.
6. **Best Practices**:
- **Handle Configuration Changes**: Use setRetainInstance(true) to retain fragment state
across configuration changes and avoid unnecessary recreation.
- **Manage Resources**: Release resources and unregister listeners in onDestroy() to
prevent memory leaks and resource leaks.
- **Save and Restore State**: Override onSaveInstanceState() and onActivityCreated() to
save and restore fragment state during configuration changes.
7. **Example**:
- Below is an example of handling fragment lifecycle states:
```java
@Override
@Override
public void onPause() {
super.onPause();
// Pause ongoing operations or animations
}
```
Understanding and effectively managing fragment states are essential for developing
responsive and efficient user interfaces in Android applications. By leveraging fragment
lifecycle callbacks and visibility states, developers can create robust and user-friendly
applications that provide a seamless user experience.
- Fragments can be added directly to an activity's layout XML file using the `<fragment>`
tag.
- Developers specify the fragment's class name using the `android:name` attribute, and
additional attributes can be used to customize the fragment's appearance and behavior.
- Example:
```xml
<fragment
android:id="@+id/fragment_container"
android:name="com.example.myapp.MyFragment"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content" />
```
4. **FragmentTransaction Methods**:
- **remove()**: Removes a fragment from the activity, optionally adding the transaction to
the back stack.
- **addToBackStack()**: Adds the transaction to the back stack, allowing users to navigate
back to the previous fragment state.
7. **Best Practices**:
- **Container View**: Ensure that the activity's layout XML file contains a container view
(e.g., FrameLayout) to host the fragments.
- **Lifecycle Awareness**: Handle fragment lifecycle events appropriately to ensure
smooth transitions and proper resource management.
- **Back Stack Management**: Use the back stack to allow users to navigate between
different fragments and maintain a consistent navigation flow.
8. **Example**:
- Below is an example of adding a fragment to an activity programmatically:
```java
FragmentManager fragmentManager = getSupportFragmentManager();
Adding fragments to activities provides developers with the flexibility to create dynamic and
modular user interfaces in Android applications. By understanding the different methods for
adding fragments and managing fragment transactions, developers can effectively build
responsive and feature-rich applications.
Unit iv
2. **Event Listeners**:
- Event listeners are interfaces or classes that listen for specific types of events and execute
predefined actions or callbacks when those events occur.
- Each event listener is associated with a particular event type and contains callback
methods that are invoked when the corresponding event is detected.
- Examples of event listeners in Android include OnClickListener, OnLongClickListener,
OnTouchListener, etc.
3. **Event Handlers**:
- Event handlers are methods or functions responsible for responding to events by
executing the necessary logic or operations.
- In Android, event handlers are typically implemented as callback methods within event
listener interfaces or as separate methods defined in activity or fragment classes.
- Event handlers process events by performing tasks such as updating the UI, processing
user input, initiating actions, or triggering other events.
- Event listeners are registered with UI components (e.g., buttons, views) using appropriate
setter methods or by implementing interfaces directly in the code.
- In Android, event listeners are commonly registered using methods like
setOnClickListener(), setOnLongClickListener(), setOnTouchListener(), etc., provided by UI
components.
6. **Best Practices**:
- **Separation of Concerns**: Keep event handling logic separate from UI layout and
business logic to enhance code readability and maintainability.
- **Efficient Resource Management**: Ensure proper resource management and
unregister event listeners when they are no longer needed to prevent memory leaks and
optimize performance.
- **Consistent Naming Conventions**: Use descriptive names for event listeners and event
handler methods to improve code clarity and maintainability.
7. **Example**:
@Override
public void onClick(View v) {
// Event handling logic
// This code is executed when the button is clicked
}
});
```
Event listeners and event handlers play a crucial role in Android application development by
enabling developers to respond to user interactions and system events effectively. By
implementing and managing event handling logic efficiently, developers can create intuitive
and interactive user experiences in their applications..
3. **Methods of Registration**:
- **Using Setter Methods**: Many UI components in Android (e.g., buttons, views) provide
setter methods (e.g., setOnClickListener(), setOnLongClickListener()) to register event
listeners.
4. **Registration Syntax**:
@Override
public void onClick(View v) {
// Event handling logic
}
});
```
- **Implementing Listener Interfaces**:
```java
@Override
public void onClick(View v) {
// Event handling logic
}
}
```
5. **Multiple Listeners**:
- Multiple event listeners can be registered with the same UI component to handle
different types of events.
- Each listener can be responsible for a specific event type (e.g., click, long click, touch) and
execute different logic accordingly.
6. **Unregistering Listeners**:
- It's essential to unregister event listeners when they are no longer needed to prevent
memory leaks and optimize resource usage.
- In Android, unregister listeners in the appropriate lifecycle methods (e.g., onStop(),
onDestroy()) or when the associated UI components are no longer in use.
7. **Best Practices**:
- **Consistent Naming**: Use descriptive names for event listeners to improve code
readability and maintainability.
- **Scoped Registration**: Register event listeners in appropriate lifecycle methods to
ensure they are active only when needed.
- **Resource Management**: Unregister event listeners to release resources and prevent
memory leaks when they are no longer needed.
8. **Example**:
- Below is an example of registering a click listener for a button using a setter method:
```java
Button button = findViewById(R.id.button);
button.setOnClickListener(new View.OnClickListener() {
@Override
public void onClick(View v) {
// Event handling logic
}
});
```
Proper registration of event listeners is crucial for enabling interactive features and handling
user interactions effectively in Android applications. By following best practices and
understanding the registration process, developers can create intuitive and responsive user
interfaces.
- **Usage**: They are applied to individual UI elements or layouts using the `style`
attribute in XML or programmatically using the `setStyle()` method.
- **Inheritance**: Styles can inherit attributes from other styles, allowing for a hierarchical
organization of style definitions.
- **Example**:
```xml
<style name="MyButtonStyle" parent="Widget.AppCompat.Button">
<item name="android:background">@drawable/my_button_background</item>
<item name="android:textColor">@color/my_button_text_color</item>
</style>
```
3. **Themes**:
- **Definition**: Themes are collections of styles that define the overall look and feel of an
application or activity.
- **Usage**: They are applied to activities or the entire application using the
`android:theme` attribute in the manifest file or programmatically.
- **Inheritance**: Themes can inherit attributes from other themes or parent themes,
allowing for consistent styling across an application.
- **Example**:
```xml
<style name="AppTheme" parent="Theme.AppCompat.Light">
<!-- Customize your theme here -->
<item name="colorPrimary">@color/colorPrimary</item>
<item name="colorPrimaryDark">@color/colorPrimaryDark</item>
<item name="colorAccent">@color/colorAccent</item>
</style>
```
4. **Attributes**:
- Both styles and themes can define various attributes, including colors, dimensions,
drawables, text appearances, and more.
- These attributes can be applied to different UI elements to customize their appearance
and behavior consistently.
7. **Best Practices**:
- **Consistency**: Maintain a consistent look and feel across the application by defining
and using styles and themes consistently.
- **Reuse**: Reuse styles and themes to avoid duplication of code and ensure consistency
across the application.
- **Separation of Concerns**: Separate UI styling from business logic for better
maintainability and readability of code.
8. **Example**:
- Applying a theme to an activity in the manifest file:
```xml
<activity
android:name=".MainActivity"
android:theme="@style/AppTheme">
...
</activity>
```
Styles and themes play a crucial role in Android application development by providing a
systematic way to define and apply visual and behavioral attributes to UI elements. By
leveraging styles and themes effectively, developers can create visually appealing and
consistent user interfaces across their applications.
Defining Styles
1. **Definition of Styles**:
- Styles in Android are collections of attributes that define the visual appearance and
behavior of UI components.
- They provide a convenient way to apply consistent styling across multiple UI elements in
an application.
2. **Syntax**:
- Styles are defined in XML resource files within the `res/values/` directory, typically in a
file named `styles.xml`.
- Each style is defined using the `<style>` tag with a unique name attribute.
- Style attributes are specified within the style using `<item>` tags.
4. **Attribute Specification**:
- Style attributes correspond to XML attributes that define visual properties such as colors,
dimensions, fonts, padding, etc.
- Developers specify attribute values using the appropriate XML syntax, such as color
values (`@color/...`), dimension values (`@dimen/...`), or drawable resources
(`@drawable/...`).
5. **Example**:
- Below is an example of defining a custom style named `MyTextStyle` with attributes for
text appearance:
```xml
<style name="MyTextStyle">
<item name="android:textColor">@color/my_text_color</item>
<item name="android:textSize">16sp</item>
<item name="android:fontFamily">@font/my_font</item>
</style>
```
6. **Usage**:
- Styles can be applied to individual UI elements or layout containers using the `style`
attribute in XML layout files.
- Developers reference the style by its name, which is specified in the `name` attribute of
the `<style>` tag.
- Styles can also be applied programmatically using the `setStyle()` method.
7. **Best Practices**:
- **Consistent Naming**: Use meaningful and descriptive names for styles to improve
code readability and maintainability.
- **Modularity**: Break down styles into smaller, reusable components to facilitate code
reuse and simplify maintenance.
- **Documentation**: Document the purpose and usage of each style to assist developers
in understanding and using them effectively.
8. **Example**:
- Applying a style to a TextView in an XML layout file:
```xml
<TextView
android:id="@+id/myTextView"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
style="@style/MyTextStyle"
android:text="Hello, World!" />
```
Defining styles in Android allows developers to create consistent and visually appealing UIs
across their applications. By organizing styles effectively and applying them judiciously,
developers can streamline UI development and ensure a cohesive user experience.
Using Styles
**Notes on Using Styles in Android**
- Example:
```xml
<Button
android:id="@+id/myButton"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
style="@style/MyButtonStyle"
android:text="Click Me" />
```
```
- Child styles can override or add additional attributes to customize their appearance
further.
- Developers can create a hierarchy of styles, making it easy to maintain a consistent design
language across the application.
- These predefined styles are defined in the Android framework and can be referenced
directly in XML layout files or programmatically.
6. **Customizing Predefined Styles**:
- Developers can customize predefined styles by extending them and overriding specific
attributes.
- This approach allows for fine-grained control over the appearance and behavior of UI
elements while leveraging existing style definitions.
- Styles can be combined with themes to create a comprehensive design language for an
application.
- Themes define the overall look and feel of an application, while styles define the visual
attributes of individual UI elements.
8. **Best Practices**:
- **Consistency**: Maintain a consistent naming convention for styles to make them easy
to identify and use.
- **Reuse**: Reuse styles wherever possible to avoid duplication of code and ensure a
consistent user experience.
- **Documentation**: Document the purpose and usage of each style to facilitate
collaboration and maintenance.
9. **Example**:
- Applying a predefined style to a TextView in XML:
```xml
<TextView
android:id="@+id/myTextView"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
style="@android:style/TextAppearance.Large"
Style Inheritance
- This feature promotes code reuse, consistency, and maintainability by defining common
attributes at a higher level and customizing them as needed at lower levels.
2. **Parent-Child Relationship**:
- Styles in Android can have a parent-child relationship, where child styles inherit attributes
from their parent styles.
- Child styles can override or add additional attributes to customize their appearance while
still inheriting the base attributes from their parent styles.
4. **Inheriting Attributes**:
- Child styles inherit attributes from their parent styles automatically by specifying the
parent style's name using the `parent` attribute in the `<style>` tag.
- Any attributes not explicitly overridden in the child style are inherited from the parent
style.
5. **Overriding Attributes**:
- Child styles can override inherited attributes by specifying them again within the `<item>`
tags of the child style.
- When an attribute is overridden in the child style, the value specified in the child style
takes precedence over the value inherited from the parent style.
7. **Benefits**:
- **Code Reuse**: Inheritance allows developers to define common styling attributes once
in a parent style and reuse them across multiple child styles.
- **Consistency**: By centralizing common attributes in parent styles, developers ensure a
consistent look and feel throughout the application.
8. **Example**:
- Below is an example of defining a parent style and a child style inheriting from it:
```xml
<style name="ParentStyle">
<item name="android:textColor">@color/primary_text_color</item>
<item name="android:textSize">16sp</item>
</style>
Android Themes
1. **Definition of Themes**:
- Themes in Android are a set of attributes that define the overall look and feel of an
application or activity.
- They provide a consistent visual style and behavior across different UI elements and
components within the application.
2. **Key Components**:
- **Attributes**: Themes consist of various attributes such as colors, fonts, dimensions,
styles, and drawables that define the appearance and behavior of UI elements.
- **Styles**: Themes often include predefined styles for common UI components, which
can be customized or overridden to achieve a desired visual style.
- **Window Decor**: Themes can define window decorations such as the status bar color,
navigation bar color, window background, etc., which affect the overall appearance of the
application's window.
3. **Usage**:
- Themes are applied to activities or the entire application in the AndroidManifest.xml file
using the `android:theme` attribute.
- Alternatively, themes can be applied dynamically at runtime using the `setTheme()`
method in the activity's `onCreate()` method.
- Themes applied to activities override the application-wide theme defined in the manifest.
4. **Inheritance**:
- Themes in Android support inheritance, allowing child themes to inherit attributes from
parent themes.
- Child themes can customize or override specific attributes while inheriting the rest from
the parent theme.
- This enables developers to create a hierarchy of themes to manage consistent styling
across different parts of the application.
5. **Predefined Themes**:
- Android provides a set of predefined themes, such as `Theme.AppCompat`,
`Theme.MaterialComponents`, `Theme.Holo`, etc., which developers can use as a base for
customizing the application's appearance.
- These predefined themes offer a consistent design language and adhere to material
design guidelines, ensuring a modern and visually appealing user experience.
6. **Customization**:
- Developers can customize themes by defining their own theme attributes, styles, and
window decorations to achieve a unique and branded look for their application.
- Theme attributes can be defined in XML resource files within the `res/values/` directory
and referenced in the theme definition.
7. **Dynamic Theming**:
- Android supports dynamic theming, allowing applications to switch between different
themes at runtime based on user preferences or application settings.
- Developers can implement theme switching logic in the application code and apply the
selected theme using the `setTheme()` method before `setContentView()`.
8. **Best Practices**:
- **Consistency**: Maintain a consistent visual style and behavior across the application
by using themes consistently.
- **Modularity**: Define themes with modular components (e.g., styles, colors) to
facilitate reuse and customization.
- **User Experience**: Consider user preferences and accessibility requirements when
designing and customizing application themes.
9. **Example**:
- Applying a theme to an activity in the AndroidManifest.xml file:
```xml
<activity
android:name=".MainActivity"
android:theme="@style/AppTheme">
...
</activity>
```
Android themes play a crucial role in defining the overall look and feel of applications,
contributing to a cohesive and polished user experience. By understanding themes and
leveraging them effectively, developers can create visually appealing and consistent
applications that resonate with users.
2. **Default Styles**:
- Android defines a set of default styles for common UI components and elements, such as
buttons, text views, dialogs, etc.
- These default styles are predefined in the Android framework and can be referenced
directly in layout XML files or programmatically.
- Default styles are typically named with the prefix `android:` and are accessible using the
`@android:style/` resource syntax.
4. **Default Themes**:
- Android provides default themes that define the overall look and feel of applications.
- These default themes include styling for various UI components, window decorations,
colors, fonts, etc., to create a consistent user experience.
- Developers can choose from different default themes provided by Android, such as
`Theme.AppCompat`, `Theme.MaterialComponents`, `Theme.Holo`, etc.
7. **Usage**:
- Default styles and themes can be applied to UI components and activities either statically
in layout XML files or programmatically in Java/Kotlin code.
- Developers can reference default styles and themes using the `@android:style/` resource
syntax or the appropriate theme attributes.
8. **Best Practices**:
- **Consistency**: Maintain consistency in UI design by using default styles and themes
consistently across the application.
- **Compatibility**: Ensure compatibility with different Android versions by using
backward-compatible default themes like `Theme.AppCompat`.
- **Customization**: Customize default styles and themes as needed to align with the
application's branding and design requirements.
9. **Example**:
- Applying the default AppCompat theme to an activity in the AndroidManifest.xml file:
```xml
<activity
android:name=".MainActivity"
android:theme="@style/Theme.AppCompat">
...
</activity>
```
Default styles and themes in Android provide a starting point for UI design and
development, allowing developers to create visually appealing and consistent applications
with ease. By understanding and leveraging default styles and themes effectively, developers
can streamline UI development and deliver high-quality user experiences.
Custom Components
**Notes on Custom Components in Android**
- They enable developers to extend the capabilities of the Android framework and create
unique and tailored user experiences.
- Custom components are used when standard Android UI components do not provide the
desired functionality or appearance.
- They allow developers to implement complex interactions, animations, or visualizations
that cannot be achieved using built-in components alone.
- Providing examples and sample code demonstrates how to use custom components
effectively and accelerates adoption by other developers.
9. **Best Practices**:
- **Follow Android Guidelines**: Ensure custom components adhere to Android design
guidelines and principles for consistency and compatibility.
- **Optimize Performance**: Optimize custom components for performance to ensure
smooth and responsive user experiences.
10. **Example**:
- Below is a simplified example of creating a custom button in Android:
```java
public class MyButton extends AppCompatButton {
public MyButton(Context context) {
super(context);
init();
}
```
- Custom components are useful when the standard Android components do not meet
specific requirements or when developers need to create unique user interfaces.
- They enable developers to implement custom interactions, animations, or visualizations
tailored to their application's needs.
- **Extend Existing Views**: Create a new class that extends an existing Android View or
ViewGroup class, such as TextView, Button, ImageView, or ViewGroup.
- **Use the Custom Component**: Once the custom component is created, it can be used
like any other standard Android component by including it in layout XML files or instantiating
it programmatically.
4. **Example**:
- Below is a simplified example of creating a custom TextView that displays a message in a
different font and color:
```java
public class CustomTextView extends AppCompatTextView {
setTextColor(ContextCompat.getColor(getContext(), R.color.custom_text_color));
}
}
```
5. **Best Practices**:
- **Reusability**: Design custom components to be reusable across multiple parts of the
application or in different projects.
- **Modularity**: Encapsulate related functionality and behavior within the custom
component to promote modularity and maintainability.
- **Documentation**: Document the purpose, usage, and customization options of the
custom component to assist other developers in understanding and using it effectively.
Creating simple custom components in Android allows developers to tailor the user interface
to their application's specific needs and requirements. By following the steps outlined above
and adhering to best practices, developers can create reusable and modular custom
components that enhance the functionality and aesthetics of their applications.