1page.title=Introduction to Android
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6<div class="sidebox" style="max-width:30%"><!-- width to match col-4 below -->
7<p>To learn how apps work, start with
8<a href="{@docRoot}guide/components/fundamentals.html">App Fundamentals</a>.</p>
9<p>To begin coding right away, read <a
10href="{@docRoot}training/basics/firstapp/index.html">Building Your First App</a>.</p>
11</div>
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13<p>Android provides a rich application framework that allows you to build innovative apps and games
14for mobile devices in a Java language environment. The documents listed in the left
15navigation provide details about how to build apps using Android's various APIs.</p>
16
17<p>If you're new to Android development, it's important that you understand
18the following fundamental concepts about the Android app framework:</p>
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25<h4>Apps provide multiple entry points</h4>
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27<p>Android apps are built as a combination of distinct components that can be invoked
28individually. For instance, an individual <em>activity</em> provides a single
29screen for a user interface, and a <em>service</em> independently performs
30work in the background.</p>
31
32<p>From one component you can start another component using an <em>intent</em>. You can even start
33a component in a different app, such as an activity in a maps app to show an address. This model
34provides multiple entry points for a single app and allows any app to behave as a user's "default"
35for an action that other apps may invoke.</p>
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38<p><b>Learn more:</b></p>
39<ul class="nolist">
40<li><a href="{@docRoot}guide/components/fundamentals.html">App Fundamentals</a>
41<li><a href="{@docRoot}guide/components/intents-filters.html">Intents and Intent Filters</a>
42<li><a href="{@docRoot}guide/components/activities.html">Activities</a>
43</ul>
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45</div>
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50<h4>Apps adapt to different devices</h4>
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52<p>Android provides an adaptive app framework that allows you to provide unique resources
53for different device configurations. For example, you can create different XML
54layout files for different screen sizes and the system
55determines which layout to apply based on the current device's screen size.</p>
56
57<p>You can query the availability of device features at runtime if any app features require
58specific hardware such as a camera. If necessary, you can also declare features your app requires
59so app markets such as Google Play Store do not allow installation on devices that do not support
60that feature.</p>
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62
63<p><b>Learn more:</b></p>
64<ul class="nolist">
65<li><a href="{@docRoot}guide/practices/compatibility.html">Device Compatibility</a>
66<li><a href="{@docRoot}guide/topics/resources/overview.html">Resources Overview</a>
67<li><a href="{@docRoot}guide/topics/ui/overview.html">User Interface Overview</a>
68</ul>
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