to top
Android APIs
public abstract class

Context

extends Object
java.lang.Object
   ↳ android.content.Context
Known Direct Subclasses
Known Indirect Subclasses

Class Overview

Interface to global information about an application environment. This is an abstract class whose implementation is provided by the Android system. It allows access to application-specific resources and classes, as well as up-calls for application-level operations such as launching activities, broadcasting and receiving intents, etc.

Summary

Constants
String ACCESSIBILITY_SERVICE Use with getSystemService(String) to retrieve a AccessibilityManager for giving the user feedback for UI events through the registered event listeners.
String ACCOUNT_SERVICE Use with getSystemService(String) to retrieve a AccountManager for receiving intents at a time of your choosing.
String ACTIVITY_SERVICE Use with getSystemService(String) to retrieve a ActivityManager for interacting with the global system state.
String ALARM_SERVICE Use with getSystemService(String) to retrieve a AlarmManager for receiving intents at a time of your choosing.
String AUDIO_SERVICE Use with getSystemService(String) to retrieve a AudioManager for handling management of volume, ringer modes and audio routing.
int BIND_ABOVE_CLIENT Flag for bindService(Intent, ServiceConnection, int): indicates that the client application binding to this service considers the service to be more important than the app itself.
int BIND_ADJUST_WITH_ACTIVITY Flag for bindService(Intent, ServiceConnection, int): If binding from an activity, allow the target service's process importance to be raised based on whether the activity is visible to the user, regardless whether another flag is used to reduce the amount that the client process's overall importance is used to impact it.
int BIND_ALLOW_OOM_MANAGEMENT Flag for bindService(Intent, ServiceConnection, int): allow the process hosting the bound service to go through its normal memory management.
int BIND_AUTO_CREATE Flag for bindService(Intent, ServiceConnection, int): automatically create the service as long as the binding exists.
int BIND_DEBUG_UNBIND Flag for bindService(Intent, ServiceConnection, int): include debugging help for mismatched calls to unbind.
int BIND_IMPORTANT Flag for bindService(Intent, ServiceConnection, int): this service is very important to the client, so should be brought to the foreground process level when the client is.
int BIND_NOT_FOREGROUND Flag for bindService(Intent, ServiceConnection, int): don't allow this binding to raise the target service's process to the foreground scheduling priority.
int BIND_WAIVE_PRIORITY Flag for bindService(Intent, ServiceConnection, int): don't impact the scheduling or memory management priority of the target service's hosting process.
String CLIPBOARD_SERVICE Use with getSystemService(String) to retrieve a ClipboardManager for accessing and modifying the contents of the global clipboard.
String CONNECTIVITY_SERVICE Use with getSystemService(String) to retrieve a ConnectivityManager for handling management of network connections.
int CONTEXT_IGNORE_SECURITY Flag for use with createPackageContext(String, int): ignore any security restrictions on the Context being requested, allowing it to always be loaded.
int CONTEXT_INCLUDE_CODE Flag for use with createPackageContext(String, int): include the application code with the context.
int CONTEXT_RESTRICTED Flag for use with createPackageContext(String, int): a restricted context may disable specific features.
String DEVICE_POLICY_SERVICE Use with getSystemService(String) to retrieve a DevicePolicyManager for working with global device policy management.
String DISPLAY_SERVICE Use with getSystemService(String) to retrieve a DisplayManager for interacting with display devices.
String DOWNLOAD_SERVICE Use with getSystemService(String) to retrieve a DownloadManager for requesting HTTP downloads.
String DROPBOX_SERVICE Use with getSystemService(String) to retrieve a DropBoxManager instance for recording diagnostic logs.
String INPUT_METHOD_SERVICE Use with getSystemService(String) to retrieve a InputMethodManager for accessing input methods.
String INPUT_SERVICE Use with getSystemService(String) to retrieve a InputManager for interacting with input devices.
String KEYGUARD_SERVICE Use with getSystemService(String) to retrieve a NotificationManager for controlling keyguard.
String LAYOUT_INFLATER_SERVICE Use with getSystemService(String) to retrieve a LayoutInflater for inflating layout resources in this context.
String LOCATION_SERVICE Use with getSystemService(String) to retrieve a LocationManager for controlling location updates.
String MEDIA_ROUTER_SERVICE Use with getSystemService(String) to retrieve a MediaRouter for controlling and managing routing of media.
int MODE_APPEND File creation mode: for use with openFileOutput(String, int), if the file already exists then write data to the end of the existing file instead of erasing it.
int MODE_ENABLE_WRITE_AHEAD_LOGGING Database open flag: when set, the database is opened with write-ahead logging enabled by default.
int MODE_MULTI_PROCESS SharedPreference loading flag: when set, the file on disk will be checked for modification even if the shared preferences instance is already loaded in this process.
int MODE_PRIVATE File creation mode: the default mode, where the created file can only be accessed by the calling application (or all applications sharing the same user ID).
int MODE_WORLD_READABLE This constant was deprecated in API level 17. Creating world-readable files is very dangerous, and likely to cause security holes in applications. It is strongly discouraged; instead, applications should use more formal mechanism for interactions such as ContentProvider, BroadcastReceiver, and Service. There are no guarantees that this access mode will remain on a file, such as when it goes through a backup and restore. File creation mode: allow all other applications to have read access to the created file.
int MODE_WORLD_WRITEABLE This constant was deprecated in API level 17. Creating world-writable files is very dangerous, and likely to cause security holes in applications. It is strongly discouraged; instead, applications should use more formal mechanism for interactions such as ContentProvider, BroadcastReceiver, and Service. There are no guarantees that this access mode will remain on a file, such as when it goes through a backup and restore. File creation mode: allow all other applications to have write access to the created file.
String NFC_SERVICE Use with getSystemService(String) to retrieve a NfcManager for using NFC.
String NOTIFICATION_SERVICE Use with getSystemService(String) to retrieve a NotificationManager for informing the user of background events.
String NSD_SERVICE Use with getSystemService(String) to retrieve a NsdManager for handling management of network service discovery
String POWER_SERVICE Use with getSystemService(String) to retrieve a PowerManager for controlling power management, including "wake locks," which let you keep the device on while you're running long tasks.
String SEARCH_SERVICE Use with getSystemService(String) to retrieve a SearchManager for handling searches.
String SENSOR_SERVICE Use with getSystemService(String) to retrieve a SensorManager for accessing sensors.
String STORAGE_SERVICE Use with getSystemService(String) to retrieve a StorageManager for accessing system storage functions.
String TELEPHONY_SERVICE Use with getSystemService(String) to retrieve a TelephonyManager for handling management the telephony features of the device.
String TEXT_SERVICES_MANAGER_SERVICE Use with getSystemService(String) to retrieve a TextServicesManager for accessing text services.
String UI_MODE_SERVICE Use with getSystemService(String) to retrieve a UiModeManager for controlling UI modes.
String USB_SERVICE Use with getSystemService(String) to retrieve a UsbManager for access to USB devices (as a USB host) and for controlling this device's behavior as a USB device.
String USER_SERVICE Use with getSystemService(String) to retrieve a UserManager for managing users on devices that support multiple users.
String VIBRATOR_SERVICE Use with getSystemService(String) to retrieve a Vibrator for interacting with the vibration hardware.
String WALLPAPER_SERVICE Use with getSystemService(String) to retrieve a com.android.server.WallpaperService for accessing wallpapers.
String WIFI_P2P_SERVICE Use with getSystemService(String) to retrieve a WifiP2pManager for handling management of Wi-Fi peer-to-peer connections.
String WIFI_SERVICE Use with getSystemService(String) to retrieve a WifiManager for handling management of Wi-Fi access.
String WINDOW_SERVICE Use with getSystemService(String) to retrieve a WindowManager for accessing the system's window manager.
Public Constructors
Context()
Public Methods
abstract boolean bindService(Intent service, ServiceConnection conn, int flags)
Connect to an application service, creating it if needed.
abstract int checkCallingOrSelfPermission(String permission)
Determine whether the calling process of an IPC or you have been granted a particular permission.
abstract int checkCallingOrSelfUriPermission(Uri uri, int modeFlags)
Determine whether the calling process of an IPC or you has been granted permission to access a specific URI.
abstract int checkCallingPermission(String permission)
Determine whether the calling process of an IPC you are handling has been granted a particular permission.
abstract int checkCallingUriPermission(Uri uri, int modeFlags)
Determine whether the calling process and user ID has been granted permission to access a specific URI.
abstract int checkPermission(String permission, int pid, int uid)
Determine whether the given permission is allowed for a particular process and user ID running in the system.
abstract int checkUriPermission(Uri uri, int pid, int uid, int modeFlags)
Determine whether a particular process and user ID has been granted permission to access a specific URI.
abstract int checkUriPermission(Uri uri, String readPermission, String writePermission, int pid, int uid, int modeFlags)
Check both a Uri and normal permission.
abstract void clearWallpaper()
This method was deprecated in API level 5. Use WallpaperManager.clear() instead.

This method requires the caller to hold the permission SET_WALLPAPER.

abstract Context createConfigurationContext(Configuration overrideConfiguration)
Return a new Context object for the current Context but whose resources are adjusted to match the given Configuration.
abstract Context createDisplayContext(Display display)
Return a new Context object for the current Context but whose resources are adjusted to match the metrics of the given Display.
abstract Context createPackageContext(String packageName, int flags)
Return a new Context object for the given application name.
abstract String[] databaseList()
Returns an array of strings naming the private databases associated with this Context's application package.
abstract boolean deleteDatabase(String name)
Delete an existing private SQLiteDatabase associated with this Context's application package.
abstract boolean deleteFile(String name)
Delete the given private file associated with this Context's application package.
abstract void enforceCallingOrSelfPermission(String permission, String message)
If neither you nor the calling process of an IPC you are handling has been granted a particular permission, throw a SecurityException.
abstract void enforceCallingOrSelfUriPermission(Uri uri, int modeFlags, String message)
If the calling process of an IPC or you has not been granted permission to access a specific URI, throw SecurityException.
abstract void enforceCallingPermission(String permission, String message)
If the calling process of an IPC you are handling has not been granted a particular permission, throw a SecurityException.
abstract void enforceCallingUriPermission(Uri uri, int modeFlags, String message)
If the calling process and user ID has not been granted permission to access a specific URI, throw SecurityException.
abstract void enforcePermission(String permission, int pid, int uid, String message)
If the given permission is not allowed for a particular process and user ID running in the system, throw a SecurityException.
abstract void enforceUriPermission(Uri uri, int pid, int uid, int modeFlags, String message)
If a particular process and user ID has not been granted permission to access a specific URI, throw SecurityException.
abstract void enforceUriPermission(Uri uri, String readPermission, String writePermission, int pid, int uid, int modeFlags, String message)
Enforce both a Uri and normal permission.
abstract String[] fileList()
Returns an array of strings naming the private files associated with this Context's application package.
abstract Context getApplicationContext()
Return the context of the single, global Application object of the current process.
abstract ApplicationInfo getApplicationInfo()
Return the full application info for this context's package.
abstract AssetManager getAssets()
Return an AssetManager instance for your application's package.
abstract File getCacheDir()
Returns the absolute path to the application specific cache directory on the filesystem.
abstract ClassLoader getClassLoader()
Return a class loader you can use to retrieve classes in this package.
abstract ContentResolver getContentResolver()
Return a ContentResolver instance for your application's package.
abstract File getDatabasePath(String name)
Returns the absolute path on the filesystem where a database created with openOrCreateDatabase(String, int, SQLiteDatabase.CursorFactory) is stored.
abstract File getDir(String name, int mode)
Retrieve, creating if needed, a new directory in which the application can place its own custom data files.
abstract File getExternalCacheDir()
Returns the absolute path to the directory on the external filesystem (that is somewhere on Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory() where the application can place cache files it owns.
abstract File getExternalFilesDir(String type)
Returns the absolute path to the directory on the external filesystem (that is somewhere on Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory()) where the application can place persistent files it owns.
abstract File getFileStreamPath(String name)
Returns the absolute path on the filesystem where a file created with openFileOutput(String, int) is stored.
abstract File getFilesDir()
Returns the absolute path to the directory on the filesystem where files created with openFileOutput(String, int) are stored.
abstract Looper getMainLooper()
Return the Looper for the main thread of the current process.
abstract File getObbDir()
Return the directory where this application's OBB files (if there are any) can be found.
abstract String getPackageCodePath()
Return the full path to this context's primary Android package.
abstract PackageManager getPackageManager()
Return PackageManager instance to find global package information.
abstract String getPackageName()
Return the name of this application's package.
abstract String getPackageResourcePath()
Return the full path to this context's primary Android package.
abstract Resources getResources()
Return a Resources instance for your application's package.
abstract SharedPreferences getSharedPreferences(String name, int mode)
Retrieve and hold the contents of the preferences file 'name', returning a SharedPreferences through which you can retrieve and modify its values.
final String getString(int resId)
Return a localized string from the application's package's default string table.
final String getString(int resId, Object... formatArgs)
Return a localized formatted string from the application's package's default string table, substituting the format arguments as defined in Formatter and format(String, Object...).
abstract Object getSystemService(String name)
Return the handle to a system-level service by name.
final CharSequence getText(int resId)
Return a localized, styled CharSequence from the application's package's default string table.
abstract Resources.Theme getTheme()
Return the Theme object associated with this Context.
abstract Drawable getWallpaper()
This method was deprecated in API level 5. Use WallpaperManager.get() instead.
abstract int getWallpaperDesiredMinimumHeight()
This method was deprecated in API level 5. Use WallpaperManager.getDesiredMinimumHeight() instead.
abstract int getWallpaperDesiredMinimumWidth()
This method was deprecated in API level 5. Use WallpaperManager.getDesiredMinimumWidth() instead.
abstract void grantUriPermission(String toPackage, Uri uri, int modeFlags)
Grant permission to access a specific Uri to another package, regardless of whether that package has general permission to access the Uri's content provider.
boolean isRestricted()
Indicates whether this Context is restricted.
final TypedArray obtainStyledAttributes(int[] attrs)
Retrieve styled attribute information in this Context's theme.
final TypedArray obtainStyledAttributes(AttributeSet set, int[] attrs)
Retrieve styled attribute information in this Context's theme.
final TypedArray obtainStyledAttributes(int resid, int[] attrs)
Retrieve styled attribute information in this Context's theme.
final TypedArray obtainStyledAttributes(AttributeSet set, int[] attrs, int defStyleAttr, int defStyleRes)
Retrieve styled attribute information in this Context's theme.
abstract FileInputStream openFileInput(String name)
Open a private file associated with this Context's application package for reading.
abstract FileOutputStream openFileOutput(String name, int mode)
Open a private file associated with this Context's application package for writing.
abstract SQLiteDatabase openOrCreateDatabase(String name, int mode, SQLiteDatabase.CursorFactory factory)
Open a new private SQLiteDatabase associated with this Context's application package.
abstract SQLiteDatabase openOrCreateDatabase(String name, int mode, SQLiteDatabase.CursorFactory factory, DatabaseErrorHandler errorHandler)
Open a new private SQLiteDatabase associated with this Context's application package.
abstract Drawable peekWallpaper()
This method was deprecated in API level 5. Use WallpaperManager.peek() instead.
void registerComponentCallbacks(ComponentCallbacks callback)
Add a new ComponentCallbacks to the base application of the Context, which will be called at the same times as the ComponentCallbacks methods of activities and other components are called.
abstract Intent registerReceiver(BroadcastReceiver receiver, IntentFilter filter)
Register a BroadcastReceiver to be run in the main activity thread.
abstract Intent registerReceiver(BroadcastReceiver receiver, IntentFilter filter, String broadcastPermission, Handler scheduler)
Register to receive intent broadcasts, to run in the context of scheduler.
abstract void removeStickyBroadcast(Intent intent)
Remove the data previously sent with sendStickyBroadcast(Intent), so that it is as if the sticky broadcast had never happened.
abstract void removeStickyBroadcastAsUser(Intent intent, UserHandle user)
Version of removeStickyBroadcast(Intent) that allows you to specify the user the broadcast will be sent to.
abstract void revokeUriPermission(Uri uri, int modeFlags)
Remove all permissions to access a particular content provider Uri that were previously added with grantUriPermission(String, Uri, int).
abstract void sendBroadcast(Intent intent)
Broadcast the given intent to all interested BroadcastReceivers.
abstract void sendBroadcast(Intent intent, String receiverPermission)
Broadcast the given intent to all interested BroadcastReceivers, allowing an optional required permission to be enforced.
abstract void sendBroadcastAsUser(Intent intent, UserHandle user)
Version of sendBroadcast(Intent) that allows you to specify the user the broadcast will be sent to.
abstract void sendBroadcastAsUser(Intent intent, UserHandle user, String receiverPermission)
Version of sendBroadcast(Intent, String) that allows you to specify the user the broadcast will be sent to.
abstract void sendOrderedBroadcast(Intent intent, String receiverPermission, BroadcastReceiver resultReceiver, Handler scheduler, int initialCode, String initialData, Bundle initialExtras)
Version of sendBroadcast(Intent) that allows you to receive data back from the broadcast.
abstract void sendOrderedBroadcast(Intent intent, String receiverPermission)
Broadcast the given intent to all interested BroadcastReceivers, delivering them one at a time to allow more preferred receivers to consume the broadcast before it is delivered to less preferred receivers.
abstract void sendOrderedBroadcastAsUser(Intent intent, UserHandle user, String receiverPermission, BroadcastReceiver resultReceiver, Handler scheduler, int initialCode, String initialData, Bundle initialExtras)
Version of sendOrderedBroadcast(Intent, String, BroadcastReceiver, Handler, int, String, Bundle) that allows you to specify the user the broadcast will be sent to.
abstract void sendStickyBroadcast(Intent intent)
Perform a sendBroadcast(Intent) that is "sticky," meaning the Intent you are sending stays around after the broadcast is complete, so that others can quickly retrieve that data through the return value of registerReceiver(BroadcastReceiver, IntentFilter).
abstract void sendStickyBroadcastAsUser(Intent intent, UserHandle user)
Version of sendStickyBroadcast(Intent) that allows you to specify the user the broadcast will be sent to.
abstract void sendStickyOrderedBroadcast(Intent intent, BroadcastReceiver resultReceiver, Handler scheduler, int initialCode, String initialData, Bundle initialExtras)
Version of sendStickyBroadcast(Intent) that allows you to receive data back from the broadcast.
abstract void sendStickyOrderedBroadcastAsUser(Intent intent, UserHandle user, BroadcastReceiver resultReceiver, Handler scheduler, int initialCode, String initialData, Bundle initialExtras)
Version of sendStickyOrderedBroadcast(Intent, BroadcastReceiver, Handler, int, String, Bundle) that allows you to specify the user the broadcast will be sent to.
abstract void setTheme(int resid)
Set the base theme for this context.
abstract void setWallpaper(Bitmap bitmap)
This method was deprecated in API level 5. Use WallpaperManager.set() instead.

This method requires the caller to hold the permission SET_WALLPAPER.

abstract void setWallpaper(InputStream data)
This method was deprecated in API level 5. Use WallpaperManager.set() instead.

This method requires the caller to hold the permission SET_WALLPAPER.

abstract void startActivities(Intent[] intents)
Same as startActivities(Intent[], Bundle) with no options specified.
abstract void startActivities(Intent[] intents, Bundle options)
Launch multiple new activities.
abstract void startActivity(Intent intent)
Same as startActivity(Intent, Bundle) with no options specified.
abstract void startActivity(Intent intent, Bundle options)
Launch a new activity.
abstract boolean startInstrumentation(ComponentName className, String profileFile, Bundle arguments)
Start executing an Instrumentation class.
abstract void startIntentSender(IntentSender intent, Intent fillInIntent, int flagsMask, int flagsValues, int extraFlags, Bundle options)
Like startActivity(Intent, Bundle), but taking a IntentSender to start.
abstract void startIntentSender(IntentSender intent, Intent fillInIntent, int flagsMask, int flagsValues, int extraFlags)
abstract ComponentName startService(Intent service)
Request that a given application service be started.
abstract boolean stopService(Intent service)
Request that a given application service be stopped.
abstract void unbindService(ServiceConnection conn)
Disconnect from an application service.
void unregisterComponentCallbacks(ComponentCallbacks callback)
Remove a ComponentCallbacks objec that was previously registered with registerComponentCallbacks(ComponentCallbacks).
abstract void unregisterReceiver(BroadcastReceiver receiver)
Unregister a previously registered BroadcastReceiver.
[Expand]
Inherited Methods
From class java.lang.Object

Constants

public static final String ACCESSIBILITY_SERVICE

Added in API level 4

Use with getSystemService(String) to retrieve a AccessibilityManager for giving the user feedback for UI events through the registered event listeners.

Constant Value: "accessibility"

public static final String ACCOUNT_SERVICE

Added in API level 5

Use with getSystemService(String) to retrieve a AccountManager for receiving intents at a time of your choosing.

Constant Value: "account"

public static final String ACTIVITY_SERVICE

Added in API level 1

Use with getSystemService(String) to retrieve a ActivityManager for interacting with the global system state.

Constant Value: "activity"

public static final String ALARM_SERVICE

Added in API level 1

Use with getSystemService(String) to retrieve a AlarmManager for receiving intents at a time of your choosing.

Constant Value: "alarm"

public static final String AUDIO_SERVICE

Added in API level 1

Use with getSystemService(String) to retrieve a AudioManager for handling management of volume, ringer modes and audio routing.

Constant Value: "audio"

public static final int BIND_ABOVE_CLIENT

Added in API level 14

Flag for bindService(Intent, ServiceConnection, int): indicates that the client application binding to this service considers the service to be more important than the app itself. When set, the platform will try to have the out of memory killer kill the app before it kills the service it is bound to, though this is not guaranteed to be the case.

Constant Value: 8 (0x00000008)

public static final int BIND_ADJUST_WITH_ACTIVITY

Added in API level 14

Flag for bindService(Intent, ServiceConnection, int): If binding from an activity, allow the target service's process importance to be raised based on whether the activity is visible to the user, regardless whether another flag is used to reduce the amount that the client process's overall importance is used to impact it.

Constant Value: 128 (0x00000080)

public static final int BIND_ALLOW_OOM_MANAGEMENT

Added in API level 14

Flag for bindService(Intent, ServiceConnection, int): allow the process hosting the bound service to go through its normal memory management. It will be treated more like a running service, allowing the system to (temporarily) expunge the process if low on memory or for some other whim it may have, and being more aggressive about making it a candidate to be killed (and restarted) if running for a long time.

Constant Value: 16 (0x00000010)

public static final int BIND_AUTO_CREATE

Added in API level 1

Flag for bindService(Intent, ServiceConnection, int): automatically create the service as long as the binding exists. Note that while this will create the service, its onStartCommand(Intent, int, int) method will still only be called due to an explicit call to startService(Intent). Even without that, though, this still provides you with access to the service object while the service is created.

Note that prior to ICE_CREAM_SANDWICH, not supplying this flag would also impact how important the system consider's the target service's process to be. When set, the only way for it to be raised was by binding from a service in which case it will only be important when that activity is in the foreground. Now to achieve this behavior you must explicitly supply the new flag BIND_ADJUST_WITH_ACTIVITY. For compatibility, old applications that don't specify BIND_AUTO_CREATE will automatically have the flags BIND_WAIVE_PRIORITY and BIND_ADJUST_WITH_ACTIVITY set for them in order to achieve the same result.

Constant Value: 1 (0x00000001)

public static final int BIND_DEBUG_UNBIND

Added in API level 1

Flag for bindService(Intent, ServiceConnection, int): include debugging help for mismatched calls to unbind. When this flag is set, the callstack of the following unbindService(ServiceConnection) call is retained, to be printed if a later incorrect unbind call is made. Note that doing this requires retaining information about the binding that was made for the lifetime of the app, resulting in a leak -- this should only be used for debugging.

Constant Value: 2 (0x00000002)

public static final int BIND_IMPORTANT

Added in API level 14

Flag for bindService(Intent, ServiceConnection, int): this service is very important to the client, so should be brought to the foreground process level when the client is. Normally a process can only be raised to the visibility level by a client, even if that client is in the foreground.

Constant Value: 64 (0x00000040)

public static final int BIND_NOT_FOREGROUND

Added in API level 8

Flag for bindService(Intent, ServiceConnection, int): don't allow this binding to raise the target service's process to the foreground scheduling priority. It will still be raised to at least the same memory priority as the client (so that its process will not be killable in any situation where the client is not killable), but for CPU scheduling purposes it may be left in the background. This only has an impact in the situation where the binding client is a foreground process and the target service is in a background process.

Constant Value: 4 (0x00000004)

public static final int BIND_WAIVE_PRIORITY

Added in API level 14

Flag for bindService(Intent, ServiceConnection, int): don't impact the scheduling or memory management priority of the target service's hosting process. Allows the service's process to be managed on the background LRU list just like a regular application process in the background.

Constant Value: 32 (0x00000020)

public static final String CLIPBOARD_SERVICE

Added in API level 1

Use with getSystemService(String) to retrieve a ClipboardManager for accessing and modifying the contents of the global clipboard.

Constant Value: "clipboard"

public static final String CONNECTIVITY_SERVICE

Added in API level 1

Use with getSystemService(String) to retrieve a ConnectivityManager for handling management of network connections.

Constant Value: "connectivity"

public static final int CONTEXT_IGNORE_SECURITY

Added in API level 1

Flag for use with createPackageContext(String, int): ignore any security restrictions on the Context being requested, allowing it to always be loaded. For use with CONTEXT_INCLUDE_CODE to allow code to be loaded into a process even when it isn't safe to do so. Use with extreme care!

Constant Value: 2 (0x00000002)

public static final int CONTEXT_INCLUDE_CODE

Added in API level 1

Flag for use with createPackageContext(String, int): include the application code with the context. This means loading code into the caller's process, so that getClassLoader() can be used to instantiate the application's classes. Setting this flags imposes security restrictions on what application context you can access; if the requested application can not be safely loaded into your process, java.lang.SecurityException will be thrown. If this flag is not set, there will be no restrictions on the packages that can be loaded, but getClassLoader() will always return the default system class loader.

Constant Value: 1 (0x00000001)

public static final int CONTEXT_RESTRICTED

Added in API level 4

Flag for use with createPackageContext(String, int): a restricted context may disable specific features. For instance, a View associated with a restricted context would ignore particular XML attributes.

Constant Value: 4 (0x00000004)

public static final String DEVICE_POLICY_SERVICE

Added in API level 8

Use with getSystemService(String) to retrieve a DevicePolicyManager for working with global device policy management.

Constant Value: "device_policy"

public static final String DISPLAY_SERVICE

Added in API level 17

Use with getSystemService(String) to retrieve a DisplayManager for interacting with display devices.

Constant Value: "display"

public static final String DOWNLOAD_SERVICE

Added in API level 9

Use with getSystemService(String) to retrieve a DownloadManager for requesting HTTP downloads.

Constant Value: "download"

public static final String DROPBOX_SERVICE

Added in API level 8

Use with getSystemService(String) to retrieve a DropBoxManager instance for recording diagnostic logs.

Constant Value: "dropbox"

public static final String INPUT_METHOD_SERVICE

Added in API level 3

Use with getSystemService(String) to retrieve a InputMethodManager for accessing input methods.

Constant Value: "input_method"

public static final String INPUT_SERVICE

Added in API level 16

Use with getSystemService(String) to retrieve a InputManager for interacting with input devices.

Constant Value: "input"

public static final String KEYGUARD_SERVICE

Added in API level 1

Use with getSystemService(String) to retrieve a NotificationManager for controlling keyguard.

Constant Value: "keyguard"

public static final String LAYOUT_INFLATER_SERVICE

Added in API level 1

Use with getSystemService(String) to retrieve a LayoutInflater for inflating layout resources in this context.

Constant Value: "layout_inflater"

public static final String LOCATION_SERVICE

Added in API level 1

Use with getSystemService(String) to retrieve a LocationManager for controlling location updates.

Constant Value: "location"

public static final String MEDIA_ROUTER_SERVICE

Added in API level 16

Use with getSystemService(String) to retrieve a MediaRouter for controlling and managing routing of media.

Constant Value: "media_router"

public static final int MODE_APPEND

Added in API level 1

File creation mode: for use with openFileOutput(String, int), if the file already exists then write data to the end of the existing file instead of erasing it.

Constant Value: 32768 (0x00008000)

public static final int MODE_ENABLE_WRITE_AHEAD_LOGGING

Added in API level 16

Database open flag: when set, the database is opened with write-ahead logging enabled by default.

Constant Value: 8 (0x00000008)

public static final int MODE_MULTI_PROCESS

Added in API level 11

SharedPreference loading flag: when set, the file on disk will be checked for modification even if the shared preferences instance is already loaded in this process. This behavior is sometimes desired in cases where the application has multiple processes, all writing to the same SharedPreferences file. Generally there are better forms of communication between processes, though.

This was the legacy (but undocumented) behavior in and before Gingerbread (Android 2.3) and this flag is implied when targetting such releases. For applications targetting SDK versions greater than Android 2.3, this flag must be explicitly set if desired.

Constant Value: 4 (0x00000004)

public static final int MODE_PRIVATE

Added in API level 1

File creation mode: the default mode, where the created file can only be accessed by the calling application (or all applications sharing the same user ID).

Constant Value: 0 (0x00000000)

public static final int MODE_WORLD_READABLE

Added in API level 1

This constant was deprecated in API level 17.
Creating world-readable files is very dangerous, and likely to cause security holes in applications. It is strongly discouraged; instead, applications should use more formal mechanism for interactions such as ContentProvider, BroadcastReceiver, and Service. There are no guarantees that this access mode will remain on a file, such as when it goes through a backup and restore. File creation mode: allow all other applications to have read access to the created file.

Constant Value: 1 (0x00000001)

public static final int MODE_WORLD_WRITEABLE

Added in API level 1

This constant was deprecated in API level 17.
Creating world-writable files is very dangerous, and likely to cause security holes in applications. It is strongly discouraged; instead, applications should use more formal mechanism for interactions such as ContentProvider, BroadcastReceiver, and Service. There are no guarantees that this access mode will remain on a file, such as when it goes through a backup and restore. File creation mode: allow all other applications to have write access to the created file.

Constant Value: 2 (0x00000002)

public static final String NFC_SERVICE

Added in API level 10

Use with getSystemService(String) to retrieve a NfcManager for using NFC.

Constant Value: "nfc"

public static final String NOTIFICATION_SERVICE

Added in API level 1

Use with getSystemService(String) to retrieve a NotificationManager for informing the user of background events.

Constant Value: "notification"

public static final String NSD_SERVICE

Added in API level 16

Use with getSystemService(String) to retrieve a NsdManager for handling management of network service discovery

Constant Value: "servicediscovery"

public static final String POWER_SERVICE

Added in API level 1

Use with getSystemService(String) to retrieve a PowerManager for controlling power management, including "wake locks," which let you keep the device on while you're running long tasks.

Constant Value: "power"

public static final String SEARCH_SERVICE

Added in API level 1

Use with getSystemService(String) to retrieve a SearchManager for handling searches.

Constant Value: "search"

public static final String SENSOR_SERVICE

Added in API level 1

Use with getSystemService(String) to retrieve a SensorManager for accessing sensors.

Constant Value: "sensor"

public static final String STORAGE_SERVICE

Added in API level 9

Use with getSystemService(String) to retrieve a StorageManager for accessing system storage functions.

Constant Value: "storage"

public static final String TELEPHONY_SERVICE

Added in API level 1

Use with getSystemService(String) to retrieve a TelephonyManager for handling management the telephony features of the device.

Constant Value: "phone"

public static final String TEXT_SERVICES_MANAGER_SERVICE

Added in API level 14

Use with getSystemService(String) to retrieve a TextServicesManager for accessing text services.

Constant Value: "textservices"

public static final String UI_MODE_SERVICE

Added in API level 8

Use with getSystemService(String) to retrieve a UiModeManager for controlling UI modes.

Constant Value: "uimode"

public static final String USB_SERVICE

Added in API level 12

Use with getSystemService(String) to retrieve a UsbManager for access to USB devices (as a USB host) and for controlling this device's behavior as a USB device.

Constant Value: "usb"

public static final String USER_SERVICE

Added in API level 17

Use with getSystemService(String) to retrieve a UserManager for managing users on devices that support multiple users.

Constant Value: "user"

public static final String VIBRATOR_SERVICE

Added in API level 1

Use with getSystemService(String) to retrieve a Vibrator for interacting with the vibration hardware.

Constant Value: "vibrator"

public static final String WALLPAPER_SERVICE

Added in API level 1

Use with getSystemService(String) to retrieve a com.android.server.WallpaperService for accessing wallpapers.

Constant Value: "wallpaper"

public static final String WIFI_P2P_SERVICE

Added in API level 14

Use with getSystemService(String) to retrieve a WifiP2pManager for handling management of Wi-Fi peer-to-peer connections.

Constant Value: "wifip2p"

public static final String WIFI_SERVICE

Added in API level 1

Use with getSystemService(String) to retrieve a WifiManager for handling management of Wi-Fi access.

Constant Value: "wifi"

public static final String WINDOW_SERVICE

Added in API level 1

Use with getSystemService(String) to retrieve a WindowManager for accessing the system's window manager.

Constant Value: "window"

Public Constructors

public Context ()

Added in API level 1

Public Methods

public abstract boolean bindService (Intent service, ServiceConnection conn, int flags)

Added in API level 1

Connect to an application service, creating it if needed. This defines a dependency between your application and the service. The given conn will receive the service object when it is created and be told if it dies and restarts. The service will be considered required by the system only for as long as the calling context exists. For example, if this Context is an Activity that is stopped, the service will not be required to continue running until the Activity is resumed.

This function will throw SecurityException if you do not have permission to bind to the given service.

Note: this method can not be called from a BroadcastReceiver component. A pattern you can use to communicate from a BroadcastReceiver to a Service is to call startService(Intent) with the arguments containing the command to be sent, with the service calling its stopSelf(int) method when done executing that command. See the API demo App/Service/Service Start Arguments Controller for an illustration of this. It is okay, however, to use this method from a BroadcastReceiver that has been registered with registerReceiver(BroadcastReceiver, IntentFilter), since the lifetime of this BroadcastReceiver is tied to another object (the one that registered it).

Parameters
service Identifies the service to connect to. The Intent may specify either an explicit component name, or a logical description (action, category, etc) to match an IntentFilter published by a service.
conn Receives information as the service is started and stopped. This must be a valid ServiceConnection object; it must not be null.
flags Operation options for the binding. May be 0, BIND_AUTO_CREATE, BIND_DEBUG_UNBIND, BIND_NOT_FOREGROUND, BIND_ABOVE_CLIENT, BIND_ALLOW_OOM_MANAGEMENT, or BIND_WAIVE_PRIORITY.
Returns
  • If you have successfully bound to the service, true is returned; false is returned if the connection is not made so you will not receive the service object.
Throws
SecurityException

public abstract int checkCallingOrSelfPermission (String permission)

Added in API level 1

Determine whether the calling process of an IPC or you have been granted a particular permission. This is the same as checkCallingPermission(String), except it grants your own permissions if you are not currently processing an IPC. Use with care!

Parameters
permission The name of the permission being checked.
Returns

public abstract int checkCallingOrSelfUriPermission (Uri uri, int modeFlags)

Added in API level 1

Determine whether the calling process of an IPC or you has been granted permission to access a specific URI. This is the same as checkCallingUriPermission(Uri, int), except it grants your own permissions if you are not currently processing an IPC. Use with care!

Parameters
uri The uri that is being checked.
modeFlags The type of access to grant. May be one or both of Intent.FLAG_GRANT_READ_URI_PERMISSION or Intent.FLAG_GRANT_WRITE_URI_PERMISSION.
Returns

public abstract int checkCallingPermission (String permission)

Added in API level 1

Determine whether the calling process of an IPC you are handling has been granted a particular permission. This is basically the same as calling checkPermission(String, int, int) with the pid and uid returned by getCallingPid() and getCallingUid(). One important difference is that if you are not currently processing an IPC, this function will always fail. This is done to protect against accidentally leaking permissions; you can use checkCallingOrSelfPermission(String) to avoid this protection.

Parameters
permission The name of the permission being checked.
Returns

public abstract int checkCallingUriPermission (Uri uri, int modeFlags)

Added in API level 1

Determine whether the calling process and user ID has been granted permission to access a specific URI. This is basically the same as calling checkUriPermission(Uri, int, int, int) with the pid and uid returned by getCallingPid() and getCallingUid(). One important difference is that if you are not currently processing an IPC, this function will always fail.

Parameters
uri The uri that is being checked.
modeFlags The type of access to grant. May be one or both of Intent.FLAG_GRANT_READ_URI_PERMISSION or Intent.FLAG_GRANT_WRITE_URI_PERMISSION.
Returns

public abstract int checkPermission (String permission, int pid, int uid)

Added in API level 1

Determine whether the given permission is allowed for a particular process and user ID running in the system.

Parameters
permission The name of the permission being checked.
pid The process ID being checked against. Must be > 0.
uid The user ID being checked against. A uid of 0 is the root user, which will pass every permission check.
Returns

public abstract int checkUriPermission (Uri uri, int pid, int uid, int modeFlags)

Added in API level 1

Determine whether a particular process and user ID has been granted permission to access a specific URI. This only checks for permissions that have been explicitly granted -- if the given process/uid has more general access to the URI's content provider then this check will always fail.

Parameters
uri The uri that is being checked.
pid The process ID being checked against. Must be > 0.
uid The user ID being checked against. A uid of 0 is the root user, which will pass every permission check.
modeFlags The type of access to grant. May be one or both of Intent.FLAG_GRANT_READ_URI_PERMISSION or Intent.FLAG_GRANT_WRITE_URI_PERMISSION.
Returns

public abstract int checkUriPermission (Uri uri, String readPermission, String writePermission, int pid, int uid, int modeFlags)

Added in API level 1

Check both a Uri and normal permission. This allows you to perform both checkPermission(String, int, int) and checkUriPermission(Uri, int, int, int) in one call.

Parameters
uri The Uri whose permission is to be checked, or null to not do this check.
readPermission The permission that provides overall read access, or null to not do this check.
writePermission The permission that provides overall write acess, or null to not do this check.
pid The process ID being checked against. Must be > 0.
uid The user ID being checked against. A uid of 0 is the root user, which will pass every permission check.
modeFlags The type of access to grant. May be one or both of Intent.FLAG_GRANT_READ_URI_PERMISSION or Intent.FLAG_GRANT_WRITE_URI_PERMISSION.
Returns

public abstract void clearWallpaper ()

Added in API level 1

This method was deprecated in API level 5.
Use WallpaperManager.clear() instead.

This method requires the caller to hold the permission SET_WALLPAPER.

Throws
IOException

public abstract Context createConfigurationContext (Configuration overrideConfiguration)

Added in API level 17

Return a new Context object for the current Context but whose resources are adjusted to match the given Configuration. Each call to this method returns a new instance of a Context object; Context objects are not shared, however common state (ClassLoader, other Resources for the same configuration) may be so the Context itself can be fairly lightweight.

Parameters
overrideConfiguration A Configuration specifying what values to modify in the base Configuration of the original Context's resources. If the base configuration changes (such as due to an orientation change), the resources of this context will also change except for those that have been explicitly overridden with a value here.
Returns
  • A Context with the given configuration override.

public abstract Context createDisplayContext (Display display)

Added in API level 17

Return a new Context object for the current Context but whose resources are adjusted to match the metrics of the given Display. Each call to this method returns a new instance of a Context object; Context objects are not shared, however common state (ClassLoader, other Resources for the same configuration) may be so the Context itself can be fairly lightweight. The returned display Context provides a WindowManager (see getSystemService(String)) that is configured to show windows on the given display. The WindowManager's getDefaultDisplay() method can be used to retrieve the Display from the returned Context.

Parameters
display A Display object specifying the display for whose metrics the Context's resources should be tailored and upon which new windows should be shown.
Returns
  • A Context for the display.

public abstract Context createPackageContext (String packageName, int flags)

Added in API level 1

Return a new Context object for the given application name. This Context is the same as what the named application gets when it is launched, containing the same resources and class loader. Each call to this method returns a new instance of a Context object; Context objects are not shared, however they share common state (Resources, ClassLoader, etc) so the Context instance itself is fairly lightweight.

Throws PackageManager.NameNotFoundException if there is no application with the given package name.

Throws SecurityException if the Context requested can not be loaded into the caller's process for security reasons (see CONTEXT_INCLUDE_CODE for more information}.

Parameters
packageName Name of the application's package.
flags Option flags, one of CONTEXT_INCLUDE_CODE or CONTEXT_IGNORE_SECURITY.
Returns
  • A Context for the application.
Throws
java.lang.SecurityException
if there is no application with the given package name
PackageManager.NameNotFoundException

public abstract String[] databaseList ()

Added in API level 1

Returns an array of strings naming the private databases associated with this Context's application package.

Returns
  • Array of strings naming the private databases.

public abstract boolean deleteDatabase (String name)

Added in API level 1

Delete an existing private SQLiteDatabase associated with this Context's application package.

Parameters
name The name (unique in the application package) of the database.
Returns
  • True if the database was successfully deleted; else false.

public abstract boolean deleteFile (String name)

Added in API level 1

Delete the given private file associated with this Context's application package.

Parameters
name The name of the file to delete; can not contain path separators.
Returns
  • True if the file was successfully deleted; else false.

public abstract void enforceCallingOrSelfPermission (String permission, String message)

Added in API level 1

If neither you nor the calling process of an IPC you are handling has been granted a particular permission, throw a SecurityException. This is the same as enforceCallingPermission(String, String), except it grants your own permissions if you are not currently processing an IPC. Use with care!

Parameters
permission The name of the permission being checked.
message A message to include in the exception if it is thrown.

public abstract void enforceCallingOrSelfUriPermission (Uri uri, int modeFlags, String message)

Added in API level 1

If the calling process of an IPC or you has not been granted permission to access a specific URI, throw SecurityException. This is the same as enforceCallingUriPermission(Uri, int, String), except it grants your own permissions if you are not currently processing an IPC. Use with care!

Parameters
uri The uri that is being checked.
modeFlags The type of access to grant. May be one or both of Intent.FLAG_GRANT_READ_URI_PERMISSION or Intent.FLAG_GRANT_WRITE_URI_PERMISSION.
message A message to include in the exception if it is thrown.

public abstract void enforceCallingPermission (String permission, String message)

Added in API level 1

If the calling process of an IPC you are handling has not been granted a particular permission, throw a SecurityException. This is basically the same as calling enforcePermission(String, int, int, String) with the pid and uid returned by getCallingPid() and getCallingUid(). One important difference is that if you are not currently processing an IPC, this function will always throw the SecurityException. This is done to protect against accidentally leaking permissions; you can use enforceCallingOrSelfPermission(String, String) to avoid this protection.

Parameters
permission The name of the permission being checked.
message A message to include in the exception if it is thrown.

public abstract void enforceCallingUriPermission (Uri uri, int modeFlags, String message)

Added in API level 1

If the calling process and user ID has not been granted permission to access a specific URI, throw SecurityException. This is basically the same as calling enforceUriPermission(Uri, int, int, int, String) with the pid and uid returned by getCallingPid() and getCallingUid(). One important difference is that if you are not currently processing an IPC, this function will always throw a SecurityException.

Parameters
uri The uri that is being checked.
modeFlags The type of access to grant. May be one or both of Intent.FLAG_GRANT_READ_URI_PERMISSION or Intent.FLAG_GRANT_WRITE_URI_PERMISSION.
message A message to include in the exception if it is thrown.

public abstract void enforcePermission (String permission, int pid, int uid, String message)

Added in API level 1

If the given permission is not allowed for a particular process and user ID running in the system, throw a SecurityException.

Parameters
permission The name of the permission being checked.
pid The process ID being checked against. Must be > 0.
uid The user ID being checked against. A uid of 0 is the root user, which will pass every permission check.
message A message to include in the exception if it is thrown.

public abstract void enforceUriPermission (Uri uri, int pid, int uid, int modeFlags, String message)

Added in API level 1

If a particular process and user ID has not been granted permission to access a specific URI, throw SecurityException. This only checks for permissions that have been explicitly granted -- if the given process/uid has more general access to the URI's content provider then this check will always fail.

Parameters
uri The uri that is being checked.
pid The process ID being checked against. Must be > 0.
uid The user ID being checked against. A uid of 0 is the root user, which will pass every permission check.
modeFlags The type of access to grant. May be one or both of Intent.FLAG_GRANT_READ_URI_PERMISSION or Intent.FLAG_GRANT_WRITE_URI_PERMISSION.
message A message to include in the exception if it is thrown.

public abstract void enforceUriPermission (Uri uri, String readPermission, String writePermission, int pid, int uid, int modeFlags, String message)

Added in API level 1

Enforce both a Uri and normal permission. This allows you to perform both enforcePermission(String, int, int, String) and enforceUriPermission(Uri, int, int, int, String) in one call.

Parameters
uri The Uri whose permission is to be checked, or null to not do this check.
readPermission The permission that provides overall read access, or null to not do this check.
writePermission The permission that provides overall write acess, or null to not do this check.
pid The process ID being checked against. Must be > 0.
uid The user ID being checked against. A uid of 0 is the root user, which will pass every permission check.
modeFlags The type of access to grant. May be one or both of Intent.FLAG_GRANT_READ_URI_PERMISSION or Intent.FLAG_GRANT_WRITE_URI_PERMISSION.
message A message to include in the exception if it is thrown.

public abstract String[] fileList ()

Added in API level 1

Returns an array of strings naming the private files associated with this Context's application package.

Returns
  • Array of strings naming the private files.

public abstract Context getApplicationContext ()

Added in API level 1

Return the context of the single, global Application object of the current process. This generally should only be used if you need a Context whose lifecycle is separate from the current context, that is tied to the lifetime of the process rather than the current component.

Consider for example how this interacts with registerReceiver(BroadcastReceiver, IntentFilter):

  • If used from an Activity context, the receiver is being registered within that activity. This means that you are expected to unregister before the activity is done being destroyed; in fact if you do not do so, the framework will clean up your leaked registration as it removes the activity and log an error. Thus, if you use the Activity context to register a receiver that is static (global to the process, not associated with an Activity instance) then that registration will be removed on you at whatever point the activity you used is destroyed.

  • If used from the Context returned here, the receiver is being registered with the global state associated with your application. Thus it will never be unregistered for you. This is necessary if the receiver is associated with static data, not a particular component. However using the ApplicationContext elsewhere can easily lead to serious leaks if you forget to unregister, unbind, etc.

public abstract ApplicationInfo getApplicationInfo ()

Added in API level 4

Return the full application info for this context's package.

public abstract AssetManager getAssets ()

Added in API level 1

Return an AssetManager instance for your application's package.

public abstract File getCacheDir ()

Added in API level 1

Returns the absolute path to the application specific cache directory on the filesystem. These files will be ones that get deleted first when the device runs low on storage. There is no guarantee when these files will be deleted. Note: you should not rely on the system deleting these files for you; you should always have a reasonable maximum, such as 1 MB, for the amount of space you consume with cache files, and prune those files when exceeding that space.

Returns
  • Returns the path of the directory holding application cache files.

public abstract ClassLoader getClassLoader ()

Added in API level 1

Return a class loader you can use to retrieve classes in this package.

public abstract ContentResolver getContentResolver ()

Added in API level 1

Return a ContentResolver instance for your application's package.

public abstract File getDatabasePath (String name)

Added in API level 1

Returns the absolute path on the filesystem where a database created with openOrCreateDatabase(String, int, SQLiteDatabase.CursorFactory) is stored.

Parameters
name The name of the database for which you would like to get its path.
Returns
  • Returns an absolute path to the given database.

public abstract File getDir (String name, int mode)

Added in API level 1

Retrieve, creating if needed, a new directory in which the application can place its own custom data files. You can use the returned File object to create and access files in this directory. Note that files created through a File object will only be accessible by your own application; you can only set the mode of the entire directory, not of individual files.

Parameters
name Name of the directory to retrieve. This is a directory that is created as part of your application data.
mode Operating mode. Use 0 or MODE_PRIVATE for the default operation, MODE_WORLD_READABLE and MODE_WORLD_WRITEABLE to control permissions.
Returns
  • Returns a File object for the requested directory. The directory will have been created if it does not already exist.

public abstract File getExternalCacheDir ()

Added in API level 8

Returns the absolute path to the directory on the external filesystem (that is somewhere on Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory() where the application can place cache files it owns.

This is like getCacheDir() in that these files will be deleted when the application is uninstalled, however there are some important differences:

  • The platform does not always monitor the space available in external storage, and thus may not automatically delete these files. Currently the only time files here will be deleted by the platform is when running on JELLY_BEAN_MR1 or later and Environment.isExternalStorageEmulated() returns true. Note that you should be managing the maximum space you will use for these anyway, just like with getCacheDir().
  • External files are not always available: they will disappear if the user mounts the external storage on a computer or removes it. See the APIs on Environment for information in the storage state.
  • There is no security enforced with these files. All applications can read and write files placed here.

On devices with multiple users (as described by UserManager), each user has their own isolated external storage. Applications only have access to the external storage for the user they're running as.

Writing to this path requires the WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE permission.

Returns
  • Returns the path of the directory holding application cache files on external storage. Returns null if external storage is not currently mounted so it could not ensure the path exists; you will need to call this method again when it is available.
See Also

public abstract File getExternalFilesDir (String type)

Added in API level 8

Returns the absolute path to the directory on the external filesystem (that is somewhere on Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory()) where the application can place persistent files it owns. These files are private to the applications, and not typically visible to the user as media.

This is like getFilesDir() in that these files will be deleted when the application is uninstalled, however there are some important differences:

  • External files are not always available: they will disappear if the user mounts the external storage on a computer or removes it. See the APIs on Environment for information in the storage state.
  • There is no security enforced with these files. All applications can read and write files placed here.

On devices with multiple users (as described by UserManager), each user has their own isolated external storage. Applications only have access to the external storage for the user they're running as.

Here is an example of typical code to manipulate a file in an application's private storage:

void createExternalStoragePrivateFile() {
    // Create a path where we will place our private file on external
    // storage.
    File file = new File(getExternalFilesDir(null), "DemoFile.jpg");

    try {
        // Very simple code to copy a picture from the application's
        // resource into the external file.  Note that this code does
        // no error checking, and assumes the picture is small (does not
        // try to copy it in chunks).  Note that if external storage is
        // not currently mounted this will silently fail.
        InputStream is = getResources().openRawResource(R.drawable.balloons);
        OutputStream os = new FileOutputStream(file);
        byte[] data = new byte[is.available()];
        is.read(data);
        os.write(data);
        is.close();
        os.close();
    } catch (IOException e) {
        // Unable to create file, likely because external storage is
        // not currently mounted.
        Log.w("ExternalStorage", "Error writing " + file, e);
    }
}

void deleteExternalStoragePrivateFile() {
    // Get path for the file on external storage.  If external
    // storage is not currently mounted this will fail.
    File file = new File(getExternalFilesDir(null), "DemoFile.jpg");
    if (file != null) {
        file.delete();
    }
}

boolean hasExternalStoragePrivateFile() {
    // Get path for the file on external storage.  If external
    // storage is not currently mounted this will fail.
    File file = new File(getExternalFilesDir(null), "DemoFile.jpg");
    if (file != null) {
        return file.exists();
    }
    return false;
}

If you supply a non-null type to this function, the returned file will be a path to a sub-directory of the given type. Though these files are not automatically scanned by the media scanner, you can explicitly add them to the media database with MediaScannerConnection.scanFile. Note that this is not the same as Environment.getExternalStoragePublicDirectory(), which provides directories of media shared by all applications. The directories returned here are owned by the application, and their contents will be removed when the application is uninstalled. Unlike Environment.getExternalStoragePublicDirectory(), the directory returned here will be automatically created for you.

Here is an example of typical code to manipulate a picture in an application's private storage and add it to the media database:

void createExternalStoragePrivatePicture() {
    // Create a path where we will place our picture in our own private
    // pictures directory.  Note that we don't really need to place a
    // picture in DIRECTORY_PICTURES, since the media scanner will see
    // all media in these directories; this may be useful with other
    // media types such as DIRECTORY_MUSIC however to help it classify
    // your media for display to the user.
    File path = getExternalFilesDir(Environment.DIRECTORY_PICTURES);
    File file = new File(path, "DemoPicture.jpg");

    try {
        // Very simple code to copy a picture from the application's
        // resource into the external file.  Note that this code does
        // no error checking, and assumes the picture is small (does not
        // try to copy it in chunks).  Note that if external storage is
        // not currently mounted this will silently fail.
        InputStream is = getResources().openRawResource(R.drawable.balloons);
        OutputStream os = new FileOutputStream(file);
        byte[] data = new byte[is.available()];
        is.read(data);
        os.write(data);
        is.close();
        os.close();

        // Tell the media scanner about the new file so that it is
        // immediately available to the user.
        MediaScannerConnection.scanFile(this,
                new String[] { file.toString() }, null,
                new MediaScannerConnection.OnScanCompletedListener() {
            public void onScanCompleted(String path, Uri uri) {
                Log.i("ExternalStorage", "Scanned " + path + ":");
                Log.i("ExternalStorage", "-> uri=" + uri);
            }
        });
    } catch (IOException e) {
        // Unable to create file, likely because external storage is
        // not currently mounted.
        Log.w("ExternalStorage", "Error writing " + file, e);
    }
}

void deleteExternalStoragePrivatePicture() {
    // Create a path where we will place our picture in the user's
    // public pictures directory and delete the file.  If external
    // storage is not currently mounted this will fail.
    File path = getExternalFilesDir(Environment.DIRECTORY_PICTURES);
    if (path != null) {
        File file = new File(path, "DemoPicture.jpg");
        file.delete();
    }
}

boolean hasExternalStoragePrivatePicture() {
    // Create a path where we will place our picture in the user's
    // public pictures directory and check if the file exists.  If
    // external storage is not currently mounted this will think the
    // picture doesn't exist.
    File path = getExternalFilesDir(Environment.DIRECTORY_PICTURES);
    if (path != null) {
        File file = new File(path, "DemoPicture.jpg");
        return file.exists();
    }
    return false;
}

Writing to this path requires the WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE permission.

Parameters
type The type of files directory to return. May be null for the root of the files directory or one of the following Environment constants for a subdirectory: DIRECTORY_MUSIC, DIRECTORY_PODCASTS, DIRECTORY_RINGTONES, DIRECTORY_ALARMS, DIRECTORY_NOTIFICATIONS, DIRECTORY_PICTURES, or DIRECTORY_MOVIES.
Returns
  • Returns the path of the directory holding application files on external storage. Returns null if external storage is not currently mounted so it could not ensure the path exists; you will need to call this method again when it is available.

public abstract File getFileStreamPath (String name)

Added in API level 1

Returns the absolute path on the filesystem where a file created with openFileOutput(String, int) is stored.

Parameters
name The name of the file for which you would like to get its path.
Returns
  • Returns an absolute path to the given file.

public abstract File getFilesDir ()

Added in API level 1

Returns the absolute path to the directory on the filesystem where files created with openFileOutput(String, int) are stored.

Returns
  • Returns the path of the directory holding application files.

public abstract Looper getMainLooper ()

Added in API level 1

Return the Looper for the main thread of the current process. This is the thread used to dispatch calls to application components (activities, services, etc).

public abstract File getObbDir ()

Added in API level 11

Return the directory where this application's OBB files (if there are any) can be found. Note if the application does not have any OBB files, this directory may not exist.

On devices with multiple users (as described by UserManager), multiple users may share the same OBB storage location. Applications should ensure that multiple instances running under different users don't interfere with each other.

public abstract String getPackageCodePath ()

Added in API level 8

Return the full path to this context's primary Android package. The Android package is a ZIP file which contains application's primary code and assets.

Note: this is not generally useful for applications, since they should not be directly accessing the file system.

Returns
  • String Path to the code and assets.

public abstract PackageManager getPackageManager ()

Added in API level 1

Return PackageManager instance to find global package information.

public abstract String getPackageName ()

Added in API level 1

Return the name of this application's package.

public abstract String getPackageResourcePath ()

Added in API level 8

Return the full path to this context's primary Android package. The Android package is a ZIP file which contains the application's primary resources.

Note: this is not generally useful for applications, since they should not be directly accessing the file system.

Returns
  • String Path to the resources.

public abstract Resources getResources ()

Added in API level 1

Return a Resources instance for your application's package.

public abstract SharedPreferences getSharedPreferences (String name, int mode)

Added in API level 1

Retrieve and hold the contents of the preferences file 'name', returning a SharedPreferences through which you can retrieve and modify its values. Only one instance of the SharedPreferences object is returned to any callers for the same name, meaning they will see each other's edits as soon as they are made.

Parameters
name Desired preferences file. If a preferences file by this name does not exist, it will be created when you retrieve an editor (SharedPreferences.edit()) and then commit changes (Editor.commit()).
mode Operating mode. Use 0 or MODE_PRIVATE for the default operation, MODE_WORLD_READABLE and MODE_WORLD_WRITEABLE to control permissions. The bit MODE_MULTI_PROCESS can also be used if multiple processes are mutating the same SharedPreferences file. MODE_MULTI_PROCESS is always on in apps targetting Gingerbread (Android 2.3) and below, and off by default in later versions.
Returns
  • Returns the single SharedPreferences instance that can be used to retrieve and modify the preference values.

public final String getString (int resId)

Added in API level 1

Return a localized string from the application's package's default string table.

Parameters
resId Resource id for the string

public final String getString (int resId, Object... formatArgs)

Added in API level 1

Return a localized formatted string from the application's package's default string table, substituting the format arguments as defined in Formatter and format(String, Object...).

Parameters
resId Resource id for the format string
formatArgs The format arguments that will be used for substitution.

public abstract Object getSystemService (String name)

Added in API level 1

Return the handle to a system-level service by name. The class of the returned object varies by the requested name. Currently available names are:

WINDOW_SERVICE ("window")
The top-level window manager in which you can place custom windows. The returned object is a WindowManager.
LAYOUT_INFLATER_SERVICE ("layout_inflater")
A LayoutInflater for inflating layout resources in this context.
ACTIVITY_SERVICE ("activity")
A ActivityManager for interacting with the global activity state of the system.
POWER_SERVICE ("power")
A PowerManager for controlling power management.
ALARM_SERVICE ("alarm")
A AlarmManager for receiving intents at the time of your choosing.
NOTIFICATION_SERVICE ("notification")
A NotificationManager for informing the user of background events.
KEYGUARD_SERVICE ("keyguard")
A KeyguardManager for controlling keyguard.
LOCATION_SERVICE ("location")
A LocationManager for controlling location (e.g., GPS) updates.
SEARCH_SERVICE ("search")
A SearchManager for handling search.
VIBRATOR_SERVICE ("vibrator")
A Vibrator for interacting with the vibrator hardware.
CONNECTIVITY_SERVICE ("connection")
A ConnectivityManager for handling management of network connections.
WIFI_SERVICE ("wifi")
A WifiManager for management of Wi-Fi connectivity.
INPUT_METHOD_SERVICE ("input_method")
An InputMethodManager for management of input methods.
UI_MODE_SERVICE ("uimode")
An UiModeManager for controlling UI modes.
DOWNLOAD_SERVICE ("download")
A DownloadManager for requesting HTTP downloads

Note: System services obtained via this API may be closely associated with the Context in which they are obtained from. In general, do not share the service objects between various different contexts (Activities, Applications, Services, Providers, etc.)

Parameters
name The name of the desired service.
Returns
  • The service or null if the name does not exist.

public final CharSequence getText (int resId)

Added in API level 1

Return a localized, styled CharSequence from the application's package's default string table.

Parameters
resId Resource id for the CharSequence text

public abstract Resources.Theme getTheme ()

Added in API level 1

Return the Theme object associated with this Context.

public abstract Drawable getWallpaper ()

Added in API level 1

This method was deprecated in API level 5.
Use WallpaperManager.get() instead.

public abstract int getWallpaperDesiredMinimumHeight ()

Added in API level 1

This method was deprecated in API level 5.
Use WallpaperManager.getDesiredMinimumHeight() instead.

public abstract int getWallpaperDesiredMinimumWidth ()

Added in API level 1

This method was deprecated in API level 5.
Use WallpaperManager.getDesiredMinimumWidth() instead.

public abstract void grantUriPermission (String toPackage, Uri uri, int modeFlags)

Added in API level 1

Grant permission to access a specific Uri to another package, regardless of whether that package has general permission to access the Uri's content provider. This can be used to grant specific, temporary permissions, typically in response to user interaction (such as the user opening an attachment that you would like someone else to display).

Normally you should use Intent.FLAG_GRANT_READ_URI_PERMISSION or Intent.FLAG_GRANT_WRITE_URI_PERMISSION with the Intent being used to start an activity instead of this function directly. If you use this function directly, you should be sure to call revokeUriPermission(Uri, int) when the target should no longer be allowed to access it.

To succeed, the content provider owning the Uri must have set the grantUriPermissions attribute in its manifest or included the <grant-uri-permissions> tag.

Parameters
toPackage The package you would like to allow to access the Uri.
uri The Uri you would like to grant access to.
modeFlags The desired access modes. Any combination of Intent.FLAG_GRANT_READ_URI_PERMISSION or Intent.FLAG_GRANT_WRITE_URI_PERMISSION.

public boolean isRestricted ()

Added in API level 4

Indicates whether this Context is restricted.

Returns
  • True if this Context is restricted, false otherwise.

public final TypedArray obtainStyledAttributes (int[] attrs)

Added in API level 1

Retrieve styled attribute information in this Context's theme. See obtainStyledAttributes(int[]) for more information.

public final TypedArray obtainStyledAttributes (AttributeSet set, int[] attrs)

Added in API level 1

Retrieve styled attribute information in this Context's theme. See obtainStyledAttributes(AttributeSet, int[], int, int) for more information.

public final TypedArray obtainStyledAttributes (int resid, int[] attrs)

Added in API level 1

Retrieve styled attribute information in this Context's theme. See obtainStyledAttributes(int, int[]) for more information.

public final TypedArray obtainStyledAttributes (AttributeSet set, int[] attrs, int defStyleAttr, int defStyleRes)

Added in API level 1

Retrieve styled attribute information in this Context's theme. See obtainStyledAttributes(AttributeSet, int[], int, int) for more information.

public abstract FileInputStream openFileInput (String name)

Added in API level 1

Open a private file associated with this Context's application package for reading.

Parameters
name The name of the file to open; can not contain path separators.
Returns
  • FileInputStream Resulting input stream.

public abstract FileOutputStream openFileOutput (String name, int mode)

Added in API level 1

Open a private file associated with this Context's application package for writing. Creates the file if it doesn't already exist.

Parameters
name The name of the file to open; can not contain path separators.
mode Operating mode. Use 0 or MODE_PRIVATE for the default operation, MODE_APPEND to append to an existing file, MODE_WORLD_READABLE and MODE_WORLD_WRITEABLE to control permissions.
Returns
  • FileOutputStream Resulting output stream.

public abstract SQLiteDatabase openOrCreateDatabase (String name, int mode, SQLiteDatabase.CursorFactory factory)

Added in API level 1

Open a new private SQLiteDatabase associated with this Context's application package. Create the database file if it doesn't exist.

Parameters
name The name (unique in the application package) of the database.
mode Operating mode. Use 0 or MODE_PRIVATE for the default operation, MODE_WORLD_READABLE and MODE_WORLD_WRITEABLE to control permissions. Use MODE_ENABLE_WRITE_AHEAD_LOGGING to enable write-ahead logging by default.
factory An optional factory class that is called to instantiate a cursor when query is called.
Returns
  • The contents of a newly created database with the given name.
Throws
SQLiteException if the database file could not be opened.

public abstract SQLiteDatabase openOrCreateDatabase (String name, int mode, SQLiteDatabase.CursorFactory factory, DatabaseErrorHandler errorHandler)

Added in API level 11

Open a new private SQLiteDatabase associated with this Context's application package. Creates the database file if it doesn't exist.

Accepts input param: a concrete instance of DatabaseErrorHandler to be used to handle corruption when sqlite reports database corruption.

Parameters
name The name (unique in the application package) of the database.
mode Operating mode. Use 0 or MODE_PRIVATE for the default operation, MODE_WORLD_READABLE and MODE_WORLD_WRITEABLE to control permissions. Use MODE_ENABLE_WRITE_AHEAD_LOGGING to enable write-ahead logging by default.
factory An optional factory class that is called to instantiate a cursor when query is called.
errorHandler the DatabaseErrorHandler to be used when sqlite reports database corruption. if null, DefaultDatabaseErrorHandler is assumed.
Returns
  • The contents of a newly created database with the given name.
Throws
SQLiteException if the database file could not be opened.

public abstract Drawable peekWallpaper ()

Added in API level 1

This method was deprecated in API level 5.
Use WallpaperManager.peek() instead.

public void registerComponentCallbacks (ComponentCallbacks callback)

Added in API level 14

Add a new ComponentCallbacks to the base application of the Context, which will be called at the same times as the ComponentCallbacks methods of activities and other components are called. Note that you must be sure to use unregisterComponentCallbacks(ComponentCallbacks) when appropriate in the future; this will not be removed for you.

Parameters
callback The interface to call. This can be either a ComponentCallbacks or ComponentCallbacks2 interface.

public abstract Intent registerReceiver (BroadcastReceiver receiver, IntentFilter filter)

Added in API level 1

Register a BroadcastReceiver to be run in the main activity thread. The receiver will be called with any broadcast Intent that matches filter, in the main application thread.

The system may broadcast Intents that are "sticky" -- these stay around after the broadcast as finished, to be sent to any later registrations. If your IntentFilter matches one of these sticky Intents, that Intent will be returned by this function and sent to your receiver as if it had just been broadcast.

There may be multiple sticky Intents that match filter, in which case each of these will be sent to receiver. In this case, only one of these can be returned directly by the function; which of these that is returned is arbitrarily decided by the system.

If you know the Intent your are registering for is sticky, you can supply null for your receiver. In this case, no receiver is registered -- the function simply returns the sticky Intent that matches filter. In the case of multiple matches, the same rules as described above apply.

See BroadcastReceiver for more information on Intent broadcasts.

As of ICE_CREAM_SANDWICH, receivers registered with this method will correctly respect the setPackage(String) specified for an Intent being broadcast. Prior to that, it would be ignored and delivered to all matching registered receivers. Be careful if using this for security.

Note: this method cannot be called from a BroadcastReceiver component; that is, from a BroadcastReceiver that is declared in an application's manifest. It is okay, however, to call this method from another BroadcastReceiver that has itself been registered at run time with registerReceiver(BroadcastReceiver, IntentFilter), since the lifetime of such a registered BroadcastReceiver is tied to the object that registered it.

Parameters
receiver The BroadcastReceiver to handle the broadcast.
filter Selects the Intent broadcasts to be received.
Returns
  • The first sticky intent found that matches filter, or null if there are none.

public abstract Intent registerReceiver (BroadcastReceiver receiver, IntentFilter filter, String broadcastPermission, Handler scheduler)

Added in API level 1

Register to receive intent broadcasts, to run in the context of scheduler. See registerReceiver(BroadcastReceiver, IntentFilter) for more information. This allows you to enforce permissions on who can broadcast intents to your receiver, or have the receiver run in a different thread than the main application thread.

See BroadcastReceiver for more information on Intent broadcasts.

As of ICE_CREAM_SANDWICH, receivers registered with this method will correctly respect the setPackage(String) specified for an Intent being broadcast. Prior to that, it would be ignored and delivered to all matching registered receivers. Be careful if using this for security.

Parameters
receiver The BroadcastReceiver to handle the broadcast.
filter Selects the Intent broadcasts to be received.
broadcastPermission String naming a permissions that a broadcaster must hold in order to send an Intent to you. If null, no permission is required.
scheduler Handler identifying the thread that will receive the Intent. If null, the main thread of the process will be used.
Returns
  • The first sticky intent found that matches filter, or null if there are none.

public abstract void removeStickyBroadcast (Intent intent)

Added in API level 1

Remove the data previously sent with sendStickyBroadcast(Intent), so that it is as if the sticky broadcast had never happened.

You must hold the BROADCAST_STICKY permission in order to use this API. If you do not hold that permission, SecurityException will be thrown.

Parameters
intent The Intent that was previously broadcast.

public abstract void removeStickyBroadcastAsUser (Intent intent, UserHandle user)

Added in API level 17

Version of removeStickyBroadcast(Intent) that allows you to specify the user the broadcast will be sent to. This is not available to applications that are not pre-installed on the system image. Using it requires holding the INTERACT_ACROSS_USERS permission.

You must hold the BROADCAST_STICKY permission in order to use this API. If you do not hold that permission, SecurityException will be thrown.

Parameters
intent The Intent that was previously broadcast.
user UserHandle to remove the sticky broadcast from.

public abstract void revokeUriPermission (Uri uri, int modeFlags)

Added in API level 1

Remove all permissions to access a particular content provider Uri that were previously added with grantUriPermission(String, Uri, int). The given Uri will match all previously granted Uris that are the same or a sub-path of the given Uri. That is, revoking "content://foo/one" will revoke both "content://foo/target" and "content://foo/target/sub", but not "content://foo".

Parameters
uri The Uri you would like to revoke access to.
modeFlags The desired access modes. Any combination of Intent.FLAG_GRANT_READ_URI_PERMISSION or Intent.FLAG_GRANT_WRITE_URI_PERMISSION.

public abstract void sendBroadcast (Intent intent)

Added in API level 1

Broadcast the given intent to all interested BroadcastReceivers. This call is asynchronous; it returns immediately, and you will continue executing while the receivers are run. No results are propagated from receivers and receivers can not abort the broadcast. If you want to allow receivers to propagate results or abort the broadcast, you must send an ordered broadcast using sendOrderedBroadcast(Intent, String).

See BroadcastReceiver for more information on Intent broadcasts.

Parameters
intent The Intent to broadcast; all receivers matching this Intent will receive the broadcast.

public abstract void sendBroadcast (Intent intent, String receiverPermission)

Added in API level 1

Broadcast the given intent to all interested BroadcastReceivers, allowing an optional required permission to be enforced. This call is asynchronous; it returns immediately, and you will continue executing while the receivers are run. No results are propagated from receivers and receivers can not abort the broadcast. If you want to allow receivers to propagate results or abort the broadcast, you must send an ordered broadcast using sendOrderedBroadcast(Intent, String).

See BroadcastReceiver for more information on Intent broadcasts.

Parameters
intent The Intent to broadcast; all receivers matching this Intent will receive the broadcast.
receiverPermission (optional) String naming a permission that a receiver must hold in order to receive your broadcast. If null, no permission is required.

public abstract void sendBroadcastAsUser (Intent intent, UserHandle user)

Added in API level 17

Version of sendBroadcast(Intent) that allows you to specify the user the broadcast will be sent to. This is not available to applications that are not pre-installed on the system image. Using it requires holding the INTERACT_ACROSS_USERS permission.

Parameters
intent The intent to broadcast
user UserHandle to send the intent to.

public abstract void sendBroadcastAsUser (Intent intent, UserHandle user, String receiverPermission)

Added in API level 17

Version of sendBroadcast(Intent, String) that allows you to specify the user the broadcast will be sent to. This is not available to applications that are not pre-installed on the system image. Using it requires holding the INTERACT_ACROSS_USERS permission.

Parameters
intent The Intent to broadcast; all receivers matching this Intent will receive the broadcast.
user UserHandle to send the intent to.
receiverPermission (optional) String naming a permission that a receiver must hold in order to receive your broadcast. If null, no permission is required.

public abstract void sendOrderedBroadcast (Intent intent, String receiverPermission, BroadcastReceiver resultReceiver, Handler scheduler, int initialCode, String initialData, Bundle initialExtras)

Added in API level 1

Version of sendBroadcast(Intent) that allows you to receive data back from the broadcast. This is accomplished by supplying your own BroadcastReceiver when calling, which will be treated as a final receiver at the end of the broadcast -- its onReceive(Context, Intent) method will be called with the result values collected from the other receivers. The broadcast will be serialized in the same way as calling sendOrderedBroadcast(Intent, String).

Like sendBroadcast(Intent), this method is asynchronous; it will return before resultReceiver.onReceive() is called.

See BroadcastReceiver for more information on Intent broadcasts.

Parameters
intent The Intent to broadcast; all receivers matching this Intent will receive the broadcast.
receiverPermission String naming a permissions that a receiver must hold in order to receive your broadcast. If null, no permission is required.
resultReceiver Your own BroadcastReceiver to treat as the final receiver of the broadcast.
scheduler A custom Handler with which to schedule the resultReceiver callback; if null it will be scheduled in the Context's main thread.
initialCode An initial value for the result code. Often Activity.RESULT_OK.
initialData An initial value for the result data. Often null.
initialExtras An initial value for the result extras. Often null.

public abstract void sendOrderedBroadcast (Intent intent, String receiverPermission)

Added in API level 1

Broadcast the given intent to all interested BroadcastReceivers, delivering them one at a time to allow more preferred receivers to consume the broadcast before it is delivered to less preferred receivers. This call is asynchronous; it returns immediately, and you will continue executing while the receivers are run.

See BroadcastReceiver for more information on Intent broadcasts.

Parameters
intent The Intent to broadcast; all receivers matching this Intent will receive the broadcast.
receiverPermission (optional) String naming a permissions that a receiver must hold in order to receive your broadcast. If null, no permission is required.

public abstract void sendOrderedBroadcastAsUser (Intent intent, UserHandle user, String receiverPermission, BroadcastReceiver resultReceiver, Handler scheduler, int initialCode, String initialData, Bundle initialExtras)

Added in API level 17

Version of sendOrderedBroadcast(Intent, String, BroadcastReceiver, Handler, int, String, Bundle) that allows you to specify the user the broadcast will be sent to. This is not available to applications that are not pre-installed on the system image. Using it requires holding the INTERACT_ACROSS_USERS permission.

See BroadcastReceiver for more information on Intent broadcasts.

Parameters
intent The Intent to broadcast; all receivers matching this Intent will receive the broadcast.
user UserHandle to send the intent to.
receiverPermission String naming a permissions that a receiver must hold in order to receive your broadcast. If null, no permission is required.
resultReceiver Your own BroadcastReceiver to treat as the final receiver of the broadcast.
scheduler A custom Handler with which to schedule the resultReceiver callback; if null it will be scheduled in the Context's main thread.
initialCode An initial value for the result code. Often Activity.RESULT_OK.
initialData An initial value for the result data. Often null.
initialExtras An initial value for the result extras. Often null.

public abstract void sendStickyBroadcast (Intent intent)

Added in API level 1

Perform a sendBroadcast(Intent) that is "sticky," meaning the Intent you are sending stays around after the broadcast is complete, so that others can quickly retrieve that data through the return value of registerReceiver(BroadcastReceiver, IntentFilter). In all other ways, this behaves the same as sendBroadcast(Intent).

You must hold the BROADCAST_STICKY permission in order to use this API. If you do not hold that permission, SecurityException will be thrown.

Parameters
intent The Intent to broadcast; all receivers matching this Intent will receive the broadcast, and the Intent will be held to be re-broadcast to future receivers.

public abstract void sendStickyBroadcastAsUser (Intent intent, UserHandle user)

Added in API level 17

Version of sendStickyBroadcast(Intent) that allows you to specify the user the broadcast will be sent to. This is not available to applications that are not pre-installed on the system image. Using it requires holding the INTERACT_ACROSS_USERS permission.

Parameters
intent The Intent to broadcast; all receivers matching this Intent will receive the broadcast, and the Intent will be held to be re-broadcast to future receivers.
user UserHandle to send the intent to.

public abstract void sendStickyOrderedBroadcast (Intent intent, BroadcastReceiver resultReceiver, Handler scheduler, int initialCode, String initialData, Bundle initialExtras)

Added in API level 5

Version of sendStickyBroadcast(Intent) that allows you to receive data back from the broadcast. This is accomplished by supplying your own BroadcastReceiver when calling, which will be treated as a final receiver at the end of the broadcast -- its onReceive(Context, Intent) method will be called with the result values collected from the other receivers. The broadcast will be serialized in the same way as calling sendOrderedBroadcast(Intent, String).

Like sendBroadcast(Intent), this method is asynchronous; it will return before resultReceiver.onReceive() is called. Note that the sticky data stored is only the data you initially supply to the broadcast, not the result of any changes made by the receivers.

See BroadcastReceiver for more information on Intent broadcasts.

Parameters
intent The Intent to broadcast; all receivers matching this Intent will receive the broadcast.
resultReceiver Your own BroadcastReceiver to treat as the final receiver of the broadcast.
scheduler A custom Handler with which to schedule the resultReceiver callback; if null it will be scheduled in the Context's main thread.
initialCode An initial value for the result code. Often Activity.RESULT_OK.
initialData An initial value for the result data. Often null.
initialExtras An initial value for the result extras. Often null.

public abstract void sendStickyOrderedBroadcastAsUser (Intent intent, UserHandle user, BroadcastReceiver resultReceiver, Handler scheduler, int initialCode, String initialData, Bundle initialExtras)

Added in API level 17

Version of sendStickyOrderedBroadcast(Intent, BroadcastReceiver, Handler, int, String, Bundle) that allows you to specify the user the broadcast will be sent to. This is not available to applications that are not pre-installed on the system image. Using it requires holding the INTERACT_ACROSS_USERS permission.

See BroadcastReceiver for more information on Intent broadcasts.

Parameters
intent The Intent to broadcast; all receivers matching this Intent will receive the broadcast.
user UserHandle to send the intent to.
resultReceiver Your own BroadcastReceiver to treat as the final receiver of the broadcast.
scheduler A custom Handler with which to schedule the resultReceiver callback; if null it will be scheduled in the Context's main thread.
initialCode An initial value for the result code. Often Activity.RESULT_OK.
initialData An initial value for the result data. Often null.
initialExtras An initial value for the result extras. Often null.

public abstract void setTheme (int resid)

Added in API level 1

Set the base theme for this context. Note that this should be called before any views are instantiated in the Context (for example before calling setContentView(View) or inflate(int, ViewGroup)).

Parameters
resid The style resource describing the theme.

public abstract void setWallpaper (Bitmap bitmap)

Added in API level 1

This method was deprecated in API level 5.
Use WallpaperManager.set() instead.

This method requires the caller to hold the permission SET_WALLPAPER.

Throws
IOException

public abstract void setWallpaper (InputStream data)

Added in API level 1

This method was deprecated in API level 5.
Use WallpaperManager.set() instead.

This method requires the caller to hold the permission SET_WALLPAPER.

Throws
IOException

public abstract void startActivities (Intent[] intents)

Added in API level 11

Same as startActivities(Intent[], Bundle) with no options specified.

Parameters
intents An array of Intents to be started.
Throws
ActivityNotFoundException

public abstract void startActivities (Intent[] intents, Bundle options)

Added in API level 16

Launch multiple new activities. This is generally the same as calling startActivity(Intent) for the first Intent in the array, that activity during its creation calling startActivity(Intent) for the second entry, etc. Note that unlike that approach, generally none of the activities except the last in the array will be created at this point, but rather will be created when the user first visits them (due to pressing back from the activity on top).

This method throws ActivityNotFoundException if there was no Activity found for any given Intent. In this case the state of the activity stack is undefined (some Intents in the list may be on it, some not), so you probably want to avoid such situations.

Parameters
intents An array of Intents to be started.
options Additional options for how the Activity should be started. See Context.startActivity(Intent, Bundle) for more details.
Throws
ActivityNotFoundException

public abstract void startActivity (Intent intent)

Added in API level 1

Same as startActivity(Intent, Bundle) with no options specified.

Parameters
intent The description of the activity to start.
Throws
ActivityNotFoundException

public abstract void startActivity (Intent intent, Bundle options)

Added in API level 16

Launch a new activity. You will not receive any information about when the activity exits.

Note that if this method is being called from outside of an Activity Context, then the Intent must include the FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK launch flag. This is because, without being started from an existing Activity, there is no existing task in which to place the new activity and thus it needs to be placed in its own separate task.

This method throws ActivityNotFoundException if there was no Activity found to run the given Intent.

Parameters
intent The description of the activity to start.
options Additional options for how the Activity should be started. May be null if there are no options. See ActivityOptions for how to build the Bundle supplied here; there are no supported definitions for building it manually.
Throws
ActivityNotFoundException

public abstract boolean startInstrumentation (ComponentName className, String profileFile, Bundle arguments)

Added in API level 1

Start executing an Instrumentation class. The given Instrumentation component will be run by killing its target application (if currently running), starting the target process, instantiating the instrumentation component, and then letting it drive the application.

This function is not synchronous -- it returns as soon as the instrumentation has started and while it is running.

Instrumentation is normally only allowed to run against a package that is either unsigned or signed with a signature that the the instrumentation package is also signed with (ensuring the target trusts the instrumentation).

Parameters
className Name of the Instrumentation component to be run.
profileFile Optional path to write profiling data as the instrumentation runs, or null for no profiling.
arguments Additional optional arguments to pass to the instrumentation, or null.
Returns
  • Returns true if the instrumentation was successfully started, else false if it could not be found.

public abstract void startIntentSender (IntentSender intent, Intent fillInIntent, int flagsMask, int flagsValues, int extraFlags, Bundle options)

Added in API level 16

Like startActivity(Intent, Bundle), but taking a IntentSender to start. If the IntentSender is for an activity, that activity will be started as if you had called the regular startActivity(Intent) here; otherwise, its associated action will be executed (such as sending a broadcast) as if you had called IntentSender.sendIntent on it.

Parameters
intent The IntentSender to launch.
fillInIntent If non-null, this will be provided as the intent parameter to sendIntent(Context, int, Intent, IntentSender.OnFinished, Handler).
flagsMask Intent flags in the original IntentSender that you would like to change.
flagsValues Desired values for any bits set in flagsMask
extraFlags Always set to 0.
options Additional options for how the Activity should be started. See Context.startActivity(Intent, Bundle) for more details. If options have also been supplied by the IntentSender, options given here will override any that conflict with those given by the IntentSender.

public abstract void startIntentSender (IntentSender intent, Intent fillInIntent, int flagsMask, int flagsValues, int extraFlags)

Added in API level 5
Parameters
intent The IntentSender to launch.
fillInIntent If non-null, this will be provided as the intent parameter to sendIntent(Context, int, Intent, IntentSender.OnFinished, Handler).
flagsMask Intent flags in the original IntentSender that you would like to change.
flagsValues Desired values for any bits set in flagsMask
extraFlags Always set to 0.

public abstract ComponentName startService (Intent service)

Added in API level 1

Request that a given application service be started. The Intent can either contain the complete class name of a specific service implementation to start, or an abstract definition through the action and other fields of the kind of service to start. If this service is not already running, it will be instantiated and started (creating a process for it if needed); if it is running then it remains running.

Every call to this method will result in a corresponding call to the target service's onStartCommand(Intent, int, int) method, with the intent given here. This provides a convenient way to submit jobs to a service without having to bind and call on to its interface.

Using startService() overrides the default service lifetime that is managed by bindService(Intent, ServiceConnection, int): it requires the service to remain running until stopService(Intent) is called, regardless of whether any clients are connected to it. Note that calls to startService() are not nesting: no matter how many times you call startService(), a single call to stopService(Intent) will stop it.

The system attempts to keep running services around as much as possible. The only time they should be stopped is if the current foreground application is using so many resources that the service needs to be killed. If any errors happen in the service's process, it will automatically be restarted.

This function will throw SecurityException if you do not have permission to start the given service.

Parameters
service Identifies the service to be started. The Intent may specify either an explicit component name to start, or a logical description (action, category, etc) to match an IntentFilter published by a service. Additional values may be included in the Intent extras to supply arguments along with this specific start call.
Returns
  • If the service is being started or is already running, the ComponentName of the actual service that was started is returned; else if the service does not exist null is returned.
Throws
SecurityException

public abstract boolean stopService (Intent service)

Added in API level 1

Request that a given application service be stopped. If the service is not running, nothing happens. Otherwise it is stopped. Note that calls to startService() are not counted -- this stops the service no matter how many times it was started.

Note that if a stopped service still has ServiceConnection objects bound to it with the BIND_AUTO_CREATE set, it will not be destroyed until all of these bindings are removed. See the Service documentation for more details on a service's lifecycle.

This function will throw SecurityException if you do not have permission to stop the given service.

Parameters
service Description of the service to be stopped. The Intent may specify either an explicit component name to start, or a logical description (action, category, etc) to match an IntentFilter published by a service.
Returns
  • If there is a service matching the given Intent that is already running, then it is stopped and true is returned; else false is returned.
Throws
SecurityException

public abstract void unbindService (ServiceConnection conn)

Added in API level 1

Disconnect from an application service. You will no longer receive calls as the service is restarted, and the service is now allowed to stop at any time.

Parameters
conn The connection interface previously supplied to bindService(). This parameter must not be null.

public void unregisterComponentCallbacks (ComponentCallbacks callback)

Added in API level 14

Remove a ComponentCallbacks objec that was previously registered with registerComponentCallbacks(ComponentCallbacks).

public abstract void unregisterReceiver (BroadcastReceiver receiver)

Added in API level 1

Unregister a previously registered BroadcastReceiver. All filters that have been registered for this BroadcastReceiver will be removed.

Parameters
receiver The BroadcastReceiver to unregister.