Скачать или смотреть Understanding the Differences Between AppCompatActivity and FragmentActivity in Android

Discover the key distinctions between `AppCompatActivity` and `FragmentActivity` in Android development and learn when to use each class for optimal performance.
---
This video is based on the question https://stackoverflow.com/q/73507000/ asked by the user 'rubbyer' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/9555816/ ) and on the answer https://stackoverflow.com/a/73507038/ provided by the user 'devio' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/9815277/ ) at 'Stack Overflow' website. Thanks to these great users and Stackexchange community for their contributions.

Visit these links for original content and any more details, such as alternate solutions, latest updates/developments on topic, comments, revision history etc. For example, the original title of the Question was: what is the difference between AppCompatActivity and FragmentActivity

Also, Content (except music) licensed under CC BY-SA https://meta.stackexchange.com/help/l...
The original Question post is licensed under the 'CC BY-SA 4.0' ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... ) license, and the original Answer post is licensed under the 'CC BY-SA 4.0' ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... ) license.

If anything seems off to you, please feel free to write me at vlogize [AT] gmail [DOT] com.
---
Understanding the Differences Between AppCompatActivity and FragmentActivity in Android

When developing Android applications that utilize fragments, you might wonder whether to extend AppCompatActivity or FragmentActivity. This choice can affect the functionality, compatibility, and overall user experience of your app. In this post, we'll explore the differences between these two important classes and help you understand when to use each of them.

What are AppCompatActivity and FragmentActivity?

FragmentActivity

Definition: FragmentActivity is part of the support library (specifically in the support-v4 and support-v13 libraries) that provides the ability to use fragments on devices that run Android versions earlier than API Level 11.

Purpose: It allows developers to use fragments in their applications while ensuring compatibility with older Android versions.

AppCompatActivity

Definition: AppCompatActivity is an extension of FragmentActivity, included in the appcompat-v7 library. It provides additional features related to Material Design and offers backward compatibility for certain newer Android elements.

Purpose: This class is primarily used to enable the use of the action bar and its associated features. It serves as a bridge to utilize material design features while maintaining higher compatibility across various Android versions.

Key Differences

Base Class Relation

Inheritance: AppCompatActivity extends FragmentActivity. This means that while using AppCompatActivity, you inherently receive the functionality of FragmentActivity and can manage fragments effectively.

Compatibility & Features

Fragment Support: If you simply want to manage fragments, either class could work in many situations. However, consider the following:

Nested Fragments: If your application requires nested fragments (a fragment containing another fragment), you'll need to use FragmentActivity on devices that run below API Level 17. This is essential as native fragments only began supporting nested fragments starting at API Level 17.

Action Bar Features: When it comes to utilizing the action bar with backward compatibility and Material Design aesthetics:

Action Bar Support: AppCompatActivity is better suited for modern applications needing a consistent action bar experience across devices. It allows you to access the latest features of the action bar while still supporting older Android versions.

Aesthetic Differences

Material Design: AppCompatActivity not only includes the action bar but also provides widgets styled in accordance with Material Design principles. This is particularly important when designing user-friendly interfaces that are visually appealing and consistent across different device versions.

When Should You Use Each Class?

Use FragmentActivity When:

You are limited to working with devices running Android versions below API Level 11.

Your application specifically requires support for nested fragments on devices running older Android versions (below API Level 17).

Use AppCompatActivity When:

You want to leverage newer action bar features, including Material Design enhancements.

Your app targets modern devices but still needs to maintain compatibility with older versions of Android.

You aim for a consistent user experience across a variety of Android devices while maintaining aesthetic quality and functionality.

Conclusion

In summary, while both AppCompatActivity and FragmentActivity provide valuable functionality for managing fragments in Android applications, the differences in features and compatibility can make one more suitable than the other, depending on your specific use case. Understanding these distinctions is crucial to ensure your