See Also

An Android application may contain the following components:

  • AIDL: an Android Interface Definition Language (AIDL) interface used for interprocess communication.
  • Activity: implements a window where you place your UI to interact with the user.
  • Android Auto: lets you extend your application for use in vehicles. You can add either Media Service or Messaging Service activity.
  • Folder: creates a source root based on the activity you have selected for this component.
  • Fragment: represents a behavior or a part of user interface in an activity.
  • Google: lets you create an activity for Google maps and AdMob Ads activities.
  • Application: an Android package, i.e. an .apk archive that contains the contents of an Android app and the installer.
  • Service: represents an application's desire either to perform an operation without interacting with the user, or to supply functionality for other applications.
  • Other: lets you add the following components to your application:
  • UI Component: lets you add custom views to you application.
  • Wear: lets you extend your application for use in Android wear.
  • Widget: lets you add different types of widgets for your application.
  • XML: lets you add different types .xml files for Android layouts and values.

All Android application components are created in the same way. When you create a new component, a class that implements this component is generated and the component is automatically declared in the AndroidManifest.xml file.

On this page:

Creating an Android component
  1. In the Project view, right-click the destination package where the application classes are stored and from the context menu, select New | 'component name' and the specific service, file or an activity.
  2. In the dialog box that opens, specify the necessary information and click Finish.
Navigating between an activity or a fragment and its related layout definition file
  • To jump from a component to its related layout definition, open the source code of the component, and do one of the following:
    • Click the icon in the gutter area and choose the layout definition file in the Go To Related Symbol pop-up list.
    • On the main menu, choose Navigate | Related Symbol.
  • To jump from a layout definition to the source code of the corresponding component, open the layout definition file in the text mode and do one of the following:
    • Click the classTypeJavaClass icon in the gutter area.
    • On the main menu, choose Navigate | Related Symbol.
Navigating from a component to its declaration in the AndroidManifest.xml file
  1. Open the source code of the component, and click the icon in the gutter area.
  2. If the component also has a related layout definition file, choose AndroidManifest.xml in the Go To Related Symbol pop-up list.