onCreate vs. onResume/onRestart bevhaviour regarding member variables

Question

When I open an activity I know that I can initialize stuff in the onCreate function.

But what is the behaviour on the OnResume and onRestart function? When are these functions called?

Specifically: I initialize a local member variable in the onCreate function auiqring a reference to a global object. Now, when the user is interrupted, for example, by a call, the activity can be closed. Later, when the user comes back to my view, what is the status of the already initiliazed variable? Do I have to reinitialize everything in the onResume/onRestart functions? So what would be the functional difference opposed to onCreate?

Answer 1

• onCreate: Activity launched for the first time. Here is where you may initialize your stuff.
• onResume: User returns to the activity after another activity comes into foreground. (onPause)
• onRestart: User navigates to the activity after it's no longer visible (onStop).

You can see the complete lifecycle on Activity documentation. Your activity stuff would only be lost when onDestroy is called, which happens when you finish it, or when it's destroyed by the system (i.e. when apps with higher priority need memory)