Difference between app:srcCompat and android:src in Android's layout XML

android android-imageview layout-xml
Zayid Mohammed picture Zayid Mohammed · Nov 16, 2016 · Viewed 85.7k times · Source

Whenever I create an ImageView with icon added using Android Studio's Vector Assets, I'm getting an error at the line app:srcCompat="@drawable/ic_play"

When I change the app:srcCompat with android:src, the error is gone but the icon looks pixelated.

What is the main difference between 

app:srcCompat="@drawable/ic_play"

and

android:src="@drawable/ic_play"

Answer

IntelliJ Amiya picture IntelliJ Amiya · Nov 16, 2016

app:srcCompat

is the most foolproof method of integrating vector drawables into your app.Vector drawables allow you to replace multiple png assets with a single vector graphic, defined in XML. While previously limited to Lollipop and higher devices

Note

As of Android Support Library 23.3.0, support vector drawables can only be loaded via app:srcCompat .

you need to add vectorDrawables.useSupportLibrary = true to your build.gradle file

    // Gradle Plugin 2.0+  
 android {  
   defaultConfig {  
     vectorDrawables.useSupportLibrary = true  
    }  
 }

android:src

Sets a drawable as the content of this ImageView.It will display in its original size. No automatic scaling .

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