Getting the Application Context

android android-activity service android-context
gtdevel picture gtdevel · Aug 22, 2011 · Viewed 54.7k times · Source

This might be a simple question but I just wanted to make sure I am right.

In my android application I have a constructor that uses:

activity.getApplicationContext()

The activity is passed into the constructor as a parameter.

The problem is that I am calling this class from a Service. If I make a second constructor which accepts the Service as a parameter and uses service.getApplicationContext? Will I get the same application context?

Answer

Randy Sugianto 'Yuku' picture Randy Sugianto 'Yuku' · Aug 22, 2011

The easiest way to get the application context is:

Create a class App that extends android.app.Application

public class App extends Application {
    public static Context context;

    @Override public void onCreate() {
        super.onCreate();
        context = getApplicationContext();
    }
}

Modify your AndroidManifest.xml 's <application> tag to have the attribute android:name="your.package.name.App".

Any time you need the application context, just get it from App.context.

Application is always initialized first whether your process runs, whether it's an activity, a service, or something else. You will always have access to the application context.

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