Android Intents: Everything You Need to Know (in 2021)

The Intent is the second most important building block of the Android System. It has many types of working in Android Operating System such as:

• Move from one screen to another
• Passing data from one screen to other
• Sharing data from one application to another applications such as contacts
• Get data from another application

In Android two types of intent are available here:-

 Explicit Intent:

In such a case, intent provides the external class to be invoked. In this type of intent, the target activity of the screen is known such as:

Intent intent = new Intent(First.this,Second.class);

startActivity(intent);

Here in the above code, the second screen address is known to us. This type of intent is known as Explicit Intent. Certification-oriented Android training in Chandigarh helps aspirants develop dream Android App on their own.  

Implicit Intent: 

Implicit Intent doesn\’t specify the component. In such a case, intent provides information of available components provided by the system that is to be invoked. In other words, we do not know the exact name of the target activity, such as opening call activity, taking the picture from the camera, etc. 

Intent intent=new Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW);

intent.setData(Uri.parse(“https://www.cbitss.com”);

startActivity(intent);

Here above we specify intent to open the Cbitss website. In this case, we do not know which browser client will show the desired URL. This totally depends on user choice.

This type of intent has many types of other uses including:

• Sending Mail
• Sending SMS and Call
• Sharing the data with other application
• Getting the data from another application using a content provider

Thus with all discussion, we conclude that intents are essential building blocks of the Android operating system.