Context, Application & Manifest
ANDROID › System
Picking the right Context, avoiding leaks, and wiring up startup and the manifest.
Interviewers use this topic to check whether you understand Android's process and component model, not just API names. Expect questions on when Application vs Activity context is correct, why holding an Activity context leaks memory, and how the Application class, App Startup library, and manifest declarations fit together. It separates engineers who copy-paste context from those who reason about lifecycle and process scope.
What this covers
- Difference between Application and Activity context and which to use where
- How holding an Activity context in a long-lived object leaks the whole view tree
- Role and lifecycle of the Application class, and why onCreate must stay lightweight
- What the App Startup library does and how Initializer dependencies and lazy init work
- What the manifest declares: components, permissions, intent filters, features, metadata
- How intent filters (action/category/data) make a component the launcher or handle deep links
Study this topic
- Context, Application & Manifest explained: the guided lesson
- 12 practice quiz questions
- 9 revision flashcards
- Context, Application & Manifest interview questions and answers