Android is a mobile operating system based on a modified Linux kernel and developed by Google through the Android Open Source Project. Manufacturers customize it and ship it on their own devices.
Why it matters
Android determines how apps are packaged, installed, and updated on most phones. Because manufacturers and carriers control update timing, devices of the same age can be on very different patch levels. For website owners it also matters for testing: a large part of your visitors browse from Android devices.
Apps are distributed as APK or app bundle files, mainly through Google Play.
Example
$ adb shell getprop ro.build.version.release
14The Android Debug Bridge tool reads the OS version from a connected device or emulator, useful when reproducing a bug.
Common mistakes
- Testing only on the newest flagship phone and missing issues on older or low-memory devices.
- Installing apps from unknown sources without checking where they came from.
- Assuming every Android phone gets updates at the same time.
Related
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This page is general information written by our editorial team and updated when documentation changes. Servers and providers differ, so test changes safely first. See our editorial policy and disclaimer.