Android allows developers to call built-in applications using Intents. Intents are objects that describe an action that the system should perform. When a developer creates an Intent, they specify the action that they want to perform, as well as any data that they want to pass to the built-in application.
To call a built-in application, the developer creates an Intent with the appropriate action and data. Then, they call the startActivity() method to start the built-in application. The system will then find the built-in application that can handle the Intent and start it.
Here is an example of how to call the built-in phone app to make a phone call:
Uri number = Uri.parse("tel:5551234");
Intent callIntent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_CALL, number);
startActivity(callIntent);
This code will create an Intent with the ACTION_CALL action and the phone number 5551234 as the data. Then, it will call the startActivity() method to start the built-in phone app.
Here is a list of some of the built-in applications that can be called using Intents:
- Phone
- Messages
- Browser
- Maps
- Camera
- Contacts
- Settings
Developers can also use Intents to call built-in applications that are not listed above. To do this, they need to know the specific Intent action that the built-in application supports.
Calling built-in applications can be a useful way to provide users with access to common features without having to develop their own code. For example, a developer could create an app that allows users to view their contact list and call contacts directly from the app.
Here are some of the benefits of calling built-in applications:
- It saves developers time and effort.
- It provides users with a familiar and consistent experience.
- It allows developers to integrate their apps with other apps on the device.
Overall, calling built-in applications is a powerful feature that can be used to create more user-friendly and efficient apps.