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How to connect multiple screens in an application?

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Answer from AI

NavComponent (navigation component) from Android Jetpack.

  • Fragment Nav Component: For applications based on fragments. Defines a navigation graph with destinations (screens) and actions (transitions).
  • Navigation Actions: Define how to move from one destination to another. They can contain arguments.
  • Safe Args: Gradle plugin for generating code that ensures type-safe navigation with arguments.
  • Navigation Graph: XML resource describing all destinations and their connections.
<!-- res/navigation/nav_graph.xml -->
<navigation xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    xmlns:app="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res-auto"
    xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"
    android:id="@+id/nav_graph"
    app:startDestination="@id/homeFragment">

    <fragment
        android:id="@+id/homeFragment"
        android:name="com.example.HomeFragment"
        android:label="Home"
        tools:layout="@layout/fragment_home">
        <action
            android:id="@+id/action_homeFragment_to_detailFragment"
            app:destination="@id/detailFragment" />
    </fragment>

    <fragment
        android:id="@+id/detailFragment"
        android:name="com.example.DetailFragment"
        android:label="Detail"
        tools:layout="@layout/fragment_detail">
        <argument
            android:name="itemId"
            app:argType="integer" />
    </fragment>
</navigation>
// Transition using Safe Args
findNavController().navigate(HomeFragmentDirections.actionHomeFragmentToDetailFragment(itemId = 123))

Alternatives (less preferred):

  • Intent: Classic way to transition between Activities. Less flexible and more complex to manage in complex scenarios.
  • FragmentTransaction: For manual management of adding, removing, and replacing fragments. Requires more code and is prone to errors.
  • Custom solutions: Own implementations of screen management, often unnecessarily complex.
How to connect multiple screens in an application… - sobes.tech