How to make SQLite in Android backward compatible?

In Android development, ensuring that your SQLite database is backward compatible with previous versions of your app can be a crucial aspect of managing user data effectively. This involves carefully handling database schema changes, such as adding or removing tables, to maintain compatibility with older versions of your app without causing data loss or crashes.

Here is a basic example of managing SQLite database backward compatibility in an Android app:

public class DatabaseHelper extends SQLiteOpenHelper { private static final String DATABASE_NAME = "example.db"; private static final int DATABASE_VERSION = 2; // Increment this when schema changes are made public DatabaseHelper(Context context) { super(context, DATABASE_NAME, null, DATABASE_VERSION); } @Override public void onCreate(SQLiteDatabase db) { // Create initial tables db.execSQL("CREATE TABLE users (id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY, name TEXT)"); // Other initial table creation logic } @Override public void onUpgrade(SQLiteDatabase db, int oldVersion, int newVersion) { // Handle schema changes for backward compatibility if (oldVersion < 2) { db.execSQL("ALTER TABLE users ADD COLUMN email TEXT"); // Example of adding a new column } // Handle other upgrade paths based on oldVersion } }

SQLite backward compatibility Android development SQLiteOpenHelper database schema