When should you use Runtime permissions in Android development?

Runtime permissions in Android development are crucial when your app requires access to sensitive user data or device features. Introduced in Android 6.0 (API level 23), runtime permissions ensure that users have control over their data by explicitly granting or denying permissions at runtime, rather than at install time.

Here are some scenarios in which you should use runtime permissions:

  • Accessing Device Location: If your app requires location data for functionalities like maps or navigation, you should request location permissions at runtime.
  • Using the Camera: Apps that need to access the camera must request camera permissions during runtime.
  • Reading Contacts: If your app needs to access a user's contacts, you’ll need to include runtime permission checks.
  • Accessing Storage: For reading or writing files to external storage, runtime permissions should be implemented.

Implementing runtime permissions involves checking whether the permission is already granted and, if not, requesting it from the user.

// Check for permission if (ContextCompat.checkSelfPermission(this, Manifest.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION) != PackageManager.PERMISSION_GRANTED) { // Request permission ActivityCompat.requestPermissions(this, new String[]{Manifest.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION}, LOCATION_PERMISSION_REQUEST_CODE); } else { // Permission already granted, proceed with accessing location accessLocation(); }

Runtime permissions Android development sensitive data user control location access camera access contacts storage