What is the purpose of using Intent.createChooser() in StartActivity() while sending email in Android

user_429501 0
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When ever we need to send an email in Android we will invoke registered email application using Intent.ACTION_SEND like below

Intent i = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_SEND);
startActivity(Intent.createChooser(i, "Send mail..."));

My doubt is why do we need to use Intent.createChooser in startActivity rather than using startActivty(i). Is there any specific reason of using Intent.createChooser()?

android-intent android
7 Answers
user_3568950

From the document

Android provides two ways for users to share data between apps:

  • The Android Sharesheet is primarily designed for sending content outside your app and/or directly to another user. For example, sharing a URL with a friend.
  • The Android intent resolver is best suited for passing data to the next stage of a well-defined task. For example, opening a PDF from your app and letting users pick their preferred viewer.
val sendIntent: Intent = Intent().apply {
    action = Intent.ACTION_SEND
    putExtra(Intent.EXTRA_TEXT, "Text to send.")
    type = "text/plain"
}


// WILL start Android intent resolver
startActivity(sendIntent)


// WILL start Android ShareSheet
val shareIntent = Intent.createChooser(sendIntent, null)
startActivity(shareIntent)

Android Sharesheet have some benefits such as it supports DirectShare, rich preview with Copy option from Android 10 (but some few devices don't have rich preview even Android > 10)

user_53813310
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