10 Common Interview Questions for Android Developers

by Kelsey Arrington on Apr 22, 2022

Founded by an American computer programmer, Andy Rubin, Android is an open-source operating system. Surely, you’ve heard of it before! In this post, we’ll go over 10 common interview questions that test the knowledge of Android developers! So, keep reading. We’ve included answers to these interview questions, too!

Can you describe what Android is?

When it comes to Android interview questions, this one is very common. As an Android developer, you’ll be expected to answer this question with confidence. When asked this or a similar question, you can offer your potential employer a succinct answer that encompasses the overall concept of Android. 

You may say something along the lines of this:

Android is an open-source operating system that is primarily used for mobile electronic devices such as smartphones and tablets.

Additionally, you can mention that: 

Android is a Linux Kernel-based system that allows developers to create and run mobile applications. 

What are the 4 components of the Android Architecture?

As an Android developer, you’ll be expected to know the ins and outs of the Android system. So, when you are asked about the components of Android Architecture, it’s important to know the following:

The Android Architecture components are:

• Linux Kernel
• Libraries
• Android Framework
• Android Apps

Can you describe what the Google Android SDK is?

For those that work in Android development, questions like this come up in interviews often. When asked about the Android platform, try to rely on your training and experience working with android-enabled devices. 

For this question specifically, you can mention the following:

Google Android SDK is an essential toolset that Android developers can use to write applications on Android-enabled devices. Google Android SDK includes a graphical user interface that allows developers to conduct mobile application testing. 

What does AAPT stand for?

The Android operating system requires that developers are well-versed in a variety of tools. When asked about AAPT, it’s important to know what your potential employer is talking about. 

Use the following to provide a clear and concise answer:

AAPT is an acronym that stands for Android Asset Packaging Tool. An AAPT enables developers to handle zip-compatible archives with ease – including the viewing, creation, and extraction of its contents.

When you create an Android project, what are some of the essential items that are present?

There are a few key items present every time a developer created an Android project. During your interview, it’s important that you know what those are. When asked about Android project creation, keep the following components in mind. 

Each Android project includes: 

• AndroidManifest.xml
• build.xml
• bin/
• src/
• res/
• assets/

What is the difference between activities and services?

Sometimes, your interviewer won’t ask you a question directly. Instead, they’ll test your knowledge by asking you to explain the difference between two Android-related concepts. So, it’s important to stay sharp. When asked about activities and services, be sure to know the difference. You can offer a simple explanation by stating the following:

The difference between activities and services lies in their ability to be terminated at the user’s discretion. Activities can be closed whenever the user chooses. Services, on the other hand, are meant to run behind the scenes and can not be terminated by the user. 

Explain what a container is.

Before your interview, it’s important to brush up on your android interface definition language skills. When is the last time you looked at an glossary for Android developers? Do you know what a container is? This question comes up often, so keep reading to stay informed and on top of your game. 

During your interview, you can explain the following: 

On the Android system, a container refers to the aggregation of objects, widgets and more. Much like the name implies, containers hold things. They may contain labels, fields or buttons, for instance.

Can you list the languages that are essential to Android development?

Knowing various programming languages is a key part of being a developer. When asked about the programming or coding languages that are used on Android, it’s essential that you are familiar with a few. Below is a list of programming languages that you can mention in your next interview: 

Many programming languages can be used to develop mobile applications in Android. Those languages include:

• Java – a wonderful starting point for budding Android developers and common programming language used by seasoned professionals working in Android development. NetBeans is one of the most popular Integrated Development Environments (IDEs) used for coding an Android application with Java. 
• Python – an object-oriented programming language that is used in the Android development community. Dcoder and Pydroid 3 are two popular code editors for those who use Python. 
• C# – a general-purpose programming language that developers can use to build native Android and iOS mobile applications. For those working with C#, Visual Studio is a popular tool for developing Android applications. 
• Other programming languages that can be used for Android development include: Kotlin, C++, HTML 5 and C4droid. 

Can you describe the disadvantages of Android?

This may seem like a trick question but it’s not. This question is meant to gauge your opinion of Android overall and see how knowledgeable you are about the pitfalls that the Android platform contains. So, it’s important to be honest with your answer.

For this answer, you may say something along the lines of: 

Android is an open-source platform that presents an element of chaos when it comes to creating policies around application adaptability across operating systems. An application may perform drastically differently depending on the version of Android OS it is run on. Furthermore, the variety of mobile devices presents a challenge for Android developers, who have to consider how apps will adjust to varying screen sizes and technical specifications. 

Can you explain the importance of the Android system in the mobile device market?

Similar to the question above, this inquiry is meant to gauge your opinion of the Android platform. Think of an honest answer and support it using factual information. You may say something such as:

Android is important for the mobile device market in a variety of ways. For starters, Android empowers developers to write and register unique applications. With the ability to write and register apps specifically for Android, this platform enables developers to share their apps with anyone who wishes to download them. While this system presents its own set of challenges, it’s important for the long-term growth of the development community.