blob: d94ad9fb3ab70e8d25d4b81dd5dc091f2282427d [file] [log] [blame]
page.title=<uses-library>
parent.title=The AndroidManifest.xml File
parent.link=manifest-intro.html
@jd:body
<dl class="xml">
<dt>syntax:</dt>
<dd>
<pre class="stx">
&lt;uses-library android:<a href="#nm">name</a>="<var>string</var>"
android:<a href="#rq">required</a>=["true" | "false"] /&gt;
</pre>
</dd>
<dt>contained in:</dt>
<dd>
<code>
<a href="{@docRoot}guide/topics/manifest/application-element.html">&lt;application&gt;</a>
</code>
</dd>
<dt>description:</dt>
<dd>
Specifies a shared library that the application must be linked against.
This element tells the system to include the library's code in the class
loader for the package.
<p>
All of the {@code android} packages (such as {@link android.app},
{@link android.content}, {@link android.view}, and {@link android.widget})
are in the default library that all applications are automatically linked
against. However, some packages (such as {@code maps}) are
in separate libraries that are not automatically linked. Consult the
documentation for the packages you're using to determine which library
contains the package code.
</p>
<p>
This element also affects the installation of the application on a particular device and
the availability of the application in Android Market:
</p>
<dl>
<dt><em>Installation</em></dt>
<dd>
If this element is present and its {@code android:required} attribute is set to
{@code true}, the {@link android.content.pm.PackageManager} framework won't let the user
install the application unless the library is present on the user's device.
</dd>
<dt><em>Market</em></dt>
<dd>
Android Market filters applications based on the libraries installed on the
user's device. For more information about filtering, see the topic
<a href="{@docRoot}guide/appendix/market-filters.html">Market Filters</a>.
</dd>
</dl>
<p>
The {@code android:required} attribute is described in detail in the following section.
</p>
</dd>
<dt>attributes:</dt>
<dd>
<dl class="attr">
<dt><a name="nm"></a>{@code android:name}</dt>
<dd>
The name of the library. The name is provided by the
documentation for the package you are using. An example of this is
&quot;<code>android.test.runner</code>&quot;, a package that contains Android test
classes.
</dd>
<dt><a name="rq"></a>{@code android:required}</dt>
<dd>
Boolean value that indicates whether the application requires the
library specified by {@code android:name}:
<ul>
<li>
<code>&quot;true&quot;</code>: The application does not function without this
library. The system will not allow the application on a device that does not
have the library.
</li>
<li>
<code>&quot;false&quot;</code>: The application can use the
library if present, but is designed to function without it if necessary.
The system will allow the application to be installed, even if the library is
not present. If you use <code>&quot;false&quot;</code>, you are responsible for
checking at runtime that the library is available.
<p>
To check for a library, you can use reflection to determine
if a particular class is available.
</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p>
The default is <code>&quot;true&quot;</code>.
</p>
<p>Introduced in: API Level 7.</p>
</dd>
</dl>
</dd>
<!-- ##api level indication## -->
<dt>introduced in:</dt>
<dd>API Level 1</dd>
<dt>see also:</dt>
<dd>
<ul>
<li>{@link android.content.pm.PackageManager}</li>
</ul>
</dd>
</dl>