Skip to content

Android Support Library

Question

Support Library

Short interview answer

The Android Support Library was a compatibility library family. Its android.support artifacts are deprecated; AndroidX/Jetpack is the current replacement for new work.

Detailed answer

The historical libraries made newer APIs and behaviors available across older platform versions. A migration changes the package family, for example:

android.support.v7.widget.RecyclerView
→ androidx.recyclerview.widget.RecyclerView

Modern projects should use AndroidX, which replaced the old package namespace and continues to receive development. Do not mix old Support Library and AndroidX dependencies.

Sources