AndroidX

AndroidX is a set of libraries from Google that provides backward-compatible versions of Android framework APIs along with a collection of new components as part of the Android Jetpack ecosystem. Introduced in 2018 as a successor to the Android Support Library, AndroidX reorganizes the support libraries under the androidx namespace to enable more flexible versioning and modularization. The goal is to maintain API compatibility across Android platform releases while delivering new features and faster, more independent updates.

AndroidX modules are distributed independently and cover core compatibility, user interface components, architecture, and behavior libraries. Common packages include androidx.appcompat, androidx.recyclerview, androidx.fragment, androidx.core, androidx.lifecycle, androidx.room, androidx.navigation, and androidx.work. The library set is designed to be modular, so apps can depend only on the parts they use, with updates delivered through Google’s Maven repository. Each module provides backward-compatible functionality that works across a broad range of Android versions.

Migration and tooling: Apps originally using the android.support libraries can migrate to AndroidX using Android Studio’s Refactor: Migrate to AndroidX. Third-party libraries that still use the old namespace can be handled with Jetifier, which rewrites binaries to reference AndroidX at build time. In Gradle, developers enable AndroidX and Jetifier to control these behaviors. The AndroidX mappings align each old package with its androidx equivalent to preserve compatibility.

Impact and status: AndroidX is the standard foundation for modern Android development, supported by frequent updates and long-term support for many libraries. It underpins Jetpack components such as Lifecycle, Room, and Navigation and is considered essential for new projects. The project emphasizes backward compatibility, modular design, and compatibility across Android versions.