BuildVERSIONRELEASE

BuildVERSIONRELEASE refers to the Android system property that exposes the user-visible release version of the operating system installed on a device. In the Android API, this value is provided by the static field Build.VERSION.RELEASE, which is a String representing the OS release shown to users. For example, it may be "11" or "12" depending on the device and OS.

This field is distinct from other version indicators such as Build.VERSION.SDK_INT, which is an integer representing the API level, and Build.VERSION.INCREMENTAL, which indicates the internal build number. Access to the release string is available at runtime in code via android.os.Build.VERSION.RELEASE, and it can also be retrieved from the system property ro.build.version.release using shell commands like getprop.

Usage and considerations: Developers may log or display the OS release as part of diagnostics, or use it in conditional logic to tailor behavior. However, the release string alone is not a reliable indicator of feature support; API level checks (SDK_INT) are preferred for determining available capabilities. The value can vary by device and OEM customization, and in some cases may be missing or altered by vendors or custom ROMs.

Related concepts include the Android Build class as a whole, and other fields such as Build.VERSION.SDK_INT and Build.VERSION.INCREMENTAL. Understanding Build.VERSION.RELEASE helps in debugging, user support, and basics of compatibility handling in Android applications.