SDKINT

SDK_INT refers to the device’s current Android API level and is exposed in code as Build.VERSION.SDK_INT. It is a runtime integer that indicates the version of the Android platform on which the device is running. Developers use SDK_INT to adapt behavior to the capabilities of the platform at runtime, rather than relying solely on compile-time information.

In practice, SDK_INT is used in conditional statements to guard access to newer APIs. For example, a developer might execute certain code only if Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.O, ensuring compatibility with devices that do not support features introduced in Android 8.0 Oreo. This approach helps maintain backward compatibility across a wide range of devices.

SDK_INT corresponds to API levels defined by android.os.Build.VERSION_CODES. Each Android release has a specific API level, such as API 21 for Android 5.0 Lollipop, API 26 for Android 8.0 Oreo, API 30 for Android 11, API 33 for Android 13, and API 34 for Android 14. These values are used both in development and in testing to map features to platform versions.

Unlike minSdkVersion and targetSdkVersion, which are manifest attributes set at build time to indicate compatibility and behavior targets, SDK_INT is determined at runtime from the device. It enables safe feature checks and fallbacks for devices with older or newer platform versions.

See also: android.os.Build, android.os.Build.VERSION_CODES.

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