robuildversionincremental

ro.build.version is a set of Android system properties used to expose the operating system version and build metadata of the running device. Defined by the Android build system, these properties can vary by device, OEM, and ROM, and they help the system and apps identify the software environment.

Key properties in this family typically include ro.build.version.release, the user-visible version string such as "13"; ro.build.version.sdk, which historically signaled the API level; ro.build.version.incremental, the incremental build number; ro.build.version.codename, the development codename or "REL" for release builds; ro.build.type, indicating the build variant such as "user", "userdebug", or "eng"; and ro.build.tags, indicating release tags such as "release-keys" or "test-keys". These values are produced during the build process and may be used to convey software lineage, stability, and compatibility information.

Usage and accessibility: Android surfaces version information through official APIs such as the Build.VERSION class (for example, Build.VERSION.RELEASE and Build.VERSION.SDK_INT). While some ro.build.* properties are visible to apps, access is intentionally limited for security and privacy reasons; developers typically rely on the public Build.VERSION fields rather than the raw ro.build.* properties. The properties primarily serve the system UI, diagnostics, and update mechanisms, as well as OEM-specific tooling.

Variations and considerations: On official devices, properties reflect the manufacturer’s OS version and build identifiers. Custom ROMs, developer builds, or rooted devices may modify these values, which can affect compatibility checks, app behaviors, and update processes. In practice, ro.build.version offers a concise way to communicate the software state of a device within the Android ecosystem while balancing security and interoperability.