Storage System For Data Storage In Android

Introduction

Data Storage is essential for maintaining knowledge, simplifying accessibility and organisation, supporting decision-making procedures, assuring data security, encouraging collaboration, and fulfilling legal responsibilities. For people, companies, and organisations to manage and utilise their information assets effectively, proper data storage practices are crucial.

We use some kind of storage in Android to keep the data around indefinitely (until it's deleted) for future use. These storage systems are referred to as Android Storage Systems. Android provides a variety of storage choices, including internal storage, external storage, shared preferences, databases, and shared storage.

However, a lot of people are confused about which storage to use and when. Understanding this is very important and we'll explore it in detail in this article.

App-Specific Storage Options

a. Internal Storage

An Android device's internal storage, which is largely used to store the operating system, system apps, and user data, is referred to as internal storage. It offers quick and secure access to crucial files and is not detachable. Flash memory chips are frequently used as internal storage and are soldered onto the device's motherboard. It has a set storage capacity that ranges from a few gigabytes to several hundred gigabytes, depending on the device model.

Android makes use of its internal storage for a variety of things:

• Operating System: The internal storage of the Android device houses the operating system itself. The system files, libraries, and other elements required for the device to operate are included in this.
• System Apps: The internal storage is where pre-installed system apps like the dialer, messaging app, and settings are kept. The device's basic functionality depends on these apps.
• User Data: User data is also kept in internal storage and is produced by apps and the device itself. This includes downloaded files, game progress saved, programme preferences, camera-captured media, and game saves.

Use Cases:

• Installing Apps: By default, apps downloaded from the Google Play Store or other sources are installed on the device's internal storage. This guarantees that the apps are available and incorporated into the system of the device.
• App Data Storage: To give customers a customised experience, apps save their data in the internal storage. User profiles, preferences, settings, cached files, and locally saved information can all be included in this data.
• System Updates: On the internal storage, significant OS upgrades and security patches are downloaded as part of the Android system updates. To accommodate these updates, the internal storage must have enough room.
• Device Backup: Backup feature is frequently included in Android smartphones, enabling users to save their data, including settings and app data, to internal storage. In the event of a device reset or when configuring a new device, this backup can be restored.
• Storage for Offline Media: Internal storage can be used to store offline media assets, including music, videos, and pictures. Even without a network connection or external storage, users can still save and view these data.

b. External Storage

When discussing additional storage options for data storage on Android devices, the term "external storage" is used. It enables users to increase storage space beyond the device's native built-in storage. A USB OTG (On-The-Go) drive or a microSD card are both acceptable forms of external storage.

External storage gives users the option of removable storage that is simply inserted into the device's external storage slot or linked through USB. An Android device's external storage is displayed in addition to the internal storage as a separate storage location. It can be used to keep a variety of data, including papers, media files, and extra programme data.

Use Cases:

• Media Storage: Media items including pictures, films, and music are frequently kept in external storage. Direct media transfer from a computer or other device to an external storage device frees up space on the internal storage and facilitates quick access to media files for users.
• App Data Expansion: Some apps offer the option to use external storage for storing more app data, particularly those that deal with huge volumes of data. This enables users to save smaller files or material on the external storage while installing apps on the internal storage.
• Offline Content: Users who want to access offline content without an internet connection can store it on external storage. Users can save offline videos, maps, and ebooks to the external storage and view them while they're not connected to the internet.
• Backup and Transfer: External storage is a practical choice for transferring data between devices and backing up crucial files. On a microSD card or USB drive, users can store crucial files, paperwork, or backups, making it simple to move data to different devices or carry out file restoration when necessary.

Shared Preferences

A method for saving and retrieving tiny quantities of data in key-value pairs is called Shared Preferences in Android. It offers a quick and convenient solution to save user preferences or permanent application settings. Shared Preferences are accessible at any time during the app's lifetime and are private to the application.

To enable Shared Preferences, Android uses a file-based storage mechanism. Each key-value pair is kept on the device's internal storage as an entry in an XML file located in the private directory of the application.

Even after the application is closed or the device is rebooted, the data saved using Shared Preferences is persistent. It offers a practical method for storing and retrieving basic data types like texts, floats, booleans, and integers.

Use Cases:

• User Preferences: Within an application, shared preferences are frequently used to store and manage user preferences or settings. An app may keep track of a user's preferred language, theme, notification settings, or any other user-specific preferences. Every time the app is loaded, these settings can be simply retrieved and implemented.
• Application State: The state of the application can be saved and restored via Shared Preferences. For instance, a game's current state, including the level the user was playing at, their score, and any enabled features, might be saved by an app. The app can retrieve the saved preferences and resume the prior state when it is reopened.
• Login Credentials: Login credentials, such as usernames or tokens, can be stored and retrieved via Shared Preferences. This makes it possible for users to maintain their login status even after closing and reopening the programme, improving the user experience.
• First-Time Usage and Onboarding: Shared Preferences can keep track of a flag or indicator to show when an app is launched for the first time or when the onboarding process is complete. As a result, the software can tailor the user experience appropriately.
• Application Preferences: Shared Preferences help save preferences that apply to the entire application. For instance, a mobile application may save preferences for sound, notifications, or other customisable features that affect how the programme behaves.

Using Android Databases

The built-in relational database management system (RDBMS) offered by the Android framework is referred to as Android databases. This SQLite-based database system may be used by Android applications to effectively store, manage, and retrieve structured data. It provides applications with a dependable and long-lasting storage option.

Android databases are created using SQLite, a free and open-source RDBMS that is compact and file-based. On the internal storage of the Android smartphone, SQLite databases are kept as files in the private directory of the programme.

Data organisation and querying are made organised and effective by SQLite databases. They enable simple and complicated SQL queries as well as common SQL actions including creating tables, adding, updating, and removing entries.

Use Cases:

• Data Persistence: Android databases are frequently used to store application data that is persistent. Applications can produce tables and store several kinds of structured data, including user profiles, inventory data, and data particular to the application. Even after the application is closed or the device is restarted, the stored data is still available.
• Offline Data Storage: SQLite databases are helpful in cases involving offline data storage. An SQLite database can be used by applications to cache data from remote servers, enabling users to read and interact with the data even if an internet connection is down. Applications that need to offer offline functionality or store significant quantities of data locally would particularly benefit from this.
• Content Providers: The Content Provider framework in Android enables applications to safely communicate data with one another. The underlying storage system for the data that Content Providers expose frequently uses SQLite databases. As a result, applications can synchronise and share data with other apps while maintaining the security and integrity of the data.
• Complex Data Queries: SQLite databases allow for the execution of complex data queries by programmes. Data from various tables can be filtered, sorted, aggregated, and joined in this way. Applications can make use of these features to access particular subsets of data, produce reports, or carry out sophisticated data analysis.
• User Preferences and Settings: SQLite databases can be used for more complicated user preferences and settings, although Shared Preferences (as previously stated) are suited for storing small quantities of data. For instance, storing such data in a SQLite database can be advantageous for programmes with extensive user customisation choices or settings with relational dependencies.
• Analytics and logging: SQLite databases can be used as a storage option for analytics and recording of application events. An SQLite database can be used by applications to store logs, user interactions, or analytics data, enabling effective data analysis, performance monitoring, and debugging.
• Localized Data Storage: Storage of localised data in Android databases enables programmes to handle several languages without resorting to outside resources. Localised data includes translations.

Comparing Characteristics of Different Storage Options