What is 'Context' on Android?

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In Android programming, what exactly
is a Context class and what is it used
for?

I read about it on the href="https://d.android.com/reference/android/content/Context"
rel="noreferrer">developer site, but I am unable to understand it
clearly.

Answer

Putting it
simply:

As the name suggests, it's
the context of current state of the application/object. It lets newly-created objects
understand what has been going on. Typically you call it to get information regarding
another part of your program (activity and
package/application).

You can get the context by
invoking getApplicationContext(),
getContext(), getBaseContext() or
this (when in a class that extends from
Context, such as the Application, Activity, Service and
IntentService classes).

Typical uses of
context:

• Creating
  new objects:
  Creating new views, adapters,
  listeners:

  
  
  
  

  TextView tv
              = new TextView(getContext());
  ListAdapter adapter = new
              SimpleCursorAdapter(getApplicationContext(),
              ...);
  




• Accessing
  standard common resources:
  Services like
  LAYOUT_INFLATER_SERVICE,
  SharedPreferences:

  
  
  

  context.getSystemService(LAYOUT_INFLATER_SERVICE)
  getApplicationContext().getSharedPreferences(*name*,
              *mode*);
  




• Accessing
  components implicitly:
  
  Regarding content providers,
  broadcasts,
  intent

  
  
  

  getApplicationContext().getContentResolver().query(uri,
              ...);