Day 33 – Night Session: Android – Activities & Intents – ECET 2026

In ECET 2026 Computer Science, Android Activities & Intents is an important topic in Mobile App Development. Almost every year, 1–2 direct questions are asked from this chapter.

📘 Concept Notes

📱 What is an Activity?

• An Activity is a single screen in an Android app (like a page in a website).
• Example: Login Screen, Home Screen, Settings Screen are different Activities.
• Each Activity is a Java/Kotlin class that extends AppCompatActivity.

Basic Activity Example:

public class MainActivity extends AppCompatActivity {
    @Override
    protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
        setContentView(R.layout.activity_main); // UI layout file
    }
}

public class MainActivity extends AppCompatActivity {
    @Override
    protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
        setContentView(R.layout.activity_main); // UI layout file
    }
}

Activity Lifecycle

Android manages Activities using lifecycle methods:

1. onCreate() → called when Activity is created.
2. onStart() → Activity becomes visible.
3. onResume() → Activity is in foreground.
4. onPause() → Another activity is in front (partially hidden).
5. onStop() → Activity not visible.
6. onDestroy() → Activity destroyed.

📤 What is an Intent?

• Intent = messaging object to start activities, services, or send data.
• Two Types:
  1. Explicit Intent → Start a specific activity.
  2. Implicit Intent → Request action handled by another app.

Explicit Intent Example (open another Activity):

Intent i = new Intent(MainActivity.this, SecondActivity.class);
startActivity(i);

Intent i = new Intent(MainActivity.this, SecondActivity.class);
startActivity(i);

Implicit Intent Example (open browser):

Intent i = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW, Uri.parse("https://rudrafusion.in"));
startActivity(i);

Intent i = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW, Uri.parse("https://rudrafusion.in"));
startActivity(i);

Key Points for ECET

• Activity = Screen
• Intent = Message to start Activity/Action
• Explicit = Within app, Implicit = External apps
• Lifecycle methods are often asked in exams

🔟 10 Expected MCQs – ECET 2026

Q1. In Android, an Activity represents:
A) A service
B) A single screen
C) A background thread
D) A database

Q2. Which method is called when an Activity is created?
A) onStart()
B) onCreate()
C) onPause()
D) onResume()

Q3. Which Intent is used to open a new Activity in the same app?
A) Implicit
B) Explicit
C) System
D) Service

Q4. An Intent to open a webpage in Chrome is an example of:
A) Explicit Intent
B) Implicit Intent
C) Broadcast Intent
D) None

Q5. Which lifecycle method is called when Activity is no longer visible?
A) onResume()
B) onStop()
C) onPause()
D) onStart()

Q6. Which class must every Activity extend?
A) Intent
B) AppCompatActivity
C) View
D) Context

Q7. Which lifecycle method is called when user returns to Activity from background?
A) onCreate()
B) onPause()
C) onResume()
D) onDestroy()

Q8. Intents in Android are used for:
A) Navigation
B) Data transfer between Activities
C) Launching external apps
D) All of these

Q9. Which of the following is NOT a type of Intent?
A) Explicit
B) Implicit
C) Pending
D) Hidden

Q10. Activity lifecycle is managed by:
A) Developer
B) JVM
C) Android OS
D) Compiler

✅ Answer Key

🧠 Explanations

• Q1 → B: Activity = single screen.
• Q2 → B: onCreate() is called first.
• Q3 → B: Explicit intents start app-specific Activities.
• Q4 → B: Opening external app = Implicit Intent.
• Q5 → B: onStop() called when Activity not visible.
• Q6 → B: All Activities extend AppCompatActivity.
• Q7 → C: onResume() is called when returning.
• Q8 → D: Intents are used for navigation, data transfer, external calls.
• Q9 → D: No such thing as “Hidden” Intent.
• Q10 → C: Lifecycle is controlled by Android OS.

🎯 Why Practice Matters

Activities & Intents are core Android concepts.

• At least 1–2 direct questions appear in ECET.
• Understanding lifecycle & intents is also useful for real app development and interviews.

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