What is the difference between an IntentService and a Service? [duplicate]

by

Service is a base class of service implementation. Service runs on the application’s main thread which may reduce the application performance. Thus, IntentService, which is a direct subclass of Service is available to make things easier.

The IntentService is used to perform a certain task in the background. Once done, the instance of IntentService terminates itself automatically. Examples for its usage would be to download a certain resource from the Internet.

Differences

  1. Service class uses the application’s main thread, while IntentService creates a worker thread and uses that thread to run the service.
  2. IntentService creates a queue that passes one intent at a time to onHandleIntent(). Thus, implementing a multi-thread should be made by extending Service class directly.
    Service class needs a manual stop using stopSelf(). Meanwhile, IntentService automatically stops itself when it finishes execution.
  3. IntentService implements onBind() that returns null. This means that the IntentService can not be bound by default.
  4. IntentService implements onStartCommand() that sends Intent to queue and to onHandleIntent().

In brief, there are only two things to do to use IntentService. Firstly, to implement the constructor. And secondly, to implement onHandleIntent(). For other callback methods, the super is needed to be called so that it can be tracked properly.

More Related Contents:

  1. Service vs IntentService in the Android platform
  2. Android RuntimeException: Unable to instantiate the service
  3. Service Ended When I Kill App
  4. Trying to start a service on boot on Android
  5. Android – implementing startForeground for a service?
  6. Android – Listen For Incoming SMS Messages
  7. Android background music service
  8. Recommended way / order to read data from a webservice, parse that data and insert it in a SQLite db
  9. START_STICKY does not work on Android KitKat
  10. Creating an Android Service with Phonegap? (Have phonegap app run even when closed)
  11. BroadcastReceiver when wifi or 3g network state changed
  12. Continue Service even if application is cleared from Recent app
  13. Get Context in a Service
  14. How to always run a service in the background?
  15. How to simulate touch from background service with sendevent or other way?
  16. How to run an android app in background?
  17. Permission Denial: startForeground requires android.permission.FOREGROUND_SERVICE
  18. Android L (API 21) – java.lang.IllegalArgumentException: Service Intent must be explicit
  19. Download multiple files with a progress bar in ListView Android
  20. android design considerations: AsyncTask vs Service (IntentService?)
  21. Background Service getting killed in android
  22. Debugging a service
  23. How does doze mode affect background/foreground services, with/without partial/full wakelocks?
  24. Samsung “App optimisation” feature kills background applications after 3 days
  25. Create only one instance of Service (Android)
  26. SpeechRecognizer causes ANR… I need help with Android speech API
  27. Can anybody explain what is difference between unbound and bound service in android
  28. Android Activity with no GUI
  29. Android service crashes after app is swiped out of the recent apps list
  30. NotificationListenerService Implementation

Leave a Comment