Difference between app:srcCompat and android:src in Android's layout XML

Question

Whenever I create an ImageView with icon added using Android Studio's Vector Assets, I'm getting an error at the line app:srcCompat="@drawable/ic_play"

When I change the app:srcCompat with android:src, the error is gone but the icon looks pixelated.

What is the main difference between

app:srcCompat="@drawable/ic_play"

and

android:src="@drawable/ic_play"

score 172 · Accepted Answer · edited Jul 01 '20 at 06:10

172

app:srcCompat

is the most foolproof method of integrating vector drawables into your app.Vector drawables allow you to replace multiple png assets with a single vector graphic, defined in XML. While previously limited to Lollipop and higher devices

Note

As of Android Support Library 23.3.0, support vector drawables can only be loaded via app:srcCompat .

you need to add vectorDrawables.useSupportLibrary = true to your build.gradle file

    // Gradle Plugin 2.0+  
 android {  
   defaultConfig {  
     vectorDrawables.useSupportLibrary = true  
    }  
 }

android:src

Sets a drawable as the content of this ImageView.It will display in its original size. No automatic scaling .

edited Jul 01 '20 at 06:10

Bruno Bieri

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answered Nov 16 '16 at 05:24

IntelliJ Amiya

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the error with app:srcCompact is gone when added vectorDrawables.useSupportLibrary = true in Gradle app module – Zayid Mohammed Nov 16 '16 at 05:43
4

Will app:srcCompat conflict with older android versions? More specifically Api 19 being the oldest version i'm referring to. – Equivocal Jan 17 '17 at 05:45
Wow can finally get rid of bitmap icons. – Meow Cat 2012 Mar 07 '19 at 11:40
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Google Plus post link is now dead – Vadim Kotov Aug 22 '19 at 14:20
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I've added above to `build.gradle`, but it's still not working, any ideas? – David Callanan Nov 24 '19 at 13:59
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Thank you, i tried weeks to understand how to stop gradle generating this pngs – Maksim Novikov Jun 29 '21 at 10:37

bitvale · Answer 2 · 2019-05-28T10:36:03.033

If you are using android:src="@drawable/some_vector" without vectorDrawables.useSupportLibrary = true in build.gradle file and your app have vector images (vector drawable), then while building the apk file Android gradle plugin generates a lot of *.png files for different screens (hdpi, xhdpi...) from each of your vector drawable (only for API =< 19). The result - bigger size of apk.

When using app:srcCompat="@drawable/some_vector" with vectorDrawables.useSupportLibrary = true android uses vector drawable files without generating *.png files.

You can check this with Android Studio apk analyzer tool. Just build apk with and without vectorDrawables.useSupportLibrary = true.

I think this is the main difference.

So if you have useSupportLibrary set to true, why do you need the special syntax, rather than android:src= ? If you use android:src= with useSupportLibrary activated, do you avoid the proliferation of PNGs? — Oscar, Jun 20 '20 at 00:24

score 12 · Answer 3 · edited Jun 26 '18 at 08:40

Use:

app:srcCompat="@drawable/backImage"

The srcCompat attribute is actually defined within AppCompat library. Important: you will need to add the appropriate namespace for this.

xmlns:app="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res-auto"

Note

What you are getting seems to be just a lint error that can be ignored. I have tried and gotten the same error, but it is working correctly.

You can use tools:ignore="MissingPrefix" to avoid seeing this error, temporarily.

I hope this helps.

score 7 · Answer 4 · answered Nov 16 '16 at 05:22

7

app:srcCompat="some_resource"

is refer that it is AppCompatActivity src which comes in support library while

android:src="some_resource"

refers to simple activity.

answered Nov 16 '16 at 05:22

Najeeb Idrees

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this was Insightful. – Sumit Dec 27 '21 at 05:11

score 4 · Answer 5 · answered Nov 16 '16 at 05:21

Vectors and animated vectors were only supported in recent versions of the framework. srcCompat can be used with the compatibility library to make them work, but this only works with the certain views in the support library. Notice that app: is used instead of android:. This means its not part of the framework, but a parameter defined by your app.

score 3 · Answer 6 · answered Nov 16 '16 at 05:22

3

Android 5.0 (API level 21) and higher provides vector drawable support so in order to support vector drawables in older versions app:srcCompat was added

answered Nov 16 '16 at 05:22

SaravInfern

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Difference between app:srcCompat and android:src in Android's layout XML

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