What is the role of 'com.google.code.gson:gson:2.6.1' dependency in retrofit 2 when it has its own gson converter?

Question

// Retrofit
compile 'com.squareup.retrofit2:retrofit:2.1.0'

// JSON Parsing
compile 'com.google.code.gson:gson:2.6.1'
compile 'com.squareup.retrofit2:converter-gson:2.1.0'

My question is regarding the second and third dependency added. I do understand it is related to JSON conversion. If the third dependency is added,would the second dependency still be needed?

I have seen them both being added on several examples. For e.g: https://www.androidhive.info/2016/05/android-working-with-retrofit-http-library/ https://code.tutsplus.com/tutorials/sending-data-with-retrofit-2-http-client-for-android--cms-27845

score 2 · Accepted Answer · answered Mar 21 '18 at 06:05

2

At the source of Retrofit Gson contverter library, there is a dependency of Gson.

<dependency>
  <groupId>com.google.code.gson</groupId>
  <artifactId>gson</artifactId>
</dependency>

So, when you include com.squareup.retrofit2:converter-gson as your dependency, com.google.code.gson:gson will be automatically included.

So, you will not need to include the Gson dependency explicitly.

answered Mar 21 '18 at 06:05

Nabin Bhandari

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How to exclude gson if it is included in another library? – BuffK Aug 27 '20 at 15:54
1

@BuffK https://stackoverflow.com/q/48365687/5137352 – Nabin Bhandari Aug 28 '20 at 09:22

What is the role of 'com.google.code.gson:gson:2.6.1' dependency in retrofit 2 when it has its own gson converter?

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