What is the difference between ArrayAdapter , BaseAdapter and ListAdapter

Question

Could you please tell me difference between ArrayAdapter , BaseAdapter and ListAdapter.

score 51 · Accepted Answer · edited Aug 02 '17 at 22:15

51

BaseAdapter as the name suggests, is a base class for all the adapters.

When you are extending the Base adapter class you need to implement all the methods like getCount(), getId() etc.

ArrayAdapter is a class which can work with array of data. You need to override only getview() method.

ListAdapter is a an interface implemented by concrete adapter classes.

BaseAdapter is an abstract class whereas ArrayAdapter and ListAdapter are the concrete classes.

ArrayAdapter and ListAdapter classes are developed since in general we deal with the array data sets and list data sets.

edited Aug 02 '17 at 22:15

Alexander Abakumov

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answered Jul 24 '12 at 10:24

Ashwin N Bhanushali

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You are correct in saying that `ArrayAdapter` is a concrete class. However, `ListAdapter` is not a class, it is an interface implemented by `BaseAdapter`. In short, you could either use the ready-made `ArrayAdapter`, or write your own adapter that extends `BaseAdapter`. – Spinner Aug 22 '12 at 10:47
i've question, i want to use DataBase in my proje that fills with users data, and after filling ,all the items will be shown in ListView. but i don't know which of Adapter is usfull for me?ArrayAdapter or BaseAdapter? please help me. thanks – Mina Dahesh Mar 13 '15 at 16:58
It should be CursorAdapter please see http://developer.android.com/reference/android/widget/CursorAdapter.html – Ashwin N Bhanushali Mar 16 '15 at 06:18

score 48 · Answer 2 · edited Feb 11 '15 at 10:22

48

ListAdapter

It is an interface that extended Adapter which is the bridge between a ListView and the data that backs the list.

BaseAdaper

Common base class of common implementation for an Adapter that can be used in both ListView (by implementing the specialized ListAdapter interface} and Spinner (by implementing the specialized SpinnerAdapter interface.

ArrayAdapter

A concrete BaseAdapter that is backed by an array of arbitrary objects.

Refer below links

edited Feb 11 '15 at 10:22

Android Killer

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answered Jul 24 '12 at 10:25

Nirali

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Note that ListAdapter is an interface, whereas the other two are classes that implement ListAdapter (one indirectly). – Spinner Aug 22 '12 at 10:49
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can you give an instance when will i use base and array adapter? – user1708134 Mar 31 '13 at 04:25

What is the difference between ArrayAdapter , BaseAdapter and ListAdapter

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