getBaseContext or getContext? How do they differ?

Question

I noticed that inside my class that extends View, to get the screen size I have to use getContext

DisplayMetrics dispM = getContext.getResources().getDisplayMetrics();
int width = dispM.WidthPixels;
int height = dispM.HeightPixels;

if I wanted to do the same inside my Activity, I have to replace getContext with getBaseContext. Why is this the case?

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/22966601/what-is-different-between-mainactivity-this-vs-getapplicationcontext/22967165#22967165 — Zohra Khan, Apr 11 '14 at 10:23
You can use Activity instance itself in Activity to find screen size, no need of getBaseContext() and in `View`, `getContext()` returns an instance of `Context` that you passed as parameter to view during its initialization i.e. at `new View(Context)`... — Gopal Gopi, Apr 11 '14 at 10:23

score 5 · Answer 1 · answered Apr 11 '14 at 10:27

5

View.getContext(): Returns the context the view is currently running in.

getBaseContext(): is the activity context itself. Even you can use this

answered Apr 11 '14 at 10:27

Zohra Khan

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Nirbhay Mishra · Accepted Answer · 2014-04-11T10:52:05.623

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getContext() Returns the context the view is currently running in. . Activity.

getBaseContext() : If you need access to a Context from within another context, you use this

edited Apr 11 '14 at 10:52

answered Apr 11 '14 at 10:25

Nirbhay Mishra

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score 2 · Answer 3 · edited May 23 '17 at 10:33

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View.getContext() usually returns the context the view of current Activity. ContextWrapper.getBaseContext() is used while accessing a Context from within another context example Activity.

See at - Difference between getContext() , getApplicationContext() , getBaseContext() and "this"

edited May 23 '17 at 10:33

Community

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answered Apr 11 '14 at 10:25

Aduait Pokhriyal

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getBaseContext or getContext? How do they differ?

3 Answers3