AsyncTask vs Service on data synchronization from remote server

Question

I've been building medium sized information systems for a year now, using Android as one of the client-side, but I have never used a Service before. To request data from the server, I always fire a request using AsyncTask. When the user enter the corresponding Activity.

A diagram might be represented by the following:

                    -> fires -> AsyncTask -> request from network and insert into local -> refresh view
Activity#onCreate() 
                    -> query local database -> refresh view

Since AsyncTask executes on a background thread, there are no bug issues or similar.

Can I get a REAL explanation on Services vs AsyncTask on network operations?

My bad, I didn't found that one when looking, it is indeed a duplicate — Christopher Francisco, May 30 '14 at 17:54
No problem. it's a common question and there are several really good articles on it. — Mika, May 30 '14 at 18:10

score 1 · Answer 1 · answered May 30 '14 at 17:26

if you want a long running background task such as connecting to a socket and want it to live even if you start another app you need service, and if you just download, get, etc from a server(except downloading a large file) for a short period of time then you should use AsyncTask..

well in your diagram it is a short running background task where AsyncTask is best fitted for it.

AsyncTask vs Service on data synchronization from remote server

1 Answers1