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Android - StartActivityForResult Method

In this article, we are going to learn about startActivityForResult method in Android with the code file. How it functions?
Submitted by Shamikh Faraz, on January 23, 2018

The startActivityForResult method creates a result on one activity and gets it from the second activity. With the help of startActivityForResult() method, we can also pass information from home activity to other activity and vice-versa.

Types of methods used in startActivityForResult

1. public void startActivityForResult (Intent i, int requestCode)
2. public void startActivityForResult (Intent i, int requestCode, Bundle options)

XML File: (activity_main)

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<android.support.constraint.ConstraintLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    xmlns:app="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res-auto"
    xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="match_parent"
    tools:context="com.example.faraz.startactivityforresult_example.MainActivity">

    <TextView
        android:id="@+id/textView1"
        android:layout_width="wrap_content"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_alignLeft="@+id/button1"
        android:layout_alignParentTop="true"
        android:layout_marginTop="48dp"
        android:text="Your old Message" />
    <Button
        android:id="@+id/button1"
        android:layout_width="wrap_content"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_below="@+id/textView1"
        android:layout_centerHorizontal="true"
        android:layout_marginTop="42dp"
        android:text="New Message" />
</android.support.constraint.ConstraintLayout>

XML File: (second_main)

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<android.support.constraint.ConstraintLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    xmlns:app="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res-auto"
    xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="match_parent"
    tools:context="com.example.faraz.startactivityforresult_example.SecondActivity">


    <EditText
        android:id="@+id/editText1"
        android:layout_width="wrap_content"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_alignParentTop="true"
        android:layout_toRightOf="@+id/textView1"
        android:ems="10"
        tools:layout_editor_absoluteX="85dp"
        tools:layout_editor_absoluteY="125dp" />

    <TextView
        android:id="@+id/textView1"
        android:layout_width="wrap_content"
        android:layout_height="0dp"
        android:layout_alignBaseline="@+id/editText1"
        android:layout_alignBottom="@+id/editText1"
        android:layout_alignParentLeft="true"
        android:text="Enter Your Message:"
        tools:layout_editor_absoluteX="128dp"
        tools:layout_editor_absoluteY="213dp" />

    <Button
        android:id="@+id/button1"
        android:layout_width="wrap_content"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_below="@+id/editText1"
        android:layout_centerHorizontal="true"
        android:text="Display"
        tools:layout_editor_absoluteX="148dp"
        tools:layout_editor_absoluteY="284dp" />
</android.support.constraint.ConstraintLayout>

Java File: (MainActivity.java)

package com.example.faraz.startactivityforresult_example;

import android.os.Bundle;
import android.app.Activity;
import android.content.Intent;
import android.view.Menu;
import android.view.View;
import android.view.View.OnClickListener;
import android.widget.Button;
import android.widget.TextView;
public class MainActivity extends Activity {
    TextView textView1;
    Button button1;
    @Override
    protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
        setContentView(R.layout.activity_main);

        textView1=(TextView)findViewById(R.id.textView1);
        button1=(Button)findViewById(R.id.button1);

        button1.setOnClickListener(new OnClickListener() {
            @Override
            public void onClick(View arg0) {
                Intent intent=new Intent(MainActivity.this,SecondActivity.class);
                startActivityForResult(intent, 2);// Activity is started with requestCode 2
            }
        });
    }
    // Call Back method  to get the Message form other Activity
    @Override
    protected void onActivityResult(int requestCode, int resultCode, Intent data)
    {
        super.onActivityResult(requestCode, resultCode, data);
        // check if the request code is same as what is passed  here it is 2
        if(requestCode==2)
        {
            String message=data.getStringExtra("MESSAGE");
            textView1.setText(message);
        }
    }
    @Override
    public boolean onCreateOptionsMenu(Menu menu) {
        // Inflate the menu; this adds items to the action bar if it is present.
        getMenuInflater().inflate(R.menu.main, menu);
        return true;
    }
}

Java File: (SecondActivity.java)

package com.example.faraz.startactivityforresult_example;

import android.os.Bundle;
import android.app.Activity;
import android.content.Intent;
import android.view.Menu;
import android.view.View;
import android.view.View.OnClickListener;
import android.widget.Button;
import android.widget.EditText;
import android.widget.TextView;
public class SecondActivity extends Activity {
    EditText editText1;
    Button button1;
    @Override
    protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
        setContentView(R.layout.activity_second);

        editText1=(EditText)findViewById(R.id.editText1);
        button1=(Button)findViewById(R.id.button1);

        button1.setOnClickListener(new OnClickListener() {
            @Override
            public void onClick(View arg0) {
                String message=editText1.getText().toString();
                Intent intent=new Intent();
                intent.putExtra("MESSAGE",message);
                setResult(2,intent);
                finish();//finishing activity
            }
        });
    }
    @Override
    public boolean onCreateOptionsMenu(Menu menu) {
        // Inflate the menu; this adds items to the action bar if it is present.
        getMenuInflater().inflate(R.menu.second, menu);
        return true;
    }
}

Output