Handler(Handler.Callback) is deprecated

Question

Handler(android.os.Handler.Callback) is deprecated what should I use instead?

Handler handler = new Handler(new Handler.Callback() {
    @Override
    public boolean handleMessage(@NonNull Message message) {
        switch(message.what) {
            case READ_MESSAGE:
                byte[] readBuff = (byte[]) message.obj;
                String tempMessage = new String(readBuff, 0, message.arg1);
                readMsg.setText(tempMessage);
                break;
        }
        return true;
    }
});

Answer 1

From API level 30, there are 2 constructors are deprecated.

• Handler()

• Handler(Handler.Callback)

Google explains the reason below.

Implicitly choosing a Looper during Handler construction can lead to bugs where operations are silently lost (if the Handler is not expecting new tasks and quits), crashes (if a handler is sometimes created on a thread without a Looper active), or race conditions, where the thread a handler is associated with is not what the author anticipated. Instead, use an Executor or specify the Looper explicitly, using Looper#getMainLooper, {link android.view.View#getHandler}, or similar. If the implicit thread local behavior is required for compatibility, use new Handler(Looper.myLooper(), callback) to make it clear to readers.

Solution 1: Use an Executor

1. Execute code in the main thread.

// Create an executor that executes tasks in the main thread. 
Executor mainExecutor = ContextCompat.getMainExecutor(this);

// Execute a task in the main thread
mainExecutor.execute(new Runnable() {
    @Override
    public void run() {
        // You code logic goes here.
    }
});

2. Execute code in a background thread

// Create an executor that executes tasks in a background thread.
ScheduledExecutorService backgroundExecutor = Executors.newSingleThreadScheduledExecutor();

// Execute a task in the background thread.
backgroundExecutor.execute(new Runnable() {
    @Override
    public void run() {
        // Your code logic goes here.
    }
});

// Execute a task in the background thread after 1 second.
backgroundExecutor.schedule(new Runnable() {
    @Override
    public void run() {
        // Your code logic goes here
    }
}, 1, TimeUnit.SECONDS);

Note: Remember to shut down the executor after using.

backgroundExecutor.shutdown(); // or backgroundExecutor.shutdownNow();

3. Execute code in a background thread and update UI on the main thread.

// Create an executor that executes tasks in the main thread. 
Executor mainExecutor = ContextCompat.getMainExecutor(this);

// Create an executor that executes tasks in a background thread.
ScheduledExecutorService backgroundExecutor = Executors.newSingleThreadScheduledExecutor();

// Execute a task in the background thread.
backgroundExecutor.execute(new Runnable() {
    @Override
    public void run() {
        // Your code logic goes here.
        
        // Update UI on the main thread
        mainExecutor.execute(new Runnable() {
            @Override
            public void run() {
                // You code logic goes here.
            }
        });
    }
});

Solution 2: Specify a Looper explicitly by using one of the following constructors.

• Handler(Looper)

• Handler(Looper, Handler.Callback)

1. Execute code in the main thread

1.1. Handler with a Looper

Handler mainHandler = new Handler(Looper.getMainLooper());

1.2 Handler with a Looper and a Handler.Callback

Handler mainHandler = new Handler(Looper.getMainLooper(), new Handler.Callback() {
    @Override
    public boolean handleMessage(@NonNull Message message) {
        // Your code logic goes here.
        return true;
    }
});

2. Execute code in a background thread

2.1. Handler with a Looper

// Create a background thread that has a Looper
HandlerThread handlerThread = new HandlerThread("HandlerThread");
handlerThread.start();

// Create a handler to execute tasks in the background thread.
Handler backgroundHandler = new Handler(handlerThread.getLooper()); 

2.2. Handler with a Looper and a Handler.Callback

// Create a background thread that has a Looper
HandlerThread handlerThread = new HandlerThread("HandlerThread");
handlerThread.start();

// Create a handler to execute taks in the background thread.
Handler backgroundHandler = new Handler(handlerThread.getLooper(), new Handler.Callback() {
    @Override
    public boolean handleMessage(@NonNull Message message) {
        // Your code logic goes here.
        return true;
    }
});

Note: Remember to release the thread after using.

handlerThread.quit(); // or handlerThread.quitSafely();

3. Execute code in a background thread and update UI on the main thread.

// Create a handler to execute code in the main thread
Handler mainHandler = new Handler(Looper.getMainLooper());

// Create a background thread that has a Looper
HandlerThread handlerThread = new HandlerThread("HandlerThread");
handlerThread.start();

// Create a handler to execute in the background thread
Handler backgroundHandler = new Handler(handlerThread.getLooper(), new Handler.Callback() {
    @Override
    public boolean handleMessage(@NonNull Message message) {
        // Your code logic goes here.
        
        // Update UI on the main thread.
        mainHandler.post(new Runnable() {
            @Override
            public void run() {
                
            }
        });
        
        return true;
    }
});