How can I access my local REST api from my android device?

Question

I have a spring REST api running locally on my computer. I would like to consume this api for android development.

Here is my get request:

public static String sendGet(final String url) {
        StringBuilder result = new StringBuilder();
        HttpURLConnection urlConnection = null;
        try {
            String apiUrl = getAbsoluteUrl(url); // concatenate uri with base url eg: localhost:8080/ + uri
            URL requestUrl = new URL(apiUrl);
            urlConnection = (HttpURLConnection) requestUrl.openConnection();
            urlConnection.connect(); // no connection is made
            InputStream in = new BufferedInputStream(urlConnection.getInputStream());
            BufferedReader reader = new BufferedReader(new InputStreamReader(in));
            String line;
            while ((line = reader.readLine()) != null) {
                result.append(line);
            }

        } catch (Exception e) {
            e.printStackTrace();
        } finally {
            urlConnection.disconnect();
        }
        return result.toString();
    }

I can access my api via my device's browser. However, when I use this same url within the built apk to make the request, no connection is made.

My manifest includes:

<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.INTERNET"/>
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE" />

Side notes:

I am connecting my device to my laptop running the rest api via usb. I am using the WLAN IPv4 address found by calling ipconfig.

Any tips in the right direction would be much appreciated - thanks!

Edit to include chrome browser (on android device) output from local REST api running on my laptop (A GET request to return default guest user information):

Answer 1

Let me tell you an easier way to do this. If you are using Android emulator you can use 10.0.2.2 as the IP address to connect to the host machine where your REST API is available.

Similarly if you are using Genymotion which uses Oracle Virtualbox, you can use 10.0.3.2.

Answer 2

Check your ip:- Steps to check ip (make sure you are connected to internet)

1. Open command prompt
2. type ipconfig
3. Ip is the highlighted one in image below

Now make your url like this: http://192.168.240.2/index.html