Why don't style and layout use the android namespace?

Question

Example, when creating this:

<TextView
    style="@style/blah"
    android:layout_width="fill_parent"
    android:layout_height="wrap_content"
    android:text="@string/hello" />

<include
    layout="@layout/footer"
    android:layout_width="fill_parent"
    android:layout_height="wrap_content"/>

Possible reason: style and layout get processed at compile time, but I am not 100% sure.

EDIT:

Same thing with package in the AndroidManifest.xml file.

Answer 1

Looking at the source of LayoutInflater, there doesn't seem to be a obvious reason why it's layout in a include tag and not android:layout. I guess since the include tag is a special case in a layout there's no need for the android prefix.

The include tag is not processed at compile time however, else it wouldn't be in LayoutInflater now wouldn't it ;)

As for style, I don't know for sure, but I think the reason is that namespaced attributes are defined in XML and passed as AttributeSet in the View constructor. The style however isn't passed in that set, but as a separate parameter. So I think the reasoning is that style is a parameter that is always there, while namespace prefixed attributes are dynamic and custom for a View.

So no definite answer from me, but maybe it helps ;)