minSdkVersion is different than the minimum api level

Question

I'm a little confused! I made an Android app which has these lines of code in the Gradle file:

android {
compileSdkVersion 26
buildToolsVersion "26.0.1"

  defaultConfig {
     applicationId "com.example.ayech0x2.navigationbarforallactivitites"
     minSdkVersion 21
     targetSdkVersion 26
     versionCode 1
     versionName "1.0"
     testInstrumentationRunner "android.support.test.runner.AndroidJUnitRunner"
  }

So as you see the minimum version of Android is Lolipop after that I used an app called Install APKs to see my apk pieces of information I found that the minimum API level is 3 (Cupcake)! what did this mean? What's the difference between minSdkVersion and minimum API level?

Thank you very much for your time and assistance in this matter.

Answer 1

The minSdkVerison and minimum API level is same. You cannot install the apk on an Android OS of api level below minimum api level. the apk checking tool may have some problem in checking the details.