Using an SQLite database from a service in Android

Question

I would like to find out if the following is possible. I want to have an activity and a service that both make changes to a database, will the service still be able to access and change the content of the database once the activity stops running?

I know that the service can run independent of the activity once it is closed, but just not sure if database access will still be able to continue?

Answer 1

Yes, you can use sqlite database in your Service, even if application goes to background, or application is killed using swipe from Recent application list.

I created a very simple demo.

Its just a database with an empty table. And I am getting whether table contains any record or not in Service at every 10 seconds. Its giving me toast message even if application is in background, or its killed.

@Override
public int onStartCommand(Intent intent, int flags, int startId) {

    final Handler mHandler = new Handler();
    mRunnable = new Runnable() {
        @Override
        public void run() {
            MyDBHelper myDBHelper = new MyDBHelper(getApplicationContext());
            boolean isInfoAvailable = myDBHelper.isAnyInfoAvailable(getApplicationContext());
            Toast.makeText(getApplicationContext(), String.valueOf(isInfoAvailable), Toast.LENGTH_LONG).show();
            mHandler.postDelayed(mRunnable, 10 * 1000);
        }
    };
    mHandler.postDelayed(mRunnable, 10 * 1000);
    return super.onStartCommand(intent, flags, startId);
}

All you would need to make sure is:

Service should run in background.

In your manifest file, use flag android:stopWithTask="false" for service.

<service
    android:name=".MyService"
    android:enabled="true"
    android:exported="true"
    android:stopWithTask="false">
</service>

Hope this helps. :)

Answer 2

It is entirely possible to have your service access the DB - try looking at How to use SQLite from Services in Android?