How to Properly Handle Asynchronous Calls with Retrofit in Android

Описание: Learn how to manage asynchronous server calls in your Android app using Retrofit while ensuring a seamless user experience with progress indicators.
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This video is based on the question https://stackoverflow.com/q/76194693/ asked by the user 'Atemyn' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/16440173/ ) and on the answer https://stackoverflow.com/a/76194833/ provided by the user 'Younes Charfaoui' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/7334951/ ) at 'Stack Overflow' website. Thanks to these great users and Stackexchange community for their contributions.

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How to Properly Handle Asynchronous Calls with Retrofit in Android

In Android development, making asynchronous calls to a server can lead to smooth and responsive applications. However, if not handled correctly, it can also result in application crashes or disorienting user experiences. In this guide, we will explore a common issue faced when using Retrofit, a popular networking library in Android, and how to address it effectively.

The Problem: Async Calls and UI Thread Conflicts

Imagine a scenario where you have coded a button that, when clicked, makes an asynchronous call to register a user on your server. Here's a simplified version of the code using Retrofit's enqueue() method:

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While this approach allows for a non-blocking UI, your application might crash if your code attempts to display a new fragment immediately after the enqueue() call. Since the enqueue() method works asynchronously, the fragment transaction may attempt to execute before the server response is fully received.

The Solution: Using Progress Indicators

To solve this issue without freezing your UI or disrupting the user experience, you can implement a progress indicator (such as a ProgressBar) to show users that a background operation is in progress. Here's how you can achieve this in a step-by-step manner:

Step 1: Show a Progress Bar

Before initiating the server call, display a loading indicator to keep the user informed:

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Step 2: Handle the Server Response

Inside the onResponse() callback, you'll want to hide the progress bar and then proceed with the fragment transaction. Here's the implementation:

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This ensures that the UI updates happen on the main thread, which is crucial as background threads cannot directly modify the UI.

Step 3: Manage Failure Scenarios

You should also take care of potential failures by hiding the progress bar in the onFailure() callback:

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Conclusion

By displaying a progress bar during long-running operations, you can enhance the user experience in your app considerably. Users will appreciate the visual feedback while the app communicates with the server, making your application appear more professional.

Handling asynchronous operations properly is crucial for any Android application using Retrofit. Follow the outlined steps to ensure that your application functions smoothly without freezing the UI or causing crashes.

Now, go ahead and implement these practices in your application for a better user experience! Remember, a responsive app is a successful app.