Project Structure & Manifest
Understand the Android project layout, the role of build.gradle, resources, and the AndroidManifest.xml file that declares your app to the OS.
Your First Android Project
When you create a new Android project in Android Studio, it generates a specific folder structure. Understanding this structure is the first step to productive Android development.
Every Android app has the same top-level layout — let's explore it.
Top-Level Structure
An Android project has two main modules:
- app/ — your app module (code, resources, manifest)
- Gradle files — build system configuration
Inside app/src/main/ you'll spend most of your time:
- java/ (or kotlin/) — your Kotlin source files
- res/ — layouts, images, strings
- AndroidManifest.xml — the app's configuration file