Other Internals Concepts

Advanced topics in Android internals

Boot Process

Learn how Android boots from the bootloader to the system UI, including the role of the kernel, init, and Zygote.

Bootloader
Linux Kernel
Init Process
Zygote
System Server
System UI

Core System Components

SELinux

Security-Enhanced Linux (SELinux) enforces mandatory access control, improving Android security by confining processes and restricting access.

Verified Boot

Ensures system integrity by verifying the boot chain from bootloader to system partition, preventing unauthorized modifications.

Vendor Partition

Separate partition for vendor-specific code and drivers, enabling modular updates and better maintainability.

System as Root

Modern Android architecture where the system partition is mounted as root, improving security and update mechanisms.

System Updates

OTA Updates

Over-the-Air updates allow seamless system updates without user intervention or data loss.

A/B Partitioning

Dual partition system enabling seamless updates with rollback capability and minimal downtime.

Project Treble

Modular architecture separating vendor implementation from Android framework for easier updates.

Dynamic Partitions

Flexible partitioning system allowing dynamic allocation of storage space for different partitions.

Advanced Topics

Init Process

First user-space process that initializes the system, starts services, and manages system lifecycle.

Zygote Process

Pre-initialized process that forks to create new app processes, improving startup performance.

System Server

Core system service that manages Android framework services and coordinates system operations.

Binder IPC

Inter-Process Communication mechanism used throughout Android for secure service communication.

Learn More

Explore the official Android documentation for detailed information about boot process and system architecture.

Android Boot Process