Understanding Android API 23: Features and Developer Guide

Understanding Android API 23: The Milestone That Changed Mobile Security

When discussing milestones in mobile operating systems, few versions are as pivotal as Android 6.0 Marshmallow, designated numerically as API Level 23. Released by Google, this update fundamentally shifted how users interact with applications, particularly concerning privacy, hardware access, and device performance.

What is API 23?

In the Android ecosystem, every platform version corresponds to an API (Application Programming Interface) level. API 23 specifically represents Android Marshmallow, introduced to the public. While it brought several under-the-hood performance tweaks and battery optimizations like Doze Mode and App Standby, its legacy is defined almost entirely by a massive overhaul in security.

The Game Changer: Runtime Permissions

Before API Level 23, Android utilized an “all-or-nothing” installation-time permission model. When a user downloaded an app from the Google Play Store, a long list of requested permissions—such as access to the camera, microphone, contacts, or location—was displayed. Users had to accept all of them just to install the app. If a user was uncomfortable with even one permission, their only choice was not to use the app at all.

API 23 completely revolutionized this paradigm by introducing runtime permissions.

• On-Demand Requests: Apps could no longer grab access to sensitive data upon installation. Instead, they had to ask the user for permission at the exact moment the feature was needed (