Embark on a journey of knowledge! Take the quiz and earn valuable credits.
Take A QuizChallenge yourself and boost your learning! Start the quiz now to earn credits.
Take A QuizUnlock your potential! Begin the quiz, answer questions, and accumulate credits along the way.
Take A Quiz
🔍 Overview
Manually handling permissions across platforms like iOS and
Android is not only tedious but also error-prone. Fortunately, modern
development offers permission management libraries, APIs, and frameworks
to streamline, secure, and scale how your app interacts with permissions.
This chapter covers:
🚀 1. Why Use Tools and
Libraries for Permissions?
Managing permissions manually can lead to:
Using permission handling libraries and APIs allows you to:
🧰 2. Recommended
Libraries & APIs by Platform
✅ Android
Library |
Description |
Link |
Dexter |
Easy Android runtime
permissions |
|
PermissionsDispatcher |
Annotations +
codegen for Android perms |
|
Accompanist
Permissions |
Jetpack Compose
integration |
GitHub |
✅ iOS
Tool / API |
Description |
Info.plist Keys |
Required for all permission
declarations |
AVFoundation / CoreLocation / PHPhotoKit |
Native
frameworks to manage camera, location, and media permissions |
@Environment(.authorizationStatus) |
SwiftUI native
permission status tracking |
✅ Cross-Platform (Flutter, React
Native)
Framework |
Library |
Purpose |
Flutter |
permission_handler |
Unified permission
access on Android/iOS |
React Native |
react-native-permissions |
Cross-platform
permissions and settings UI |
Capacitor/Cordova |
Native APIs plugin |
Web + mobile hybrid
app support |
📦 3. Android Library
Example: Dexter
Dexter simplifies permission flow in a few lines.
✅ Setup
Add in build.gradle:
groovy
implementation
'com.karumi:dexter:6.2.3'
✅ Usage
kotlin
Dexter.withContext(this)
.withPermission(Manifest.permission.CAMERA)
.withListener(object : PermissionListener {
override fun
onPermissionGranted(response: PermissionGrantedResponse) {
// Permission granted
}
override fun
onPermissionDenied(response: PermissionDeniedResponse) {
// Permission denied
}
override fun
onPermissionRationaleShouldBeShown(permission: PermissionRequest, token:
PermissionToken) {
token.continuePermissionRequest()
}
}).check()
📷 4. iOS Native
Permission Management
For each permission, iOS offers a framework:
Permission |
Framework |
Key Class/API |
Camera |
AVFoundation |
AVCaptureDevice |
Location |
CoreLocation |
CLLocationManager |
Photo Library |
Photos |
PHPhotoLibrary |
Microphone |
AVFoundation |
AVAudioSession |
Health Data |
HealthKit |
HKHealthStore |
✅ Example: Camera Permission in
Swift
swift
AVCaptureDevice.requestAccess(for:
.video) { granted in
if granted {
// Proceed with camera
} else {
// Show fallback
}
}
🌐 5. React Native
Permissions Example
Install the library:
bash
npm
install react-native-permissions
Link native modules (if using older RN versions) and
configure iOS and Android permission declarations.
✅ Usage Example:
javascript
import
{check, request, PERMISSIONS, RESULTS} from 'react-native-permissions';
check(PERMISSIONS.IOS.CAMERA).then(result
=> {
switch (result) {
case RESULTS.GRANTED:
// Access granted
break;
case RESULTS.DENIED:
request(PERMISSIONS.IOS.CAMERA).then(res
=> {
// Handle request result
});
break;
}
});
📱 6. Flutter Permission
Handler Example
Install:
bash
flutter
pub add permission_handler
✅ Code Example:
dart
import
'package:permission_handler/permission_handler.dart';
Future<void>
requestCamera() async {
var status = await Permission.camera.status;
if (!status.isGranted) {
await Permission.camera.request();
}
}
🔍 7. Permission Status
Tracking & UX Integration
Modern permission libraries often include state-checking
utilities, so you can conditionally render UI or redirect to settings.
✅ iOS SwiftUI Example:
swift
@Environment(\.authorizationStatus)
var cameraStatus: AVAuthorizationStatus
if
cameraStatus == .denied {
Text("Camera access denied. Tap to go
to Settings.")
}
✅ Android Jetpack Compose +
Accompanist Example:
kotlin
val
cameraPermissionState = rememberPermissionState(Manifest.permission.CAMERA)
if
(cameraPermissionState.hasPermission) {
// Show camera UI
}
else {
Button(onClick = {
cameraPermissionState.launchPermissionRequest() }) {
Text("Request Camera Access")
}
}
🧪 8. Testing &
Debugging Tools
Tool |
Platform |
Use Case |
ADB (Android Debug
Bridge) |
Android |
Simulate permission
grants/revokes |
Simulator > Features > Location |
iOS |
Mock location
for testing |
Charles Proxy /
Proxyman |
Both |
Monitor sensitive data
transmission |
Appium / Detox |
Cross-platform |
Automate
permission tests during CI/CD |
📊 9. Comparison of
Libraries by Criteria
Library |
Platforms |
Pros |
Cons |
Dexter |
Android |
Minimal setup, handles
rationale UI |
Android only |
PermissionHandler |
Flutter |
Unified API
for Android/iOS |
Requires
native setup on iOS |
React-Native-Permissions |
React Native |
Good abstraction,
supports many perms |
May need linking,
setup on iOS |
PermissionsDispatcher |
Android |
Uses
annotations, great for large apps |
Needs annotation
processor setup |
Accompanist
Permissions |
Android (Compose) |
Jetpack Compose
support |
Compose-only support |
✅ Best Practices When Using
Libraries
📌 Conclusion
Permission handling doesn’t have to be complex. By
leveraging modern libraries and platform APIs, developers can simplify
workflows, ensure consistent user experiences, and maintain security
and compliance with less effort.
In the final chapter, we’ll dive into auditing, policy
compliance, and preparing your permission flows for App Store submission.
Answer:
App permissions are system-level privileges that allow apps to access sensitive
data or hardware features (e.g., camera, location, microphone). Managing them
securely is critical to protect user privacy, avoid legal issues, and maintain
trust in your app.
Answer:
Always request permissions contextually—at the moment the feature is
needed. For example, request camera access only when the user taps a “Take
Photo” button, not when the app launches.
Answer:
Answer:
Audit your app features and only request what’s essential. Use default system
features that don’t require permissions (e.g., image picker instead of direct
camera access) when possible.
Answer:
Your app should handle denial gracefully. Provide fallback UI, explain
why the permission is helpful, and optionally guide the user to settings if
they change their mind.
Answer:
While technically possible, it’s best to avoid bulk requests. It
overwhelms users and decreases acceptance rates. Ask for permissions one at a
time, and only when relevant.
Answer:
Yes. Both Apple and Google require a clear and accessible privacy policy
if your app requests sensitive permissions or collects user data. Failure to
provide one can lead to rejection or removal.
Answer:
Answer:
Poor permission handling can result in:
Answer:
Yes. Tools like Dexter (Android), PermissionHandler (Flutter), and
react-native-permissions (React Native) help simplify cross-platform permission
logic and state management.
Please log in to access this content. You will be redirected to the login page shortly.
LoginReady to take your education and career to the next level? Register today and join our growing community of learners and professionals.
Comments(0)