32.6 ViewModel Saved State

Android allows the user to place an active app into the background and return to it later after performing other tasks on the device (including running other apps). When a device runs low on resources, the operating system will rectify this by terminating background app processes, starting with the least recently used app. When the user returns to the terminated background app, however, it should appear in the same state as when it was placed in the background, regardless of whether it was terminated. In terms of the data associated with a ViewModel, this can be implemented by making use of the ViewModel Saved State module. This module allows values to be stored in the app’s saved state and restored in the event of a system initiated process termination, a topic which will be covered later in the chapter entitled “An Android ViewModel Saved State Tutorial”.