How to use the command 'adb devices' (with examples)
The adb devices command is a widely used tool in Android development and debugging. It is part of the Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a versatile command-line tool that allows communication with an emulator instance or connected Android device. The command itself is crucial for developers who want to manage and interact with devices or emulators directly from their development environment. It can list all the connected devices or emulators along with essential information related to those devices, which facilitates seamless management and debugging throughout the development process.
Use case 1: List connected Android devices
Code:
adb devices
Motivation:
The primary motivation behind using the adb devices command is to identify the Android devices or emulators currently connected to your host machine. This is particularly useful in a development and testing environment where multiple devices might be connected simultaneously. By listing all the devices, developers can easily manage which device or emulator they want to interact with for testing or debugging purposes. It’s a quick way to ensure that your device is properly connected and recognized by the ADB service.
Explanation:
adb: This is the Android Debug Bridge command-line tool.devices: This option lists all the devices or emulators currently connected to the ADB server.
Example output:
List of devices attached
192.168.1.2:5555 device
emulator-5556 device
The output shows a list of device identifiers and their connection statuses. In this example, two devices are connected: one with a specific IP address over a network and another is an emulator running locally on the machine.
Use case 2: List devices and their system information
Code:
adb devices -l
Motivation:
Building upon the basic functionality of listing connected Android devices, the adb devices -l command extends the information by providing detailed system information about each connected device. This additional information, such as the device model, product name, and transport ID, can be crucial when dealing with multiple devices that might share similar identifiers but have different configurations. This ensures developers can quickly differentiate between devices, aiding in more targeted testing and debugging.
Explanation:
adb: This is the core command of the Android Debug Bridge.devices: This indicates that you want to list the devices attached to the ADB server.-l: This flag requests more detailed output, which includes additional information about each device, such as the product, model, and transport id.
Example output:
List of devices attached
192.168.1.2:5555 device product:sdk_gphone_x86 model:Pixel_4_XL transport_id:1
emulator-5556 device product:sdk_gphone_x86_64 model:Pixel_3a transport_id:2
In this example, you can see not only the device identifiers but also specific attributes that provide more context about each device. Here, devices are distinguished by their model names like Pixel 4 XL and Pixel 3a, making it easier for developers to identify and call devices for specific tasks.
Conclusion:
Using the adb devices command and its variations allows developers to effectively manage multiple connected Android devices and emulators. Whether you simply want to verify connectivity or need detailed information about each device, this command offers a straightforward solution. Overall, streamlined device management enhances the development workflow, leading to better productivity and more reliable applications.
