Summary
The Android platform enables great flexibility when it comes to ways that users can provide input to the device. Developers benefit from the fact that many powerful input methods are built into the View controls themselves, just waiting to be leveraged. Applications can take advantage of built-in input methods, such as software keyboards, or can customize them for special purposes. The Android framework also includes powerful features, such as a clipboard Service, gesture support, and a drag-and-drop framework, that your applications can use. It is important to support a variety of input methods in your applications, as users often have distinct preferences and not all methods are available on all devices.