Templates

AI-generated Key Takeaways

• The Android for Cars App Library enables developers to build apps compatible with both Android Auto and Android Automotive OS.

• It offers vehicle-optimized templates that simplify UI design and ensure responsiveness across different car screens.

• The library supports navigation, point-of-interest, IoT, VoIP, and weather app categories.

• Developers need to produce two separate APKs, one for Android Auto and another for Android Automotive OS, although the design process remains consistent.

• The library manages crucial functions like screen sizing, allowing developers to focus on core app functionalities.

The Android for Cars App Library helps you build apps that work with both of the Android for Cars systems: Android Auto (projected from phones into cars) and Android Automotive OS (built into cars).

The Android for Cars App Library:

• Provides vehicle-optimized templates that you can assemble into task flows to design your app’s user interface
• Handles important functions such as responsive screen sizing so your app can work effectively in all compatible vehicles (for details, visit Who handles what)
• Is available for these app categories: Navigation, point-of-interest, Internet of Things (IoT), Voice over Internet Prototcol (VoIP), and weather

This section describes the templates and the components that appear on them. To learn how to design apps using the templates, see Build apps with templates. To find out what requirements the apps should meet, see Templated app requirements.

Note: While the design process with the templates is the same for both Android Auto and Android Automotive OS (AAOS), the development process involves producing two different APKs. For technical guidance on building an app with the templates, visit Using the Android for Cars App Library.

The Android for Cars App Library includes:

Template	What it shows	For navigation apps	For POI and IoT apps
Tab	Tabs at top to switch among views of other embedded templates
Map + Content template	Map with view of other included template
List or Grid	Information items in a list or grid layout
Sign-in	Options for signing in to the app
Message or Long Message	Brief or longer full-screen message and relevant actions
Search	Search bar and results list
Pane	Detailed information and prominent actions, with optional image
Place List (map)	List of locations or other items next to a map drawn by app library
Navigation	Full-screen map with action strip and optional routing card

Note: In all map-based templates for navigation apps (in the previous table), the app draws the map.

Deprecated templates

The following templates have been deprecated as of version 1.7:

• Map template
• Place List (navigation) template
• Route Preview template