Working with Permissions in Jetpack Compose

Handling permissions is a critical aspect of Android app development, ensuring that users are aware of and grant consent for the app to access sensitive data or device features. With Jetpack Compose, managing permissions becomes more streamlined and declarative. This blog post will explore how to effectively work with permissions in Jetpack Compose applications.

Why Permissions are Important

Android’s permission system protects user privacy by restricting apps from accessing certain device capabilities without explicit user consent. These capabilities include accessing the camera, microphone, location, contacts, storage, and more.

By requesting permissions responsibly, you not only adhere to Android’s security model but also build trust with your users. Clearly communicating why your app needs specific permissions enhances transparency and encourages users to grant them.

Jetpack Compose and Permissions

Jetpack Compose simplifies permission handling by allowing developers to manage permission requests and responses within their composable functions. Here’s how to approach permission management in Jetpack Compose:

Step 1: Add Dependencies

Before diving into the code, ensure you have the necessary dependencies in your build.gradle file. The accompanist-permissions library makes it easier to manage permissions in Compose. This example use version 0.33.0

dependencies {
    implementation("com.google.accompanist:accompanist-permissions:0.33.0")
}

Sync your Gradle files to apply the changes.

Step 2: Basic Permission Request

Let’s start with a simple example of requesting camera permission using the accompanist-permissions library:

import androidx.compose.runtime.Composable
import com.google.accompanist.permissions.ExperimentalPermissionsApi
import com.google.accompanist.permissions.rememberPermissionState
import androidx.compose.material.Button
import androidx.compose.material.Text
import androidx.compose.ui.window.Dialog
import androidx.compose.material.AlertDialog
import androidx.compose.material.TextButton
import androidx.compose.runtime.mutableStateOf
import androidx.compose.runtime.remember
import androidx.compose.ui.platform.LocalContext
import android.content.Intent
import android.net.Uri
import android.provider.Settings
import androidx.compose.ui.Modifier
import androidx.compose.ui.unit.dp
import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.padding

@OptIn(ExperimentalPermissionsApi::class)
@Composable
fun CameraPermissionRequest() {
    val cameraPermissionState = rememberPermissionState(android.Manifest.permission.CAMERA)
    val openDialog = remember { mutableStateOf(false) }
    val context = LocalContext.current

    Button(onClick = {
        cameraPermissionState.launchPermissionRequest()
    }) {
        Text("Request Camera Permission")
    }

    if (cameraPermissionState.hasPermission) {
        Text("Camera permission Granted")
    }

    if (cameraPermissionState.shouldShowRationale) {
            openDialog.value = true
    }
    
   if(openDialog.value){
        AlertDialog(
            onDismissRequest = {
                openDialog.value = false
            },
            title = {
                Text(text = "Camera Permission Required")
            },
            text = {
                Text("The camera permission is important for this app. Please grant the permission.")
            },
            confirmButton = {
                TextButton(onClick = {
                    openDialog.value = false
                    cameraPermissionState.launchPermissionRequest()
                }) {
                    Text("OK")
                }
            },
            dismissButton = {
                TextButton(onClick = {
                   openDialog.value = false
                }) {
                    Text("Cancel")
                }
            }
        )
    }

     if (!cameraPermissionState.hasPermission && !cameraPermissionState.shouldShowRationale){
            openDialog.value = true
           AlertDialog(
                onDismissRequest = {
                    openDialog.value = false
                },
                title = {
                    Text(text = "Permission permanently denied")
                },
                text = {
                    Text("Camera permission is denied permanently")
                },
                confirmButton = {
                     TextButton(onClick = {
                        openDialog.value = false
                         val intent = Intent(Settings.ACTION_APPLICATION_DETAILS_SETTINGS).apply {
                            data = Uri.fromParts("package", context.packageName, null)
                        }
                       context.startActivity(intent)

                    }) {
                        Text("Open Settings")
                    }
                },
                dismissButton = {
                    TextButton(onClick = {
                       openDialog.value = false
                    }) {
                        Text("Cancel")
                    }
                }
            )
    }
}

In this example:

• We use rememberPermissionState to manage the state of the camera permission.
• The launchPermissionRequest() method triggers the permission request dialog.
• A boolean state openDialog controls the visibility of a Dialog composable.

Step 3: Handling Multiple Permissions

To request multiple permissions simultaneously, you can use rememberMultiplePermissionsState:

import androidx.compose.runtime.Composable
import com.google.accompanist.permissions.rememberMultiplePermissionsState
import androidx.compose.material.Button
import androidx.compose.material.Text
import androidx.compose.runtime.LaunchedEffect

@Composable
fun MultiplePermissionsRequest() {
    val multiplePermissionsState = rememberMultiplePermissionsState(
        permissions = listOf(
            android.Manifest.permission.CAMERA,
            android.Manifest.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION
        )
    )

    Button(onClick = {
        multiplePermissionsState.launchMultiplePermissionRequest()
    }) {
        Text("Request Multiple Permissions")
    }

    multiplePermissionsState.permissions.forEach { perm ->
         if (perm.hasPermission) {
           Text("${perm.permission} permission Granted")
        }
    }
   

    if (multiplePermissionsState.shouldShowRationale) {
       Text("provide Request rationale for permission")
    }
}

In this example:

• rememberMultiplePermissionsState manages a list of permissions.
• launchMultiplePermissionRequest() requests all permissions in the list.

Step 4: Permissions in a lifecycle

In a Jetpack Compose app, use LifecycleEffect or LaunchedEffect for permissions and their lifecycles

import androidx.compose.runtime.Composable
import androidx.compose.runtime.LaunchedEffect
import com.google.accompanist.permissions.rememberPermissionState
import androidx.compose.material.Text

@Composable
fun CameraPermissionRequest() {
    val cameraPermissionState = rememberPermissionState(android.Manifest.permission.CAMERA)

    LaunchedEffect(key1 = true) {
            cameraPermissionState.launchPermissionRequest()
        }
   if (cameraPermissionState.hasPermission) {
        Text("Camera permission Granted")
    }

    if (cameraPermissionState.shouldShowRationale) {
       Text("provide Request rationale for permission")
    }
}

Best Practices for Handling Permissions

• Explain Why: Always provide a clear explanation of why your app needs a particular permission before requesting it.
• Request When Needed: Only request permissions when the feature requiring the permission is about to be used.
• Graceful Degradation: Design your app to gracefully handle scenarios where permissions are denied.
• Use Rationale: When the user denies a permission, show a rationale explaining why it is important and how it benefits them.
• Permanent Denial: Handle cases where the user permanently denies a permission. Provide guidance on how to enable the permission in settings.

Conclusion

Handling permissions correctly in Jetpack Compose apps ensures user trust and enhances the overall app experience. By leveraging libraries like accompanist-permissions and following best practices, you can manage permissions in a streamlined and declarative manner. Properly handling permissions ensures user privacy while allowing your app to function as intended. This article serves as a comprehensive guide to handling permissions effectively in Jetpack Compose.