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Android Realm Database Replacement for SQLite and ORMs

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Android provide SQLite database for local database in the android application. SQLite is hard to setting up because it require a lot of implementation and sql command. Due to performance of SQLite, it is much slower than Realm and other ORMs database. So, I would like to suggest the best local database for you which is Realm database. Realm database is easy to setting up in just a few minutes instead of hours if you are a experts. It is fast in performance because it have its own C++ core and aims to provide a better database to mobile application. In this tutorial, I will teach you how to use android realm database in the mobile application to perform create, update , delete and retrieve features.

Creating a New Project

1. Open Android Studio IDE in your computer.
2. Create a new project and Edit the Application name to “RealmExample”.
(Optional) You can edit the company domain or select the suitable location for current project tutorial. Then click next button to proceed.
3. Select Minimum SDK (API 15:Android 4.0.3 (IceCreamSandwich). I choose the API 15 because many android devices currently are support more than API 15. Click Next button.
4. Choose “Empty Activity” and Click Next button
5. Lastly, press finish button.

Add a Dependecy

Open build.gradle (Project : RealmExample) and add realm dependency from the below and put inside the dependencies section.

classpath "io.realm:realm-gradle-plugin:1.2.0"

Add a plugin

After that, open build.gradle (Module :app)  and apply a plugin after the dependencies section.

apply plugin: 'realm-android'

Create a class to extends Application

Right click your package name and create a new class name to CustomApplication. This class is to add the realm configuration in your application.

import android.app.Application;

import io.realm.Realm;
import io.realm.RealmConfiguration;


public class CustomApplication extends Application {

    @Override
    public void onCreate() {

        super.onCreate();
        RealmConfiguration realmConfiguration = new RealmConfiguration.Builder(this)
                .name(Realm.DEFAULT_REALM_NAME)
                .schemaVersion(0)
                .deleteRealmIfMigrationNeeded()
                .build();
        Realm.setDefaultConfiguration(realmConfiguration);


    }
}

Edit AndroidManifest.xml

Add name in the application section. I add android:name”.CustomApplication” in the application level as show below source code. It is to define the startup application class.

 <application
        android:name=".CustomApplication"
        android:allowBackup="true"
        android:icon="@mipmap/ic_launcher"
        android:label="@string/app_name"
        android:supportsRtl="true"
        android:theme="@style/AppTheme">

Create a new class

Besides, create a new class for perform the create, retrieve , update and delete feature for realm database to use it later. Therefore, copy and paste the java code in the below section.

import io.realm.Realm;
import io.realm.RealmResults;


public class RealmController {
    private static RealmController instance =new RealmController();
    private final Realm realm;

    public RealmController() {
        realm = Realm.getDefaultInstance();
    }

    public static RealmController getInstance() {

        return instance;
    }

    public Realm getRealm() {

        return realm;
    }

    //Refresh the realm istance
    public void refresh() {

        realm.setAutoRefresh(true);
    }

    //clear all objects from User.class
    public void clearAll() {

        realm.beginTransaction();
        realm.delete(User.class);
        realm.commitTransaction();
    }

    //find all objects in the User.class
    public RealmResults<User> getUsers() {

        return realm.where(User.class).findAll();
    }

    //query a single item with the given id
    public User getUser(int id) {

        return realm.where(User.class).equalTo("user_id", id).findFirst();
    }

    //check if User.class is empty
    public boolean hasUser() {
        return !realm.isEmpty();
    }

    //query example
    public RealmResults<User> queriedUser() {

        return realm.where(User.class)
                .contains("first_name", "A")
                .or()
                .contains("country", "Indonesia")
                .findAll();

    }

    public void createUser(User userReq){
        User user = new User();
        user.setUser_id((int) (System.currentTimeMillis()));
        user.setFirst_name(userReq.getFirst_name());
        user.setLast_name(userReq.getLast_name());
        user.setCountry(userReq.getCountry());

        realm.beginTransaction();
        realm.copyToRealm(user);
        realm.commitTransaction();
    }

    public void updateUser(User userReq){
        User user = getUser(userReq.getUser_id());
        realm.beginTransaction();
        user.setFirst_name(userReq.getFirst_name());
        user.setLast_name(userReq.getLast_name());
        user.setCountry(userReq.getCountry());

        realm.commitTransaction();
    }

    public void deleteUserByPosition(int position){
        RealmResults<User> results = realm.where(User.class).findAll();

        // All changes to data must happen in a transaction
        realm.beginTransaction();

        // remove single match
        results.deleteFromRealm(position);
        realm.commitTransaction();
    }
}

Create a class model

Create a new model class and name it as “User” and extends the class to RealmObject as the following source code below.

import io.realm.RealmObject;
import io.realm.annotations.PrimaryKey;


public class User extends RealmObject {

    @PrimaryKey
    private int user_id;

    private String first_name;

    private String last_name;

    private String country;

    public User() {
    }

    public User(int user_id, String first_name, String last_name, String country) {
        this.country = country;
        this.first_name = first_name;
        this.last_name = last_name;
        this.user_id = user_id;
    }

    public User(String first_name, String last_name, String country ) {
        this.country = country;
        this.last_name = last_name;
        this.first_name = first_name;
    }
    

    public String getCountry() {
        return country;
    }

    public void setCountry(String country) {
        this.country = country;
    }

    public String getFirst_name() {
        return first_name;
    }

    public void setFirst_name(String first_name) {
        this.first_name = first_name;
    }

    public String getLast_name() {
        return last_name;
    }

    public void setLast_name(String last_name) {
        this.last_name = last_name;
    }

    public int getUser_id() {
        return user_id;
    }

    public void setUser_id(int user_id) {
        this.user_id = user_id;
    }


}

Create a new class for Recyclerview Adapter

After that, add a new class and name this class to userAdapter, this adapter is to show each row of content. The following source code is the example on how to write the adapter.

public class UserAdapter extends RecyclerView.Adapter<UserAdapter.UserViewHolder> {

    private List<User> userList;
    Context context;

    public class UserViewHolder extends RecyclerView.ViewHolder {


        TextView firstName;
        TextView lastName;
        TextView country;



        public UserViewHolder(View view) {
            super(view);
            firstName = (TextView) view.findViewById(R.id.first_name);
            lastName = (TextView)view.findViewById(R.id.last_name);
            country = (TextView)view.findViewById(R.id.country);

        }
    }

    public UserAdapter(List<User> userList, Context context) {
        this.userList = userList;
        this.context = context;
    }

    @Override
    public UserViewHolder onCreateViewHolder(ViewGroup parent, int viewType) {
        View itemView = LayoutInflater.from(parent.getContext())
                .inflate(R.layout.user_list_row, parent, false);


        return new UserViewHolder(itemView);
    }

    @Override
    public void onBindViewHolder(UserViewHolder holder, final int position) {
        final User user = userList.get(position);
        holder.firstName.setText(user.getFirst_name());
        holder.country.setText(user.getCountry());
        holder.lastName.setText(user.getLast_name());

        holder.itemView.setOnClickListener(new View.OnClickListener() {
            @Override
            public void onClick(View view) {

                Intent intent = new Intent(context, UserDetailActivity.class);
                intent.putExtra("user_id", user.getUser_id());
                intent.putExtra("position", position);
                context.startActivity(intent);

            }
        });


    }

    @Override
    public int getItemCount() {
        return userList.size();
    }
}

Add two new Empty Activity for Add User, Edit User and Delete User.

Create two empty activity in your project. The first activity name is AddUserActivity while another activity name is UserDetailActivity is for Edit and delete the selected user.

Add a new xml layout and edit it

Create a new xml in the res>layout folder name it to user_list_row.xml then copy and paste the xml source code in the below. It the layout of recyclerview item.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    android:orientation="vertical" android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="wrap_content"
    android:layout_marginBottom="10dp">
    <TextView
        android:id="@+id/first_name"
        android:textSize="16dp"
        android:textStyle="bold"
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content" />

    <TextView
        android:id="@+id/last_name"
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content" />

    <TextView
        android:id="@+id/country"
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content" />

</LinearLayout>

Edit activity_add_user.xml layout

Open activity_add_user.xml and follow the source code in the following section. It is the layout of add user activity.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="match_parent"
    android:paddingBottom="@dimen/activity_vertical_margin"
    android:paddingLeft="@dimen/activity_horizontal_margin"
    android:paddingRight="@dimen/activity_horizontal_margin"
    android:paddingTop="@dimen/activity_vertical_margin"
    android:orientation="vertical"
    tools:context=".UserDetailActivity">

    <EditText
        android:id="@+id/et_firstname"
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_marginBottom="@dimen/activity_vertical_margin"
        android:hint="First Name"/>

    <EditText
        android:id="@+id/et_lastname"
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_marginBottom="@dimen/activity_vertical_margin"
        android:hint="Last Name"/>

    <EditText
        android:id="@+id/et_country"
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_marginBottom="@dimen/activity_vertical_margin"
        android:hint="Country"/>

    <Button
        android:id="@+id/btn_save"
        android:layout_width="wrap_content"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:text="Add"/>


</LinearLayout>

Edit activity_user_detail.xml layout

Open activity_user_detail.xml and modify to the following code.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="match_parent"
    android:paddingBottom="@dimen/activity_vertical_margin"
    android:paddingLeft="@dimen/activity_horizontal_margin"
    android:paddingRight="@dimen/activity_horizontal_margin"
    android:paddingTop="@dimen/activity_vertical_margin"
    android:orientation="vertical"
    tools:context=".UserDetailActivity">

    <EditText
        android:id="@+id/et_firstname"
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_marginBottom="@dimen/activity_vertical_margin"
        android:hint="First Name"/>

    <EditText
        android:id="@+id/et_lastname"
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_marginBottom="@dimen/activity_vertical_margin"
        android:hint="Last Name"/>

    <EditText
        android:id="@+id/et_country"
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_marginBottom="@dimen/activity_vertical_margin"
        android:hint="Country"/>

    <LinearLayout
        android:layout_width="wrap_content"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:orientation="horizontal">
        <Button
            android:id="@+id/btn_save"
            android:layout_width="wrap_content"
            android:layout_height="wrap_content"
            android:text="Edit"/>
        <Button
            android:id="@+id/btn_delete"
            android:layout_width="wrap_content"
            android:layout_height="wrap_content"
            android:text="Delete"/>

    </LinearLayout>




</LinearLayout>

Edit activity_main.xml layout

Edit your activity_main.xml to the source code that i provide in the bottom.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="match_parent"

    android:paddingBottom="@dimen/activity_vertical_margin"
    android:paddingLeft="@dimen/activity_horizontal_margin"
    android:paddingRight="@dimen/activity_horizontal_margin"
    android:paddingTop="@dimen/activity_vertical_margin"
    android:orientation="vertical"
   >



    <android.support.v7.widget.RecyclerView
        android:id="@+id/recycler_view"
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="match_parent"
        android:layout_weight="1"
        android:scrollbars="vertical" />
    <Button
        android:id="@+id/btn_add"
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_marginBottom="@dimen/activity_vertical_margin"
        android:text="Add New Record"/>

</LinearLayout>

Edit AddUser.java class

This class is to perform add user in the realm database.

import android.os.Bundle;
import android.support.v7.app.AppCompatActivity;
import android.view.View;
import android.widget.Button;
import android.widget.EditText;
import android.widget.Toast;


public class AddUserActivity extends AppCompatActivity implements View.OnClickListener{

    EditText etFirstname;
    EditText etLastname;
    EditText etCountry;
    Button btnSave;

    @Override
    protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
        setContentView(R.layout.activity_add_user);

        etFirstname = (EditText)findViewById(R.id.et_firstname);
        etLastname = (EditText)findViewById(R.id.et_lastname);
        etCountry = (EditText)findViewById(R.id.et_country);

        btnSave = (Button)findViewById(R.id.btn_save);
        btnSave.setOnClickListener(this);


    }


    @Override
    public void onClick(View v) {

        switch (v.getId()){
            case R.id.btn_save:
                if (etFirstname.getText().toString().trim().equals("") || etLastname.getText().toString().trim().equals("") || etCountry.getText().toString().trim().equals("")) {
                    Toast.makeText(this, "Entry not saved, missing some fields", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
                } else {
                    RealmController.getInstance().createUser(new User(etFirstname.getText().toString(), etLastname.getText().toString(), etCountry.getText().toString()));
                    finish();
                }
                break;
        }




    }
}

Edit UserDetailsActivity.java class

After that, edit your userdetailsactivity.java to perform delete and update existing user feature in the realm database.

package com.questdot.realmexample;

import android.content.Intent;
import android.os.Bundle;
import android.support.v7.app.AppCompatActivity;
import android.view.View;
import android.widget.Button;
import android.widget.EditText;
import android.widget.Toast;



public class UserDetailActivity extends AppCompatActivity implements View.OnClickListener{

    EditText etFirstname;
    EditText etLastname;
    EditText etCountry;
    Button btnSave,btnDelete;

    private int id;
    private int position;
    private User user;

    @Override
    protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
        setContentView(R.layout.activity_user_detail);

        etFirstname = (EditText)findViewById(R.id.et_firstname);
        etLastname = (EditText)findViewById(R.id.et_lastname);
        etCountry = (EditText)findViewById(R.id.et_country);
        btnSave = (Button)findViewById(R.id.btn_save);
        btnDelete = (Button)findViewById(R.id.btn_delete);

        btnSave.setOnClickListener(this);
        btnDelete.setOnClickListener(this);

        Intent intent = getIntent();
        id = intent.getIntExtra("user_id", 0);
        position = intent.getIntExtra("position", 0);

        user = RealmController.getInstance().getUser(id);
        etFirstname.setText(user.getFirst_name());
        etLastname.setText(user.getLast_name());
        etCountry.setText(user.getCountry());

    }



    @Override
    public void onClick(View v) {

        switch (v.getId()) {
            case R.id.btn_delete:
                RealmController.getInstance().deleteUserByPosition(position);
                finish();
                break;

            case R.id.btn_save:
                if (etFirstname.getText().toString().trim().equals("") || etLastname.getText().toString().trim().equals("") || etCountry.getText().toString().trim().equals("")) {
                    Toast.makeText(this, "Entry not saved, missing some fields", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
                } else {
                    RealmController.getInstance().updateUser(new User(id, etFirstname.getText().toString(), etLastname.getText().toString(), etCountry.getText().toString()));
                    finish();
                }
                break;


        }

    }
}

Edit MainActivity.java class

Open your mainactivity.java class and copy and paste the following source code. This class is to show the user from the realm database.

package com.questdot.realmexample;

import android.content.Intent;
import android.support.design.widget.FloatingActionButton;
import android.support.v7.app.AppCompatActivity;
import android.os.Bundle;
import android.support.v7.widget.DefaultItemAnimator;
import android.support.v7.widget.LinearLayoutManager;
import android.support.v7.widget.RecyclerView;
import android.support.v7.widget.Toolbar;
import android.view.View;
import android.widget.Button;
import android.widget.EditText;

import java.util.ArrayList;

import io.realm.Realm;
import io.realm.RealmConfiguration;

public class MainActivity extends AppCompatActivity implements View.OnClickListener {


    RecyclerView recyclerView;
    Button btnAdd;
   // private Realm realm;
    private UserAdapter adapter;

    @Override
    protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
        setContentView(R.layout.activity_main);

        recyclerView = (RecyclerView)findViewById(R.id.recycler_view);
        btnAdd = (Button)findViewById(R.id.btn_add);

        btnAdd.setOnClickListener(this);

        //get realm instance
      //  this.realm = RealmController.with(this).getRealm();


    }

    private void setRealmData() {


        // refresh the realm instance
        RealmController.getInstance().refresh();

        adapter = new UserAdapter(RealmController.getInstance().getUsers(), this);
        RecyclerView.LayoutManager mLayoutManager = new LinearLayoutManager(getApplicationContext());
        recyclerView.setLayoutManager(mLayoutManager);
        recyclerView.setItemAnimator(new DefaultItemAnimator());
        recyclerView.setAdapter(adapter);


    }

    @Override
    protected void onResume() {
        super.onResume();

        setRealmData();
    }


    @Override
    public void onClick(View v) {

        switch (v.getId()) {
            case R.id.btn_add:
                Intent intent = new Intent(this, AddUserActivity.class);
                startActivity(intent);
        }
    }
}

Run your project

Finally, you done the create, update, retrieve and delete feature in the realm database. So you can run the project and try it in the android application.

(Android Realm Database Replacement for SQLite and ORMs)

Source Code

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Yong Loon Ng

Ng Yong Loon, better known as Kristofer is a software engineer and computer scientist who doubles up as an entrepreneur.

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