How to Fix the AndroidRuntime: FATAL EXCEPTION: main Error When Using RecyclerView

Troubleshoot the `NetworkOnMainThreadException` in your Android app that causes crashes when displaying images in RecyclerView. Learn how to implement an image-loading library for smooth user experience.
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How to Fix the AndroidRuntime: FATAL EXCEPTION: main Error When Using RecyclerView

Creating beautiful Android applications often involves displaying images, but what happens when an error crashes your app at runtime? If you are developing an application that uses RecyclerView to display a list of images, you might encounter a frustrating error known as NetworkOnMainThreadException.

In this guide, we’ll explore the cause of this error and how to resolve it, ensuring your app runs smoothly without interrupting the user experience.

Understanding the Problem

The problem occurs when you attempt to perform network operations on the main thread of your Android application. The specific error message you'll encounter looks something like this:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

When your app tries to load an image from the internet while the UI is still active, it blocks the user interface, resulting in a poor user experience. Android has implemented a strict policy that prohibits network I/O on the main thread to prevent applications from becoming unresponsive.

Why Does This Happen?

In your code, when you create instances of URL in your RecyclerView Adapter, and especially when retrieving images, you are performing a network call on the main thread, which is against Android's best practices.

The Solution: Use an Image-Loading Library

To fix this issue, the recommended solution is to use an image-loading library such as Glide, Picasso, or Coil. These libraries automatically handle background threading for you when downloading images, providing a smoother experience without blocking the UI.

Step-by-Step Guide to Implementing Glide

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Modify Your Adapter: Update the onBindViewHolder method in your SearchDogAdapter to use Glide for image loading.

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Remove Network Code: Eliminate the network code that you initially used to fetch images directly from URLs in the onBindViewHolder method.

Test Your App: Now that you've integrated Glide, run your application. It should display the images without crashing, even when performing network operations.

Conclusion

By adhering to best practices and utilizing powerful libraries like Glide, you can ensure your app not only runs efficiently but also enhances the user experience. In summary, avoid performing network calls on the main thread, leverage libraries for image loading, and enjoy a smoother app performance.

If you encounter any more issues or have suggestions, feel free to leave comments below. Happy coding!