The Android buttons that were present on devices running Android 1.0 to 2.3.7 were physical keys. These buttons were typically located below the screen and provided users with navigation and control options. The specific buttons included:
1. Home Button: This button takes users back to the home screen, regardless of the current app or screen they are on. It serves as a quick way to access the main interface of the device.
2. Menu Button: The menu button provided access to additional options and settings specific to the app or screen being used. It allowed users to access context menus and perform various actions within an app.
3. Back Button: The back button allowed users to navigate back to the previous screen or step within an app. It was particularly useful for undoing actions or going back to a previous view.
4. Search Button: The search button provided a quick way to initiate a search within the device or the currently active app. It was often used to search for content or perform specific actions within apps.
5. Call Button: This button was dedicated to initiating phone calls. Pressing the call button would bring up the dialer interface, allowing users to enter a phone number or select a contact to make a call.
6. End Call Button: The end call button was used to terminate ongoing phone calls. Pressing this button would hang up the call and return the user to the previous screen or the home screen.
With the introduction of Android 3.0 to 3.2.6, these physical buttons were replaced with “soft navigation buttons” located in a “system bar.” The soft navigation buttons were virtual buttons displayed on the device’s screen, rather than physical keys. They offered the same functionality as the physical buttons but were more flexible and could adapt to different screen orientations.
The soft navigation buttons included:
1. Home Button: Similar to the physical home button, this virtual button takes users back to the home screen from any app or screen.
2. Back Button: Like its physical counterpart, the back button allows users to navigate back to the previous screen or step within an app.
3. Recent Apps Button: This button, represented by a square or overlapping rectangles icon, allows users to quickly switch between recently used apps. It displays a list of recently opened apps for easy multitasking.
4. Menu Button: In Android 3.0 and later versions, the menu button was replaced by an overflow menu icon, usually represented by three vertical dots. Tapping this icon would reveal additional options and settings specific to the app or screen being used.
The Android buttons, also known as navigation buttons, play a crucial role in navigating the device’s interface and controlling various functions. They have evolved from physical keys to virtual buttons, offering users a more versatile and adaptable navigation experience.