How to Send Emails Programmatically in Android Applications

What is the best way to send emails programmatically in Android?

Sending emails programmatically in Android can be accomplished using the JavaMail API or by leveraging an intent to launch the email client. Below, we will explore both methods, outlining the necessary steps and providing sample code for each approach.

//Using an Intent to send an email in Android
Intent emailIntent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_SEND);
emailIntent.setType("message/rfc822");
emailIntent.putExtra(Intent.EXTRA_EMAIL, new String[] { "[email protected]" });
emailIntent.putExtra(Intent.EXTRA_SUBJECT, "Subject Here");
emailIntent.putExtra(Intent.EXTRA_TEXT, "Body of the email");
try {
    startActivity(Intent.createChooser(emailIntent, "Send mail..."));
} catch (android.content.ActivityNotFoundException ex) {
    Toast.makeText(this, "There are no email clients installed.", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
}

Solutions

• **Using an Intent:** This method allows you to open the user's email client filled with the email's details, enabling users to send emails without requiring additional permissions or complex configurations.
• **Using JavaMail API:** If you require more control over sending emails (e.g., sending without user intervention), you can use JavaMail API. This requires additional setup, including adding dependencies and handling network connectivity.

Mistake: Not checking if any email client is installed before trying to send an email.

Solution: Use a try-catch block to handle cases where no email client is available.

Mistake: Using hard-coded email addresses and subjects in the app.

Solution: Consider using user input or dynamic content to make the app more versatile.