why we refer the dimens.xml file in android with @dimen not @dimens?

Issue

I have made a new value resource file in the android studio project as name dimens but while referring to it from XML I have to use the attribute @dimen

I am really curious to know the referring tag must have to be the same as the file name but it is not.

I have seen the same pattern in strings and colors.

But it is like that? any clue?

Solution

name of your files doesn't matter in fact, you can rename dimens.xml to anything.xml. Or you can have dimen_activity.xml and dimen_fragment.xml files, which helps you manage them. Also, you can keep in this file <dimen tags, but also <integers and any other (e.g. you can have one sizes.xml file). Resources are built upon content inside all XML files placed in values, a kind-of map is created then and all <dimens from all XML files are available under @dimen/ or R.dimen.

Answered By - snachmsm