Android 12 has a hidden API for search operations using third-party launchers

Google released the Android 12 Developer Preview 2 almost a month ago, and we saw what could be some new features of the upcoming OS version of Google’s Android. There were many new features, including a new search widget that was for Pixel Launcher, which would let the users search for apps and contacts, settings, and more on their device.

However, according to recent sources, some additional information is hidden in the Android 12 preview documentation. According to the documentation, Google is adding a new device search API in Android 12.

The new API will allow third-party launchers to have a universal search feature. As per the developers’ tweet behind the Niagara launcher, this feature will give third-party launchers “Access to the centralized AppSearch index maintained by the system.”

The documentation talks about how the AppSearch index is a search library used to maintain structured data that features the following.

• A fully offline on-device solution
• A set of APIs for applications to index documents and retrieve them via full-text search
• APIs for applications to allow the System to display their content on the system UI surfaces
• Similarly, APIs for applications allow the System to share its content with other specified applications.

According to sources, the new feature will allow the users to stop using any third-party apps to do a search query. Users will be able to search almost anything on their device from the search bar. However, Google has not officially provided or unveiled any worthwhile information about this new feature, but we expect more information to unfold in the upcoming Android 12 Developer preview.

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