What is the purpose of the ActivityCompat class in Android?

The ActivityCompat class is designed to provide backward-compatible methods that allow developers to utilize newer Android features while maintaining support for older versions of the Android platform. This ensures that applications can adopt the latest features and functionalities without sacrificing usability for devices running older Android versions.

For instance, certain functionality introduced in later Android versions may not be accessible on devices with earlier operating systems. ActivityCompat allows developers to call methods safely and implement features such as runtime permissions, which were introduced in Android 6.0 (API level 23). By using this class, you can check and request permissions in a way that works on both newer and older devices, ensuring wide compatibility.

This backward compatibility is essential in Android development, as it allows a single code base to function across a variety of devices with different Android versions, providing a consistent user experience.