Which component helps to manage UI-related data lifecycle-consciously in Android?

The ViewModel component is specifically designed to manage UI-related data in a lifecycle-conscious manner in Android applications. It is a part of the Android Architecture Components, which help developers create well-structured and maintainable applications.

The primary purpose of the ViewModel is to hold and manage UI-related data in such a way that it survives configuration changes, like screen rotations. Since it is tied to the lifecycle of the UI component (e.g., an Activity or Fragment) that it is associated with, it ensures that the data it holds doesn’t get cleared when the configuration changes occur. When a user navigates away from the screen, the ViewModel continues to hold the data. This behavior allows for a seamless experience as the UI can easily be updated with the data stored in the ViewModel when the user returns to the screen.

In contrast, while the Activity and Fragment components are also lifecycle-aware and important in managing UI, they often do not handle data in a lifecycle-conscious way regarding configuration changes. LiveData, on the other hand, is a data holder that is observable and lifecycle-aware, but it is generally used together with ViewModel to notify the UI components about changes in the data. Therefore, while LiveData is an essential part of updating UI elements