Difference between initLoader and restartLoader in LoaderManager

Question

I\'m completely lost regarding the differences between the initLoader and the restartLoader functions of the LoaderManager:

Answer 1

Calling initLoader when the Loader has already been created (this typically happens after configuration changes, for example) tells the LoaderManager to deliver the Loader's most recent data to onLoadFinished immediately. If the Loader has not already been created (when the activity/fragment first launches, for example) the call to initLoader tells the LoaderManager to call onCreateLoader to create the new Loader.

Calling restartLoader destroys an already existing Loader (as well as any existing data associated with it) and tells the LoaderManager to call onCreateLoader to create the new Loader and to initiate a new load.

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The documentation is pretty clear about this too:

• initLoader ensures a Loader is initialized and active. If the loader doesn't already exist, one is created and (if the activity/fragment is currently started) starts the loader. Otherwise the last created loader is re-used.

• restartLoader starts a new or restarts an existing Loader in this manager, registers the callbacks to it, and (if the activity/fragment is currently started) starts loading it. If a loader with the same id has previously been started it will automatically be destroyed when the new loader completes its work. The callback will be delivered before the old loader is destroyed.