An intent filter may be found in the AndroidManifest.xml file and defines which intents a certain app is allowed to listen for. It defines the kind of intents to which app components (such activities, services, and broadcast receivers) may react, and hence the capabilities and actions those components can take.

Using the intent filter, an app may specify the kind of actions, data formats, and broad categories to which it responds. When Android receives an intent from the system or another app, it checks the intent filter to determine which app component should start or activate.

Examples of frequent intent filter use on Android include the following:

The system use the intent filter to do this by comparing the action, data type, and category of the intent with the requirements of the receiving application. This phase involves identifying potential app components that can fulfill the objective. It allows programs to provide functionality or services without knowing which other programs may need them.

An app’s component (such an activity or service) is triggered when an intent is received that satisfies the criteria provided in an intent filter. The AndroidManifest.xml file is where intent filters are defined for app components. One app may initiate the services, activities, or broadcast receivers of another app using this method.

Deep linking, in which specific URLs or URIs are linked to actions inside an app, is often performed using intent filters. By configuring an intent filter with the appropriate data scheme, host, and path patterns, users are able to easily navigate between web content and the corresponding app.

Broadcast receivers may be registered with the help of intent filters so that they can begin receiving broadcast intents. An app may register a listener for system or custom broadcasts using an intent filter that has predefined behaviors. Applications may now receive system- or inter-app-sent events and messages and act accordingly.