Fetch Google Ad ID in Android with Kotlin Coroutines

Picture this: You’re building an Android app, and you need to fetch the Google Advertising ID (GAID) for, say, analytics or ad targeting. You’ve heard it’s a bit tricky because it involves asynchronous calls, and you don’t want your app to freeze while waiting for the ID. Enter Kotlin Coroutines—a superhero tool that makes handling async tasks feel like a breeze. Stick with me, and I’ll show you how to fetch the GAID using coroutines, toss in some code, and maybe even make you chuckle along the way.

Why Do We Need the Google Advertising ID?

First things first: What’s the GAID, and why should you care? The GAID is a unique identifier for each Android device, used mainly for advertising and analytics. It’s like a VIP pass for your app to serve personalized ads or track user behavior (with consent, of course). But fetching it isn’t as simple as grabbing a string from a database—it requires a call to Google Play Services, which means it’s an asynchronous operation. That’s where coroutines come in handy—they let you handle this async work without turning your code into a tangled mess of callbacks.

I remember the first time I tried to fetch the GAID without coroutines. It was like trying to juggle flaming torches while riding a unicycle—possible, but why make life harder? Coroutines make it feel like a walk in the park.

Setting Up Your Project for Use Coroutine

Before we dive into the code, make sure your project is ready. You’ll need:

• Google Play Services: Add the dependency for the Google Play Services Ads library in your build.gradle file:

implementation 'com.google.android.gms:play-services-ads:23.2.0'Code language: JavaScript (javascript)

• Coroutines: Ensure you have Kotlin Coroutines set up. If not, add these to your build.gradle:

implementation 'org.jetbrains.kotlinx:kotlinx-coroutines-core:1.8.1'
implementation 'org.jetbrains.kotlinx:kotlinx-coroutines-android:1.8.1'Code language: JavaScript (javascript)

Also, don’t forget to add the necessary permissions in your AndroidManifest.xml:

<uses-permission android:name="com.google.android.gms.permission.AD_ID"/>Code language: HTML, XML (xml)

Now, let’s get to the fun part—fetching the GAID with coroutines.

Fetching the GAID: The Old Way vs. The Coroutine Way

In the old days (okay, maybe just a few years ago), fetching the GAID involved using a Thread or an AsyncTask, which could lead to callback hell or, worse, blocking the main thread. With coroutines, we can do this asynchronously without breaking a sweat.

Here’s how you’d fetch the GAID using coroutines:

import android.content.Context
import com.google.android.gms.ads.identifier.AdvertisingIdClient
import kotlinx.coroutines.Dispatchers
import kotlinx.coroutines.withContext

suspend fun getAdvertisingId(context: Context): String? {
    return withContext(Dispatchers.IO) {
        try {
            val adInfo = AdvertisingIdClient.getAdvertisingIdInfo(context)
            adInfo.id
        } catch (e: Exception) {
            // Handle exceptions, like Google Play Services not being available
            null
        }
    }
}Code language: JavaScript (javascript)

Let’s break this down:

• suspend fun: This marks the function as suspendable, meaning it can be paused and resumed, perfect for async work.
• withContext(Dispatchers.IO): This switches the coroutine to the IO dispatcher, which is great for background tasks like network calls or, in this case, fetching the GAID.
• AdvertisingIdClient.getAdvertisingIdInfo(context): This is the key call to get the GAID. It’s a blocking call, but since we’re on the IO dispatcher, it won’t freeze the UI.

Now, to call this from your activity or fragment:

import kotlinx.coroutines.CoroutineScope
import kotlinx.coroutines.launch

class MainActivity : AppCompatActivity() {
    private val scope = CoroutineScope(Dispatchers.Main)

    override fun onCreate(savedInstanceState: Bundle?) {
        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState)
        setContentView(R.layout.activity_main)

        scope.launch {
            val adId = getAdvertisingId(this@MainActivity)
            if (adId != null) {
                // Do something with the adId, like send it to your analytics service
                println("Advertising ID: $adId")
            } else {
                // Handle the case where GAID couldn’t be fetched
                println("Couldn’t fetch Advertising ID")
            }
        }
    }
}

Here’s what’s happening:

• We create a CoroutineScope tied to the main thread.
• Inside onCreate, we launch a coroutine that calls getAdvertisingId.
• Since getAdvertisingId is a suspend function, it runs on the IO dispatcher but returns the result back to the main thread.

It’s clean, it’s simple, and it keeps your app responsive. I once tried doing this with threads and ended up with a UI that froze like a deer in headlights. Never again.

Handling Edge Cases: When Things Go Wrong

Fetching the GAID isn’t always smooth sailing. Sometimes, Google Play Services might not be available, or the user might have opted out of ad tracking. In those cases, AdvertisingIdClient.getAdvertisingIdInfo will throw an exception or return a null ID. That’s why we wrapped it in a try-catch and return null if something goes wrong.

Here’s a quick table of possible scenarios:

In your code, you might want to check if the user has opted out:

val adInfo = AdvertisingIdClient.getAdvertisingIdInfo(context)
if (!adInfo.isLimitAdTrackingEnabled) {
    val adId = adInfo.id
    // Use the adId
} else {
    // Respect the user’s choice
}Code language: JavaScript (javascript)

But for simplicity, in our coroutine example, we just fetch the ID and handle exceptions.

Why Kotlin Coroutines Are a Game-Changer

If you’re new to coroutines, you might be wondering why they’re better than the old ways. Here’s the deal:

• No callback hell: With coroutines, your code reads like synchronous code, even though it’s async. No more nesting callbacks like Russian dolls.
• Structured concurrency: Coroutines are scoped, so you can cancel them easily when, say, the user leaves the screen. No more rogue threads running wild.
• Lightweight: Coroutines are cheaper than threads, so you can have many of them without hogging resources.

I’ve been using coroutines for a while now, and they’ve saved me countless hours of debugging. Plus, they make your code look like it was written by a zen master—calm, composed, and in control.

Tips to Keep Your Code Clean

Here are some nuggets of wisdom from my own battles with async code:

• Use the right dispatcher: For IO-bound tasks like fetching the GAID, use Dispatchers.IO. For UI updates, stick to Dispatchers.Main.
• Handle exceptions: Always wrap your async calls in try-catch. You never know when Google Play Services might decide to take a coffee break.
• Respect user privacy: If the user has opted out of ad tracking, don’t use the GAID. It’s not just good manners—it’s the law in many places.
• Test on real devices: Emulators might not always have Google Play Services set up correctly. Test on a physical device to be sure.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

Even seasoned devs can trip up. Here’s what to watch out for:

• Forgetting to add the permission: Without <uses-permission android:name="com.google.android.gms.permission.AD_ID"/>, your app won’t have access to the GAID.
• Blocking the main thread: If you forget to use withContext(Dispatchers.IO), you’ll freeze the UI. Trust me, users hate that.
• Not handling null IDs: If the GAID is null, don’t just crash—handle it gracefully.

True story: I once shipped an app that tried to fetch the GAID on the main thread. The app froze for a few seconds on launch, and users were not happy. Lesson learned—always offload async work.

Wrapping It Up the Google Ad ID things

Fetching the Google Advertising ID with Kotlin Coroutines is like having a superpower. You get to handle async tasks without the usual headaches, keep your code clean, and make your app feel snappy. It’s not rocket science, but it does take a bit of setup and mindfulness.

If you’re new to coroutines, don’t sweat it. Start with this example, play around with it, and soon you’ll be coroutine-ing like a pro. And hey, the Kotlin community is awesome—plenty of resources and friendly devs to help you out.

Next time you need to fetch the GAID, you’ll know exactly what to do. Happy coding!

Want to Dig Deeper?

Check out these handy resources:

• Official Coroutines Documentation
• Google Play Services Ads Documentation
• Kotlin Coroutines on Android