**Note:** This page refers to the
[Camera](https://developer.android.com/reference/android/hardware/Camera) class, which is deprecated. We
recommend using [CameraX](https://developer.android.com/media/camera/camerax) or, for specific use cases,
[Camera2](https://developer.android.com/media/camera/camera2). Both CameraX and Camera2 support Android 5.0
(API level 21) and higher.

Android provides full access to the device camera hardware so you can build a wide range of
camera or vision-based apps. Or if you just need a way for the user to capture a photo, you can
simply request an existing camera app to capture a photo and return it to you.  

## Documentation

- [Take photos](https://developer.android.com/media/camera/camera-deprecated/photobasics)
- [Record videos](https://developer.android.com/media/camera/camera-deprecated/videobasics)
- [Control the camera](https://developer.android.com/media/camera/camera-deprecated/cameradirect)
- [Camera API](https://developer.android.com/media/camera/camera-deprecated/camera-api)