How does FBReader access files on Android?

The method FBReader uses to access files depends on both the Android version and the app version.

• Before FBReader 3.8: The app accessed the file system directly on all Android versions.
• FBReader 3.8 and newer: Due to Google Play requirements, the app adopted the Storage Access Framework (SAF) on Android 10 and later, while continuing to use direct file access on older Android versions.

The switch to SAF introduces several differences:

• Access permissions: The app must request access to each folder or file it wants to use, rather than having unrestricted file system access.
• Restricted access: SAF limits the files and folders that the app can access, affecting where FBReader can read and store files. For example, while files in the Download folder remain accessible, Android does not allow granting permission for full folder access due to security reasons.
• Performance impact: SAF operates more slowly than direct file access, which can occasionally cause delays in file operations.