Accessibility tree
The accessibility tree is the structured representation of on-screen user interface elements that Android exposes to assistive technologies.
Each node carries a class, text, content description, bounds and interaction flags. Because it describes the interface semantically rather than by pixel position, automation built on it survives layout changes, resolution differences and cosmetic redesigns that break coordinate-based scripts.
It is also what makes automated exploration tractable: a model can read the tree, choose the element that advances the stated goal, and confirm the outcome by reading the tree again.
Related terms
- Emulator detection — Emulator detection is the set of runtime checks an application performs to determine whether it is running on virtualised hardware rather than a physical handset.