The process of allowing applications to update their data and execute certain tasks even when the user is not actively interacting with them is a critical aspect of modern mobile operating systems. For instance, a news application might download the latest headlines, or a social media application might check for new notifications while running in an inactive state.
This functionality is important for maintaining up-to-date information and providing a seamless user experience. Historically, its unconstrained execution led to excessive battery drain and data consumption, prompting the development of more sophisticated methods to manage these background processes. These methods prioritize efficiency and user control.