When to use support library

Question

I am confused on the purpose of the Android support library and when it is needed. It is my understanding that the major plus of using the support library is for Android to impl

Answer 1

There is different version of the support library because each version contains new features not available in the previous ones.

On this page you can see each version with the modifications included. http://developer.android.com/tools/support-library/index.html

The purpose of this support library it to give you access to features that the version you are targeting doesn't include. Is there anything in the latest API that you want to use but that the version you are targeting doesn't include ? if yes then you have to include the latest version of the support library (check before on the page above that the support library include what you need).