What is the main purpose of setTag() getTag() methods of View?

Question

What is the main purpose of such methods as setTag() and getTag() of View type objects?

Am I right in thinking that I can ass

Answer 1

Setting of TAGs is really useful when you have a ListView and want to recycle/reuse the views. In that way the ListView is becoming very similar to the newer RecyclerView.

@Override
public View getView(int position, View convertView, ViewGroup parent)
  {
ViewHolder holder = null;

if ( convertView == null )
{
    /* There is no view at this position, we create a new one. 
       In this case by inflating an xml layout */
    convertView = mInflater.inflate(R.layout.listview_item, null);  
    holder = new ViewHolder();
    holder.toggleOk = (ToggleButton) convertView.findViewById( R.id.togOk );
    convertView.setTag (holder);
}
else
{
    /* We recycle a View that already exists */
    holder = (ViewHolder) convertView.getTag ();
}

// Once we have a reference to the View we are returning, we set its values.

// Here is where you should set the ToggleButton value for this item!!!

holder.toggleOk.setChecked( mToggles.get( position ) );

return convertView;
}