title: How can I access my local REST api from my android device?
body: <p>I have a spring REST api running locally on my computer.  I would like to consume this api for android development. </p>
  
  <p>Here is my get request:</p>
  
  <pre><code>public static String sendGet(final String url) {
          StringBuilder result = new StringBuilder();
          HttpURLConnection urlConnection = null;
          try {
              String apiUrl = getAbsoluteUrl(url); // concatenate uri with base url eg: localhost:8080/ + uri
              URL requestUrl = new URL(apiUrl);
              urlConnection = (HttpURLConnection) requestUrl.openConnection();
              urlConnection.connect(); // no connection is made
              InputStream in = new BufferedInputStream(urlConnection.getInputStream());
              BufferedReader reader = new BufferedReader(new InputStreamReader(in));
              String line;
              while ((line = reader.readLine()) != null) {
                  result.append(line);
              }
  
          } catch (Exception e) {
              e.printStackTrace();
          } finally {
              urlConnection.disconnect();
          }
          return result.toString();
      }
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>I can access my api via my device's browser. However, when I use this same url within the built apk to make the request, no connection is made. </p>
  
  <p>My manifest includes:</p>
  
  <pre><code>&lt;uses-permission android:name="android.permission.INTERNET"/&gt;
  &lt;uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE" /&gt;
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>Side notes:</p>
  
  <p>I am connecting my device to my laptop running the rest api via usb.
  I am using the WLAN IPv4 address found by calling ipconfig.</p>
  
  <p>Any tips in the right direction would be much appreciated - thanks!</p>
  
  <p>Edit to include chrome browser (on android device) output from local REST api running on my laptop (A GET request to return default guest user information):
  <a href="https://i.stack.imgur.com/rTQ5I.png" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.stack.imgur.com/rTQ5I.png" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>