ADB vs Fastboot: Complete Comparison Guide
Understand the architectural differences between Android Debug Bridge (user-space communication) and Fastboot (hardware bootloader partition flashing).
| Feature | ADB (Android Debug Bridge) | Fastboot |
|---|---|---|
| Operating State | Android OS Booted (or Recovery Sideload) | Bootloader / Fastbootd Mode |
| Primary Purpose | Shell commands, package management, logcat, files | Partition flashing, OEM unlocking, kernel updates |
| Filesystem Access | POSIX filesystem (/sdcard, /data, /system) | Raw partition block level (.img files) |
| Authentication | RSA-2048 user permission prompt | Hardware OEM lock / cryptographic signature verification |