What is the real difference between ACTION_GET_CONTENT and ACTION_OPEN_DOCUMENT? : <p>I'm having a hard time understanding the difference between <code>ACTION_OPEN_DOCUMENT</code> and <code>ACTION_GET_CONTENT</code> intents <strong>when they are used to open an openable document</strong>. If I am supporting Andriod before KitKat, which does not support <code>ACTION_OPEN_DOCUMENT</code>, should I just settle with <code>ACTION_GET_CONTENT</code>?</p>

<p>The <a href="http://developer.android.com/guide/topics/providers/document-provider.html#client" rel="noreferrer">documentation</a> says this:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p><a href="http://developer.android.com/reference/android/content/Intent.html#ACTION_OPEN_DOCUMENT" rel="noreferrer"><code>ACTION_OPEN_DOCUMENT</code></a> is not intended to be a replacement for
  <a href="http://developer.android.com/reference/android/content/Intent.html#ACTION_GET_CONTENT" rel="noreferrer"><code>ACTION_GET_CONTENT</code></a>. The one you should use depends on the needs of
  your app:</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>Use <a href="http://developer.android.com/reference/android/content/Intent.html#ACTION_GET_CONTENT" rel="noreferrer"><code>ACTION_GET_CONTENT</code></a> if you want your app to simply read/import
  data. With this approach, the app imports a copy of the data, such as
  an image file.</li>
  <li>Use <a href="http://developer.android.com/reference/android/content/Intent.html#ACTION_OPEN_DOCUMENT" rel="noreferrer"><code>ACTION_OPEN_DOCUMENT</code></a> if you want your app to have
  long term, persistent access to documents owned by a document
  provider. An example would be a photo-editing app that lets users edit
  images stored in a document provider.</li>
  </ul>
</blockquote>

<p>Doesn't <code>ACTION_GET_CONTENT</code> also use document providers in KitKat? What would prevent me from having "long term, persistent access" and what exactly does that mean?</p>

<p>Basically, what is the difference between the following two snippets?</p>

<p><strong>ACTION_GET_CONTENT</strong></p>

<pre><code>Intent intent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_GET_CONTENT);
intent.addCategory(Intent.CATEGORY_OPENABLE);
intent.setType("*/*");
</code></pre>

<p><strong>ACTION_OPEN_DOCUMENT</strong></p>

<pre><code>Intent intent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_OPEN_DOCUMENT);
intent.setType("*/*");
</code></pre>
