How to get a resource id with a known resource name?

If I understood right, this is what you want

int drawableResourceId = this.getResources().getIdentifier("nameOfDrawable", "drawable", this.getPackageName());

Where "this" is an Activity, written just to clarify.

In case you want a String in strings.xml or an identifier of a UI element, substitute "drawable"

int resourceId = this.getResources().getIdentifier("nameOfResource", "id", this.getPackageName());

I warn you, this way of obtaining identifiers is really slow, use only where needed.

Link to official documentation: Resources.getIdentifier(String name, String defType, String defPackage)

It will be something like:

R.drawable.resourcename

Make sure you don't have the Android.R namespace imported as it can confuse Eclipse (if that's what you're using).

If that doesn't work, you can always use a context's getResources method ...

Drawable resImg = this.context.getResources().getDrawable(R.drawable.resource);

Where this.context is intialised as an Activity, Service or any other Context subclass.

Update:

If it's the name you want, the Resources class (returned by getResources()) has a getResourceName(int) method, and a getResourceTypeName(int)?

Update 2:

The Resources class has this method:

public int getIdentifier (String name, String defType, String defPackage) 

Which returns the integer of the specified resource name, type & package.

int resourceID = 
    this.getResources().getIdentifier("resource name", "resource type as mentioned in R.java",this.getPackageName());

• Kotlin Version via Extension Function

To find a resource id by its name In Kotlin, add below snippet in a kotlin file:

ExtensionFunctions.kt

import android.content.Context
import android.content.res.Resources

fun Context.resIdByName(resIdName: String?, resType: String): Int {
    resIdName?.let {
        return resources.getIdentifier(it, resType, packageName)
    }
    throw Resources.NotFoundException()
}

• Usage

Now all resource ids are accessible wherever you have a context reference using resIdByName method:

val drawableResId = context.resIdByName("ic_edit_black_24dp", "drawable")
val stringResId = context.resIdByName("title_home", "string")
.
.
.