This talk will reveal aspects of Android's architecture that become clear only when looking at Context and Manifest together. First, we'll break down the Manifest's true purpose. Starting with component declarations like Activities and Services, we'll reveal how these entries create a contract with the Android System that enables the OS to manage app isolation, component lifecycle, and inter-app communication, opening the way for the Context. Next, we'll explore Context and its intimate relationship with the Manifest. We'll show how Context creates a bridge between your app and Android. We'll explain how each Context drives the Android Lifecycle, we will see the different roles Context can play, and we will use visual aids to conceptualize these mechanics. Attendees will gain a clear mental model that explains why everything must go through the OS, how Android keeps apps secure through isolation, and even why Bundles only use simple data types. This understanding will transform many Android development rules from seemingly random requirements into logical parts of the platform's design. We will intentionally avoid code technicalities, and stick to the mechanics, because understanding should precede learning and not the other way around.