There is a library named Picasso which can efficiently load images from a URL. It can also load an image from a file.
Examples:
Load URL into ImageView without generating a bitmap:
Picasso.with(context) // Context
.load("http://abc.imgur.com/gxsg.png") // URL or file
.into(imageView); // An ImageView object to show the loaded image
Load URL into ImageView by generating a bitmap:
Picasso.with(this)
.load(artistImageUrl)
.into(new Target() {
@Override
public void onBitmapLoaded(final Bitmap bitmap, Picasso.LoadedFrom from) {
/* Save the bitmap or do something with it here */
// Set it in the ImageView
theView.setImageBitmap(bitmap)
}
@Override
public void onBitmapFailed(Drawable errorDrawable) {
}
@Override
public void onPrepareLoad(Drawable placeHolderDrawable) {
}
});
There are many more options available in Picasso. Here is the documentation.