Here's what you need to know about the secret Android 11 dessert name

Google named Android versions after desserts in alphabetical order for the longest time, such as Android 7.0 Nougat, Android 8.0 Oreo, and Android 9.0 Pie. Then the firm switched to numbers only from Android 10, seemingly marking the end of a fun tradition. However, some traditions don’t actually die, they just go into hiding. Here’s what you need to know about the secret Android 11 dessert name.

Wait, there’s a secret Android 11 name?

Yes, but you won’t see Google use it anywhere in public. Last year, Android’s vice-president of engineering Dave Burke has told the All About Android podcast that Android 11 still has a dessert name that’s used internally by engineers. The executive says that they’ve officially moved to numbers, so Android 11 is still the name Google will use publicly.

“However, if you were to ask an engineer on my team what are they working on, they would say ‘RVC.’ And so ‘RVC’ is Red Velvet Cake,” Burke notes. The Android executive also suggests we won’t see references to Red Velvet Cake or RVC in other projects (e.g. AOSP), with R alone likely to be used instead.

For what it’s worth, Burke previously confirmed on the podcast that Android 10 is known internally as Quince Tart. So it’s great to see Google is still keeping the dessert tradition alive for Android, even if it’s restricted to internal use only.

Burke also touches on several other Android issues in the podcast, such as Project Mainline, background kills, and permissions. So you can check out the full episode right here:

What about Android 12?

We know what you’re wondering: if Android 10 and Android 11 had secret names, what does the future hold? Well, we don’t know. Android 12 would have to follow the alphabet and start with “S,” and there are plenty of options to choose from. Google could go for s’mores, snickerdoodle, sugar cookie, or any number of other options.

However, there’s a good chance that we won’t know the name publicly, at least not at first. It took Burke’s appearance on a podcast to learn of Android 11’s name, so the same fate may await Android 12.