diff --git a/api/current.txt b/api/current.txt
index f31593d..707329c 100644
--- a/api/current.txt
+++ b/api/current.txt
@@ -3513,6 +3513,7 @@
     method public deprecated void setTitleColor(int);
     method public void setVisible(boolean);
     method public final void setVolumeControlStream(int);
+    method public boolean shouldShowRequestPermissionRationale(java.lang.String);
     method public boolean shouldUpRecreateTask(android.content.Intent);
     method public final deprecated void showDialog(int);
     method public final deprecated boolean showDialog(int, android.os.Bundle);
diff --git a/api/system-current.txt b/api/system-current.txt
index cf6d0f6..9e99562 100644
--- a/api/system-current.txt
+++ b/api/system-current.txt
@@ -3599,6 +3599,7 @@
     method public deprecated void setTitleColor(int);
     method public void setVisible(boolean);
     method public final void setVolumeControlStream(int);
+    method public boolean shouldShowRequestPermissionRationale(java.lang.String);
     method public boolean shouldUpRecreateTask(android.content.Intent);
     method public final deprecated void showDialog(int);
     method public final deprecated boolean showDialog(int, android.os.Bundle);
diff --git a/core/java/android/app/Activity.java b/core/java/android/app/Activity.java
index 49f5099..a8eaaae 100644
--- a/core/java/android/app/Activity.java
+++ b/core/java/android/app/Activity.java
@@ -3746,6 +3746,7 @@
      *
      * @see #onRequestPermissionsResult(int, String[], int[])
      * @see #checkSelfPermission(String)
+     * @see #canShowRequestPermissionRationale(String)
      */
     public final void requestPermissions(@NonNull String[] permissions, int requestCode) {
         Intent intent = getPackageManager().buildRequestPermissionsIntent(permissions);
@@ -3770,6 +3771,30 @@
     }
 
     /**
+     * Gets whether you should show UI with rationale for requesting a permission.
+     * You should do this only if you do not have the permission and the context in
+     * which the permission is requested does not clearly communicate to the user
+     * what would be the benefit from granting this permission.
+     * <p>
+     * For example, if you write a camera app, requesting the camera permission
+     * would be expected by the user and no rationale for why it is requested is
+     * needed. If however, the app needs location for tagging photos then a non-tech
+     * savvy user may wonder how location is related to taking photos. In this case
+     * you may choose to show UI with rationale of requesting this permission.
+     * </p>
+     *
+     * @param permission A permission your app wants to request.
+     * @return Whether you can show permission rationale UI.
+     *
+     * @see #checkSelfPermission(String)
+     * @see #requestPermissions(String[], int)
+     * @see #onRequestPermissionsResult(int, String[], int[])
+     */
+    public boolean shouldShowRequestPermissionRationale(String permission) {
+        return getPackageManager().shouldShowRequestPermissionRationale(permission);
+    }
+
+    /**
      * Same as calling {@link #startActivityForResult(Intent, int, Bundle)}
      * with no options.
      *
diff --git a/core/java/android/app/ApplicationPackageManager.java b/core/java/android/app/ApplicationPackageManager.java
index 04f6430..41e3db8 100644
--- a/core/java/android/app/ApplicationPackageManager.java
+++ b/core/java/android/app/ApplicationPackageManager.java
@@ -486,6 +486,16 @@
     }
 
     @Override
+    public boolean shouldShowRequestPermissionRationale(String permission) {
+        try {
+            return mPM.shouldShowRequestPermissionRationale(permission,
+                    mContext.getPackageName(), mContext.getUserId());
+        } catch (RemoteException e) {
+            throw new RuntimeException("Package manager has died", e);
+        }
+    }
+
+    @Override
     public int checkSignatures(String pkg1, String pkg2) {
         try {
             return mPM.checkSignatures(pkg1, pkg2);
diff --git a/core/java/android/content/pm/IPackageManager.aidl b/core/java/android/content/pm/IPackageManager.aidl
index ddff782..00b8c71 100644
--- a/core/java/android/content/pm/IPackageManager.aidl
+++ b/core/java/android/content/pm/IPackageManager.aidl
@@ -105,6 +105,9 @@
     void updatePermissionFlags(String permissionName, String packageName, int flagMask,
             int flagValues, int userId);
 
+    boolean shouldShowRequestPermissionRationale(String permissionName,
+            String packageName, int userId);
+
     boolean isProtectedBroadcast(String actionName);
 
     int checkSignatures(String pkg1, String pkg2);
diff --git a/core/java/android/content/pm/PackageManager.java b/core/java/android/content/pm/PackageManager.java
index 2ca0306..45245e4 100644
--- a/core/java/android/content/pm/PackageManager.java
+++ b/core/java/android/content/pm/PackageManager.java
@@ -2539,6 +2539,19 @@
             @NonNull UserHandle user);
 
     /**
+     * Gets whether you should show UI with rationale for requesting a permission.
+     * You should do this only if you do not have the permission and the context in
+     * which the permission is requested does not clearly communicate to the user
+     * what would be the benefit from grating this permission.
+     *
+     * @param permission A permission your app wants to request.
+     * @return Whether you can show permission rationale UI.
+     *
+     * @hide
+     */
+    public abstract boolean shouldShowRequestPermissionRationale(String permission);
+
+    /**
      * Returns an {@link android.content.Intent} suitable for passing to
      * {@link android.app.Activity#startActivityForResult(android.content.Intent, int)}
      * which prompts the user to grant permissions to this application.
diff --git a/services/core/java/com/android/server/pm/PackageManagerService.java b/services/core/java/com/android/server/pm/PackageManagerService.java
index 9b619c7..47e3963 100644
--- a/services/core/java/com/android/server/pm/PackageManagerService.java
+++ b/services/core/java/com/android/server/pm/PackageManagerService.java
@@ -3360,6 +3360,46 @@
     }
 
     @Override
+    public boolean shouldShowRequestPermissionRationale(String permissionName,
+            String packageName, int userId) {
+        if (UserHandle.getCallingUserId() != userId) {
+            mContext.enforceCallingPermission(
+                    android.Manifest.permission.INTERACT_ACROSS_USERS_FULL,
+                    "canShowRequestPermissionRationale for user " + userId);
+        }
+
+        final int uid = getPackageUid(packageName, userId);
+        if (UserHandle.getAppId(getCallingUid()) != UserHandle.getAppId(uid)) {
+            return false;
+        }
+
+        if (checkPermission(permissionName, packageName, userId)
+                == PackageManager.PERMISSION_GRANTED) {
+            return false;
+        }
+
+        final int flags;
+
+        final long identity = Binder.clearCallingIdentity();
+        try {
+            flags = getPermissionFlags(permissionName,
+                    packageName, userId);
+        } finally {
+            Binder.restoreCallingIdentity(identity);
+        }
+
+        final int fixedFlags = PackageManager.FLAG_PERMISSION_SYSTEM_FIXED
+                | PackageManager.FLAG_PERMISSION_POLICY_FIXED
+                | PackageManager.FLAG_PERMISSION_USER_FIXED;
+
+        if ((flags & fixedFlags) != 0) {
+            return false;
+        }
+
+        return (flags & PackageManager.FLAG_PERMISSION_USER_SET) != 0;
+    }
+
+    @Override
     public boolean isProtectedBroadcast(String actionName) {
         synchronized (mPackages) {
             return mProtectedBroadcasts.contains(actionName);
diff --git a/test-runner/src/android/test/mock/MockPackageManager.java b/test-runner/src/android/test/mock/MockPackageManager.java
index bf1ea4d..3b7aa9f 100644
--- a/test-runner/src/android/test/mock/MockPackageManager.java
+++ b/test-runner/src/android/test/mock/MockPackageManager.java
@@ -218,6 +218,12 @@
         throw new UnsupportedOperationException();
     }
 
+    /** @hide */
+    @Override
+    public boolean shouldShowRequestPermissionRationale(String permission) {
+        throw new UnsupportedOperationException();
+    }
+
     @Override
     public int checkSignatures(String pkg1, String pkg2) {
         throw new UnsupportedOperationException();