Android phone (Pixel) question about Apps

[intrepidity]

This is a recurring issue for me, across platforms and devices. And I've yet to discover a simple process to achieve what I desire: when attempting to "declutter" a system, accessing the list of installed apps (or running processes, or whatever), what is the most efficient way to 1) discern what the thing is *actually* doing/needed for; 2) what are its co-dependencies ((ie, which things will break if I uninstall/disable/force stop it?) 3) who or what put it there and when (ie, is it legit? needed?)

Short of googling on the entry name and then reading through the results per item, has anyone come up with a more efficient way to do this? I can't believe this is an issue I still face.

Am particularly interested in android phone related experience.

[SmartJellyfish]

1. The most efficient way is to launch the app

and see what it does. If you don't want it, then uninstall it. Note that some apps are not able to uninstall for various reason, but you can at least delete the thumbnail / icon to de-clutter your screen.

Apps are usually independent program and deleting one will not affect the function of the others.

[ManiacJoe]

2. Another good place to research apps

is the Google Play Store (play.google.com).
This is where you will find all the common apps that are not part of the operating system.

From /settings/apps/app info/
if you tap on "app details", it will take you directly to the Play Store listing for that app.

The apps and services that are part of the Android OS cannot be uninstalled.
Most apps that are factory installed cannot be uninstalled but can be disabled.