title: Will android application work on lower API levels if I compile it with a higher sdk version?
body: <p>I have built my android application with the following <strong>build.gradle</strong> details:</p>
  
  <pre><code>android {
      compileSdkVersion 23
      buildToolsVersion "23.0.3"
  
      defaultConfig {
          applicationId "com.example.test"
          minSdkVersion 8
          targetSdkVersion 23
          versionCode 1
          versionName "1.0"
      }
  }
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>When I tried to change the <strong>compileSdkVersion</strong>, I got several errors:</p>
  
  <pre><code>Error:(41, 5) No resource found that matches the given name: attr 'android:borderlessButtonStyle'.
  Error:(41, 5) No resource found that matches the given name: attr 'android:buttonBarStyle'.
  Error:(41, 5) No resource found that matches the given name: attr 'android:windowCloseOnTouchOutside'.
  Error:(46, 5) No resource found that matches the given name: attr 'android:borderlessButtonStyle'.
  Error:(46, 5) No resource found that matches the given name: attr 'android:buttonBarStyle'.
  Error:(46, 5) No resource found that matches the given name: attr 'android:windowCloseOnTouchOutside'.
  Error:(57, 5) No resource found that matches the given name: attr 'android:actionModeCopyDrawable'.
  Error:(57, 5) No resource found that matches the given name: attr 'android:actionModeCutDrawable'.
  Error:(57, 5) No resource found that matches the given name: attr 'android:actionModePasteDrawable'.
  Error:(57, 5) No resource found that matches the given name: attr 'android:buttonBarButtonStyle'.
  Error:(57, 5) No resource found that matches the given name: attr 'android:buttonBarStyle'.
  Error:(57, 5) No resource found that matches the given name: attr 'android:textColorAlertDialogListItem'.
  Error:(57, 5) No resource found that matches the given name: attr 'android:textColorHighlightInverse'.
  Error:(57, 5) No resource found that matches the given name: attr 'android:textColorLinkInverse'.
  Error:(57, 5) No resource found that matches the given name: attr 'android:windowActionBar'.
  Error:(108, 5) No resource found that matches the given name: attr 'android:actionModeCopyDrawable'.
  Error:(108, 5) No resource found that matches the given name: attr 'android:actionModeCutDrawable'.
  Error:(108, 5) No resource found that matches the given name: attr 'android:actionModePasteDrawable'.
  Error:(108, 5) No resource found that matches the given name: attr 'android:buttonBarButtonStyle'.
  Error:(108, 5) No resource found that matches the given name: attr 'android:buttonBarStyle'.
  Error:(108, 5) No resource found that matches the given name: attr 'android:textColorAlertDialogListItem'.
  Error:(108, 5) No resource found that matches the given name: attr 'android:textColorHighlightInverse'.
  Error:(108, 5) No resource found that matches the given name: attr 'android:textColorLinkInverse'.
  Error:(108, 5) No resource found that matches the given name: attr 'android:windowActionBar'.
  Error:(3) Error retrieving parent for item: No resource found that matches the given name 'android:Widget.Material.Spinner.Underlined'.
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>I have gone through some links but still have some doubts:</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li><a href="https://medium.com/google-developers/picking-your-compilesdkversion-minsdkversion-targetsdkversion-a098a0341ebd#.5iwgderha" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://medium.com/google-developers/picking-your-compilesdkversion-minsdkversion-targetsdkversion-a098a0341ebd#.5iwgderha</a></li>
  <li><a href="https://stackoverflow.com/questions/20213268/compile-android-project-with-a-higher-sdk">Compile android project with a higher sdk</a></li>
  <li><a href="https://stackoverflow.com/questions/26457096/appcompat-v7-r21-returning-error-in-values-xml">AppCompat v7 r21 returning error in values.xml?</a></li>
  <li><a href="https://stackoverflow.com/questions/6109980/run-app-with-higher-sdk-on-lower-sdk">Run app with higher SDK on lower SDK</a></li>
  </ul>
  
  <p>What I am concerned about is whether this app is going to work well on all the sdk versions between 8-23 if I am compiling it with sdk version 23. </p>
  
  <p>Besides, is it possible and advisable to change compileSdkVersion to 8 and will it change the app's performance in any way to do so?</p>
  
  <p>Any suggestions is highly appreciated. </p>