总结4个关键概念 
1、MessageQueue:是一种数据结构,见名知义,就是一个消息队列,存放消息的地方。每一个线程最多只可以拥有一个MessageQueue数据结构。 
创建一个线程的时候,并不会自动创建其MessageQueue。通常使用一个Looper对象对该线程的MessageQueue进行管理。主线程创建时,会创建一 
个默认的Looper对象,而Looper对象的创建,将自动创建一个Message Queue。其他非主线程,不会自动创建Looper,要需要的时候,通过调 
prepare函数来实现。 
2、Message:消息对象,Message Queue中的存放的对象。一个Message Queue中包含多个Message。 
Message实例对象的取得,通常使用Message类里的静态方法obtain(),该方法有多个重载版本可供选择;它的创建并不一定是直接创建一个新的实例, 
而是先从Message Pool(消息池)中看有没有可用的Message实例,存在则直接取出返回这个实例。如果Message Pool中没有可用的Message实例, 
则才用给定的参数创建一个Message对象。调用removeMessages()时,将Message从Message Queue中删除,同时放入到Message Pool中。除了上面这 
种方式,也可以通过Handler对象的obtainMessage()获取一个Message实例。 
3、Looper: 
是MessageQueue的管理者。每一个MessageQueue都不能脱离Looper而存在,Looper对象的创建是通过prepare函数来实现的。同时每一个Looper对象 
和一个线程关联。通过调用Looper.myLooper()可以获得当前线程的Looper对象 
创建一个Looper对象时,会同时创建一个MessageQueue对象。除了主线程有默认的Looper,其他线程默认是没有MessageQueue对象的,所以,不能 
接受Message。如需要接受,自己定义一个Looper对象(通过prepare函数),这样该线程就有了自己的Looper对象和MessageQueue数据结构了。 
Looper从MessageQueue中取出Message然后,交由Handler的handleMessage进行处理。处理完成后,调用Message.recycle()将其放入Message Pool中。
4、Handler: 
消息的处理者,handler负责将需要传递的信息封装成Message,通过调用handler对象的obtainMessage()来实现; 
将消息传递给MessageQueue,这是通过handler对象的sendMessage()来实现的。当Looper对象看到MessageQueue中含有Message,就将其广播出去。该handler对象收到该消息后,调用相应的handler对象的handleMessage()方法 
对其进行处理。

二、线程之间的消息如何进行传递 
1、主线程给自己发送Message 
public class MainActivity extends Activity {    
        private Button btnTest;    
        private TextView textView;    
        private Handler handler;    
        @Override    
        public void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {    
                super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);    
                setContentView(R.layout.main);    
                btnTest = (Button)this.findViewById(R.id.btn_01);    
                textView = (TextView)this.findViewById(R.id.view_01);    
                btnTest.setOnClickListener(new View.OnClickListener() {    
                        @Override    
                        public void onClick(View arg0) {    
                                Looper looper = Looper.getMainLooper(); //主线程的Looper对象    
                                //这里以主线程的Looper对象创建了handler,    
                                //所以,这个handler发送的Message会被传递给主线程的MessageQueue。    
                                handler = new MyHandler(looper);    
                                handler.removeMessages(0);    
                                //构建Message对象    
                                //第一个参数:是自己指定的message代号,方便在handler选择性地接收    
                                //第二三个参数没有什么意义    
                                //第四个参数需要封装的对象    
                                Message msg = handler.obtainMessage(1,1,1,"主线程发消息了");    
                                handler.sendMessage(msg); //发送消息    
                        }    
                });    
        }    
        class MyHandler extends Handler{    
                public MyHandler(Looper looper){    
                        super(looper);    
                }    
                public void handleMessage(Message msg){    
                        super.handleMessage(msg);    
                        textView.setText("我是主线程的Handler,收到了消息:"+(String)msg.obj);    
                }    
        }    
}    

2、其他线程给主线程发送Message 
 
public class MainActivity extends Activity {    
        private Button btnTest;    
        private TextView textView;    
        private Handler handler;    
        @Override    
        public void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {    
                super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);    
                setContentView(R.layout.main);    
                btnTest = (Button)this.findViewById(R.id.btn_01);    
                textView = (TextView)this.findViewById(R.id.view_01);    
                btnTest.setOnClickListener(new View.OnClickListener() {    
                        @Override    
                        public void onClick(View arg0) {    
                                //可以看出这里启动了一个线程来操作消息的封装和发送的工作    
                                //这样原来主线程的发送就变成了其他线程的发送,简单吧?呵呵    
                                new MyThread().start();            
                        }    
                });    
        }    
        class MyHandler extends Handler{    
                public MyHandler(Looper looper){    
                        super(looper);    
                }    
                public void handleMessage(Message msg){    
                        super.handleMessage(msg);    
                        textView.setText("我是主线程的Handler,收到了消息:"+(String)msg.obj);    
                }    
        }    
        //加了一个线程类    
        class MyThread extends Thread{    
                public void run(){    
                        Looper looper = Looper.getMainLooper(); //主线程的Looper对象    
                        //这里以主线程的Looper对象创建了handler,    
                        //所以,这个handler发送的Message会被传递给主线程的MessageQueue。    
                        handler = new MyHandler(looper);    
                        //构建Message对象    
                        //第一个参数:是自己指定的message代号,方便在handler选择性地接收    
                        //第二三个参数没有什么意义    
                        //第四个参数需要封装的对象    
                        Message msg = handler.obtainMessage(1,1,1,"其他线程发消息了");    
                        handler.sendMessage(msg); //发送消息                            
                }    
        }    
}    

3、主线程给其他线程发送Message 
 
public class MainActivity extends Activity {    
        private Button btnTest;    
        private TextView textView;    
        private Handler handler;    
        @Override    
        public void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {    
                super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);    
                setContentView(R.layout.main);    
                btnTest = (Button)this.findViewById(R.id.btn_01);    
                textView = (TextView)this.findViewById(R.id.view_01);    
                //启动线程    
                new MyThread().start();            
                btnTest.setOnClickListener(new View.OnClickListener() {    
                        @Override    
                        public void onClick(View arg0) {    
                                //这里handler的实例化在线程中    
                                //线程启动的时候就已经实例化了    
                                Message msg = handler.obtainMessage(1,1,1,"主线程发送的消息");    
                                handler.sendMessage(msg);    
                        }    
                });    
        }    
        class MyHandler extends Handler{    
                public MyHandler(Looper looper){    
                        super(looper);    
                }    
                public void handleMessage(Message msg){    
                        super.handleMessage(msg);    
                        textView.setText("我是主线程的Handler,收到了消息:"+(String)msg.obj);    
                }    
        }    
        class MyThread extends Thread{    
                public void run(){    
                        Looper.prepare(); //创建该线程的Looper对象,用于接收消息    
                        //注意了:这里的handler是定义在主线程中的哦,呵呵,    
                        //前面看到直接使用了handler对象,是不是在找,在什么地方实例化的呢?    
                        //现在看到了吧???呵呵,开始的时候实例化不了,因为该线程的Looper对象    
                        //还不存在呢。现在可以实例化了    
                        //这里Looper.myLooper()获得的就是该线程的Looper对象了    
                        handler = new ThreadHandler(Looper.myLooper());    
                        //这个方法,有疑惑吗?    
                        //其实就是一个循环,循环从MessageQueue中取消息。    
                        //不经常去看看,你怎么知道你有新消息呢???    
                        Looper.loop();    
                }    
                //定义线程类中的消息处理类    
                class ThreadHandler extends Handler{    
                        public ThreadHandler(Looper looper){    
                                super(looper);    
                        }    
                        public void handleMessage(Message msg){    
                                //这里对该线程中的MessageQueue中的Message进行处理    
                                //这里我们再返回给主线程一个消息    
                                handler = new MyHandler(Looper.getMainLooper());    
                                Message msg2 = handler.obtainMessage(1,1,1,"子线程收到:"+(String)msg.obj);    
                                handler.sendMessage(msg2);    
                        }    
                }    
        }    
}
 
4、其他线程给自己发送Message  
 
public class MainActivity extends Activity {    
        private Button btnTest;    
        private TextView textView;    
        private Handler handler;    
        @Override    
        public void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {    
                super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);    
                setContentView(R.layout.main);    
                btnTest = (Button)this.findViewById(R.id.btn_01);    
                textView = (TextView)this.findViewById(R.id.view_01);    
                btnTest.setOnClickListener(new View.OnClickListener() {    
                        @Override    
                        public void onClick(View arg0) {    
                                //启动线程    
                                new MyThread().start();            
                        }    
                });    
        }    
        class MyHandler extends Handler{    
                public MyHandler(Looper looper){    
                        super(looper);    
                }    
                public void handleMessage(Message msg){    
                        super.handleMessage(msg);    
                        textView.setText((String)msg.obj);    
                }    
        }            
        class MyThread extends Thread{    
                public void run(){    
                        Looper.prepare(); //创建该线程的Looper对象    
                        //这里Looper.myLooper()获得的就是该线程的Looper对象了    
                        handler = new ThreadHandler(Looper.myLooper());    
                        Message msg = handler.obtainMessage(1,1,1,"我自己");    
                        handler.sendMessage(msg);    
                        Looper.loop();    
                }    
                //定义线程类中的消息处理类    
                class ThreadHandler extends Handler{    
                        public ThreadHandler(Looper looper){    
                                super(looper);    
                        }    
                        public void handleMessage(Message msg){    
                                //这里对该线程中的MessageQueue中的Message进行处理    
                                //这里我们再返回给主线程一个消息    
                                //加入判断看看是不是该线程自己发的信息    
                                if(msg.what == 1 && msg.obj.equals("我自己")){    
                                        handler = new MyHandler(Looper.getMainLooper());    
                                        Message msg2 = handler.obtainMessage(1,1,1,"禀告主线程:我收到了自己发给自己的Message");    
                                        handler.sendMessage(msg2);                                    
                                }    
                        }    
                }    
        }    
}    

附注: 
上面四个例子的布局文件是同一个文件main.xml 
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>    
<LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"    
        android:rientation="vertical"    
        android:layout_width="fill_parent"    
        android:layout_height="fill_parent"    
        >    
<TextView    android:id="@+id/view_01"    
        android:layout_width="fill_parent"    
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"    
        android:text="@string/hello"    
        />    
<Button android:id="@+id/btn_01"    
        android:layout_width="fill_parent"    
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"    
        android:text="测试消息" />    
</LinearLayout>