What dessert codename was used for Android 4.4?

KitKat was the dessert codename used for Android 4.4. Google officially announced the release on September 3, 2013, and Android 4.4 debuted publicly on October 31 with the Nexus 5.

The name was a surprise because Google had initially used “Key Lime Pie” internally. Android partnerships chief John Lagerling and his team reportedly felt that too few people knew the taste of key lime pie, so they pursued a more familiar and unexpected name. Google then arranged a promotional partnership with Nestlé, the owner of the KitKat brand in most markets.

Android 4.4 focused heavily on efficiency. A project called Project Svelte optimized the operating system to run more comfortably on devices with as little as 512 MB of RAM, broadening Android’s reach beyond high-end phones.

Marshmallow followed Android Lollipop, and Jelly Bean preceded KitKat. Those dessert names are neighboring Android releases, but only KitKat identifies version 4.4.