Layout of Components in a Container

Java Swing Tutorials - Herong's Tutorial Examples

∟Layout of Components in a Container

This chapter provides tutorial notes and example codes on component layout. Topics include introduction of component layout; tutorial examples of BorderLayout, FlowLayout, BoxLayout, GridLayout, and GridBagLayout.

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Layout of Components in a Container

What Is Layout

java.awt.BorderLayout - Border Layout

java.awt.FlowLayout - Flow Layout

java.awt.BoxLayout - Box Layout

java.awt.GridLayout - Grid Layout

java.awt.GridBagLayout - Grid Bag Layout

Conclusions:

A layout is a set of rules that defines how graphical components should be positioned in a container.
Java provides 5 built-in layouts: Border, Flow, Box, Grid, and Grid Bag layouts.
java.awt.BorderLayout class allows you to manage the Border layout, which displays 5 components in east, south, west, north, and center regions.
java.awt.FlowLayout class allows you to manage the Flow layout, which displays unlimited number of components in sequentially in the horizontal direction and wraps around at the right edge of the container.
java.awt.BoxLayout class allows you to manage the Box layout, which displays unlimited number of components in sequentially in the horizontal or vertical direction. Components are resized to fit the container width or height.
java.awt.GridLayout class allows you to manage the Grid layout, which displays components in cells of rows and columns with width and height. Components are resized to fit cell width and height.
java.awt.GridBagLayout class allows you to manage the Grid Bag layout, which displays components in cells of rows and columns. Components are not resized.