What does LayoutInflater class do? (in Android)

Question

I am unable to understand the use of LayoutInflater in Android.

What exactly is the role of LayoutInflater, and how to use it for a simple Android app?

The documentation on developers.android and on public internet gives a lot for this ... — gunar, Jun 14 '13 at 06:01
`LayoutInflater` allows you to create view from and using an XML Layout file, that process called, `inflate()` — Glenn, Jun 14 '13 at 06:13
Check if [this](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/51729036/what-is-a-layoutinflater-and-how-do-i-use-it-properly/51729037#51729037) one helps. — Bertram Gilfoyle, Aug 07 '18 at 16:23

S.D. · Accepted Answer · 2015-10-08T16:43:39.197

What is Layoutinflater ?

LayoutInflater is a class (wrapper of some implementation or service), you can get one:

LayoutInflater li = LayoutInflater.from(context);

How to use Layoutinflater ?

You feed it an XML layout file. You need not give full file address, just its resource id, generated for you automatically in R class. For example, a layout file which look like:

<LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
              android:orientation="vertical"
              android:layout_width="fill_parent"
              android:layout_height="fill_parent">

    <TextView
            android:id="@+id/text_view"
            android:layout_width="fill_parent"
            android:layout_height="fill_parent"/>

</LinearLayout>

saved as /res/layout/my_layout.xml.

You give it to LayoutInflater like:

  View v = li.inflate(R.layout.my_layout,null,false);

What did Layout Inflater do ?

That v is now a LinearLayout object ^{(LinearLayout extends View)} , and contains a TextView object, arranged in exact order and with all properties set, as we described in the XML above.

TL;DR: A LayoutInflater reads an XML in which we describe how we want a UI layout to be. It then creates actual Viewobjects for UI from that XML.

Why is it better/other than View v = findViewById(R.layout.my_layout); ? (Sorry for the lame question I'm also a beginner) — Mitulát báti, Oct 04 '15 at 18:53
@Mitulátbáti `findViewById` is for searching an **already created** View. — S.D., Oct 08 '15 at 16:41
Actually, it is converting custom XML layout in Java object. — Prathamesh More, Jul 26 '18 at 19:38

score 13 · Answer 2 · answered Jun 14 '13 at 05:55

when you run setContentView(layout file name), you can run findViewById(id of the widget). You dont need to do something like xyz.findViewById. The context of your app is set to that layout file and all findBiewById call will refer to that layout file.

There are cases when you need to pick up one more layout file, like a CustomDialog, ListElement or a Custom Toast. At this time you wont want to create a Activity just for these small UI components, that that time you programmatically need to get a programmatic reference to your layout file, so that you can run findViewById on it.

Inflate, blows the layout like a balloon and give you the balloon for you to watch around it all the colors and objects drawn on it :). Inflate gives you the object reference to that layout to call findViewById on.

Hope this clears.

score 5 · Answer 3 · edited Nov 28 '16 at 11:12

5

Some basics for LayoutInflater-

LayoutInflater is used to manipulate Android screen using predefined XML layouts.
This class is used to instantiate layout XML file into its corresponding View objects.
It is never used directly. Instead,
use getLayoutInflater() or getSystemService(String) to retrieve a standard LayoutInflater instance that is already hooked up to the current context.

edited Nov 28 '16 at 11:12

Divyang Desai

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answered Jun 14 '13 at 06:08

AndroidEnthusiastic

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score 2 · Answer 4 · edited Nov 27 '16 at 14:13

From the Android docs:

Instantiates a layout XML file into its corresponding View objects. It is never used directly. Instead, use getLayoutInflater() or getSystemService(String) to retrieve a standard LayoutInflater instance that is already hooked up to the current context and correctly configured for the device you are running on. For example:

LayoutInflater inflater = (LayoutInflater)context.getSystemService
      (Context.LAYOUT_INFLATER_SERVICE);

Useful in creating Custom Views

See

score 0 · Answer 5 · edited Dec 23 '16 at 14:34

0

It is most likely to get closed but the role of layout inflater is to create a view from the supplied layout file

View row=getLayoutInflater.inflate(R.layout.list_item,parent,false);

it is creating the view from the R.layout.list_item file and proving that view.

edited Dec 23 '16 at 14:34

Vinoth Vino

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answered Jun 14 '13 at 05:54

Aashish Bhatnagar

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What does LayoutInflater class do? (in Android)

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