Android Spinner Tutorial with Examples

Android Spinner
Example of Spinner + ArrayAdapter
Example of Spinner + CustomAdapter

1. Android Spinner

In Android, Spinner is a ViewGroup that allows the user to select a value from a list of values. By default, Android Spinner works like a Dropdown List or Combox in other programming languages.

When the user clicks on Android Spinner, a list consisting of all the values will be dropped down, and the user can choose one.

Android Spinner has 2 modes with completely different interfaces:

android:spinnerMode="dropdown"
android:spinnerMode="dialog"

android:spinnerMode="dropdown"

When the user clicks on the Spinner, a Dropdown List will be displayed permitting the user to select one value. This is the default mode of Spinner.

android:spinnerMode="dropdown"

android:spinnerMode="dialog"

When the user clicks on the Spinner,a Dialog containing a list of values will be displayed allowing the user to select a value.

android:spinnerMode="dialog"

2. Example of Spinner + ArrayAdapter

OK, Now let's get started with a simple example using Spinner and ArrayAdapter. In this example, the Spinner will contain a list of Employee objects:

An Adapter combines a Spinner-Item Layout Resource and data to create a Spinner.

ArrayAdapter is a class available in Android library. It is a simple Adapter, which accepts a simple Spinner-Item Layout Resource including a TextView, and possibly CheckBox, ImageView, etc.

For example: A simple Spinner-Item Layout Resource whose ID is android.R.layout.simple_spinner_item is already defined in Android SDK and you can use it. Android Studio allows you to view the contents of these files. What to do is just hold down the CONTROL key and click on it, which is demonstrated below:

On Android Studio, create a project:

File > New > New Project > Empty Activity
- Name: SpinnerExample
- Package name: org.o7planning.spinnerexample
- Language: Java

activity_main.xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<androidx.constraintlayout.widget.ConstraintLayout
    xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    xmlns:app="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res-auto"
    xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="match_parent"
    tools:context=".MainActivity">

    <LinearLayout
        android:layout_width="0dp"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_marginStart="16dp"
        android:layout_marginLeft="16dp"
        android:layout_marginTop="16dp"
        android:layout_marginEnd="16dp"
        android:layout_marginRight="16dp"
        android:orientation="horizontal"
        app:layout_constraintEnd_toEndOf="parent"
        app:layout_constraintStart_toStartOf="parent"
        app:layout_constraintTop_toTopOf="parent">

        <TextView
            android:id="@+id/textView"
            android:layout_width="wrap_content"
            android:layout_height="wrap_content"
            android:layout_weight="0"
            android:text="Select Employee:" />

        <Space
            android:layout_width="10dp"
            android:layout_height="wrap_content"
            android:layout_weight="0" />

        <Spinner
            android:id="@+id/spinner_employee"
            android:layout_width="wrap_content"
            android:layout_height="wrap_content"
            android:layout_weight="1" />
    </LinearLayout>

</androidx.constraintlayout.widget.ConstraintLayout>

MainActivity.java

package org.o7planning.spinnerexample;

import android.os.Bundle;
import android.view.View;
import android.widget.Adapter;
import android.widget.AdapterView;
import android.widget.ArrayAdapter;
import android.widget.Spinner;
import android.widget.Toast;

import androidx.appcompat.app.AppCompatActivity;

public class MainActivity extends AppCompatActivity {

    private Spinner spinnerEmployee;

    @Override
    protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
        setContentView(R.layout.activity_main);
        this.spinnerEmployee = (Spinner) findViewById(R.id.spinner_employee);

        Employee[] employees = EmployeeDataUtils.getEmployees();

        // (@resource) android.R.layout.simple_spinner_item:
        //   The resource ID for a layout file containing a TextView to use when instantiating views.
        //    (Layout for one ROW of Spinner)
        ArrayAdapter<Employee> adapter = new ArrayAdapter<Employee>(this,
                                              android.R.layout.simple_spinner_item,
                                              employees);

        // Layout for All ROWs of Spinner.  (Optional for ArrayAdapter).
        adapter.setDropDownViewResource(android.R.layout.simple_spinner_dropdown_item);

        this.spinnerEmployee.setAdapter(adapter);

        // When user select a List-Item.
        this.spinnerEmployee.setOnItemSelectedListener(new AdapterView.OnItemSelectedListener() {

            @Override
            public void onItemSelected(AdapterView<?> parent, View view, int position, long id) {
                onItemSelectedHandler(parent, view, position, id);
            }

            @Override
            public void onNothingSelected(AdapterView<?> parent) {

            }
        });
    }


    private void onItemSelectedHandler(AdapterView<?> adapterView, View view, int position, long id) {
        Adapter adapter = adapterView.getAdapter();
        Employee employee = (Employee) adapter.getItem(position);

        Toast.makeText(getApplicationContext(), "Selected Employee: " + employee.getFullName() ,Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
    }

}

Employee.java

package org.o7planning.spinnerexample;

public class Employee {

    private String firstName;
    private String lastName;
    private String position;
    private int salary;

    public Employee(String firstName, String lastName, String position, int salary) {
        this.firstName = firstName;
        this.lastName = lastName;
        this.position = position;
        this.salary = salary;
    }

    public String getFirstName() {
        return firstName;
    }

    public void setFirstName(String firstName) {
        this.firstName = firstName;
    }

    public String getLastName() {
        return lastName;
    }

    public void setLastName(String lastName) {
        this.lastName = lastName;
    }

    public String getPosition() {
        return position;
    }

    public void setPosition(String position) {
        this.position = position;
    }

    public int getSalary() {
        return salary;
    }

    public void setSalary(int salary) {
        this.salary = salary;
    }

    public String getFullName()  {
        return this.firstName + " " + this.lastName;
    }

    // Text show in Spinner
    @Override
    public String toString()  {
        return this.getFullName() + " - (" + this.position+")";
    }
}

EmployeeDataUtils.java

package org.o7planning.spinnerexample;

public class EmployeeDataUtils {

    public static Employee[] getEmployees()  {
        Employee emp1 = new Employee("James", "Smith", "Receptionist", 1000);
        Employee emp2 = new Employee("Michael", "Garcia", "CEO", 50000);
        Employee emp3 = new Employee("Robert", "Johnson", "Professional staff", 2000);

        return new Employee[] {emp1, emp2, emp3};
    }
}

3. Example of Spinner + CustomAdapter

Custom Adapter helps you get a more complex and beautiful Spinner. Below is an illustration of a Spinner containing a list of Language objects. It is also our next example:

In this example, we are going to be creating a "Spinner Item Layout Resource File" to define the Layout of a row of Spinner. CustomAdapter will combine data and "Spinner Item Layout Resource" to form a Spinner that the user can see.

OK. Now on Android Studio, create a project:

File > New > New Project > Empty Activity
- Name: CustomSpinnerAdapterExample
- Package name: org.o7planning.customspinneradapterexample
- Language: Java

Firstly, we need to create a Layout Resource File to define the Layout for the Spinner Item:

Next, on Android Studio, choose the "layout" folder, and select:

File > New > Layout Resource File

File Name: spinner_item_layout_resource.xml
Root element: LinearLayout

Then design the spinner_item_layout_resource interface:

spinner_item_layout_resource.xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    xmlns:app="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res-auto"
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="match_parent"
    android:orientation="horizontal"
    android:padding="10dp">

    <TextView
        android:id="@+id/textView_item_name"
        android:layout_width="wrap_content"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_weight="1"
        android:text="Language Name" />

    <TextView
        android:id="@+id/textView_item_percent"
        android:layout_width="wrap_content"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_weight="0"
        android:text="Percent" />
</LinearLayout>

Lastly, here is the main interface of the application:

activity_main.xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<androidx.constraintlayout.widget.ConstraintLayout
    xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    xmlns:app="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res-auto"
    xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="match_parent"
    tools:context=".MainActivity">

    <TextView
        android:id="@+id/textView"
        android:layout_width="0dp"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_marginStart="16dp"
        android:layout_marginLeft="16dp"
        android:layout_marginTop="32dp"
        android:layout_marginEnd="16dp"
        android:layout_marginRight="16dp"
        android:text="Select Language:"
        app:layout_constraintEnd_toEndOf="parent"
        app:layout_constraintHorizontal_bias="1.0"
        app:layout_constraintStart_toStartOf="parent"
        app:layout_constraintTop_toTopOf="parent" />

    <Spinner
        android:id="@+id/spinner_language"
        android:layout_width="wrap_content"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_marginStart="16dp"
        android:layout_marginLeft="16dp"
        android:layout_marginTop="16dp"
        android:spinnerMode="dialog"
        app:layout_constraintStart_toStartOf="parent"
        app:layout_constraintTop_toBottomOf="@+id/textView" />

</androidx.constraintlayout.widget.ConstraintLayout>

MainActivity.java

package org.o7planning.customspinneradapterexample;

import androidx.appcompat.app.AppCompatActivity;

import android.os.Bundle;
import android.widget.Spinner;

import java.util.List;

public class MainActivity extends AppCompatActivity {

    private Spinner spinner;
    private List<Language> languages;

    @Override
    protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
        setContentView(R.layout.activity_main);

        // Data:
        this.languages = LanguageDataUtils.getLanguages();


        this.spinner = (Spinner) this.findViewById(R.id.spinner_language);

        // Adapter"
        CustomAdapter adapter = new CustomAdapter(MainActivity.this,
                R.layout.spinner_item_layout_resource,
                R.id.textView_item_name,
                R.id.textView_item_percent,
                this.languages);

        this.spinner.setAdapter(adapter);
    }

}

CustomAdapter.java

package org.o7planning.customspinneradapterexample;

import android.app.Activity;
import android.view.View;
import android.view.ViewGroup;
import android.view.LayoutInflater;
import android.widget.BaseAdapter;
import android.widget.TextView;

import java.util.List;

public class CustomAdapter extends BaseAdapter  {

    private LayoutInflater flater;
    private List<Language> list;
    private int listItemLayoutResource;
    private int textViewItemNameId;
    private int textViewItemPercentId;


    // Arguments example:
    //  @listItemLayoutResource: R.layout.spinner_item_layout_resource
    //        (File: layout/spinner_item_layout_resource.xmll)
    //  @textViewItemNameId: R.id.textView_item_name
    //        (A TextVew in file layout/spinner_item_layout_resource.xmlxml)
    //  @textViewItemPercentId: R.id.textView_item_percent
    //        (A TextVew in file layout/spinner_item_layout_resource.xmll)
    public CustomAdapter(Activity context, int listItemLayoutResource,
                         int textViewItemNameId, int textViewItemPercentId,
                         List<Language> list) {
        this.listItemLayoutResource = listItemLayoutResource;

        this.textViewItemNameId = textViewItemNameId;
        this.textViewItemPercentId = textViewItemPercentId;
        this.list = list;
        this.flater = context.getLayoutInflater();
    }

    @Override
    public int getCount() {
        if(this.list == null)  {
            return 0;
        }
        return this.list.size();
    }

    @Override
    public Object getItem(int position) {
        return this.list.get(position);
    }

    @Override
    public long getItemId(int position) {
        Language language = (Language) this.getItem(position);
        return language.getId();
        // return position; (Return position if you need).
    }

    @Override
    public View getView(int position, View convertView, ViewGroup parent) {

        Language language = (Language) getItem(position);

        // Example: @listItemLayoutResource: R.layout.spinner_item_layout_resource
        // (File: layout/spinner_item_layout_resourcerce.xml)
        View rowView = this.flater.inflate(this.listItemLayoutResource, null,true);

        // Example: @textViewItemNameId: R.id.textView_item_name
        // (A TextView in file layout/spinner_item_layout_resourcerce.xml)
        TextView textViewItemName = (TextView) rowView.findViewById(this.textViewItemNameId);
        textViewItemName.setText(language.getName());

        // Example: @textViewItemPercentId: R.id.textView_item_percent
        // (A TextView in file layout/spinner_item_layout_resource.xmlxml)
        TextView textViewItemPercent = (TextView) rowView.findViewById(textViewItemPercentId);
        textViewItemPercent.setText(language.getPercent() + "%");

        return rowView;
    }
}

Language.java

package org.o7planning.customspinneradapterexample;

public class Language {

    private long id;
    private String name;
    private float percent;

    public Language(long id, String name, float percent) {
        this.id = id;
        this.name = name;
        this.percent = percent;
    }

    public long getId() {
        return id;
    }

    public void setId(long id) {
        this.id = id;
    }

    public String getName() {
        return name;
    }

    public void setName(String name) {
        this.name = name;
    }

    public float getPercent() {
        return percent;
    }

    public void setPercent(float percent) {
        this.percent = percent;
    }
}

LanguageDataUtils.java

package org.o7planning.customspinneradapterexample;

import java.util.ArrayList;
import java.util.List;

public class LanguageDataUtils {

    public static List<Language> getLanguages( ) {
        Language javascript = new Language(1,"Javascript", 67.7f);
        Language htmlCss = new Language(2,"HTML/CSS", 63.1f);
        Language sql = new Language(3,"SQL", 54.7f);
        Language python = new Language(4,"Python", 44.1f);
        Language java = new Language(5, "Java", 40.2f);

        List<Language> list = new ArrayList<Language>();
        list.add(javascript);
        list.add(htmlCss);
        list.add(sql);
        list.add(python);
        list.add(java);

        return list;
    }
}

Android Programming Tutorials

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Android Spinner Tutorial with Examples

1. Android Spinner

2. Example of Spinner + ArrayAdapter

3. Example of Spinner + CustomAdapter

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