Main Tutorials

Android wrap_content and fill_parent example

In Android, you always put either “wrap_content” or “fill_parent” on component’s attribute “layout_width” and “layout_height“, did you wonder what’s the different?

See following definition :

  1. wrap_content – The component just want to display big enough to enclose its content only.
  2. fill_parent – The component want to display as big as its parent, and fill in the remaining spaces. (renamed match_parent in API Level 8)

Above terms may not make sense now, let see following demonstration :

1. wrap_content

A button component, set “wrap_content” on both width and height attribute. It tell Android to display the button big enough to enclose it’s content “Button ABC” only.


<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<RelativeLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    android:layout_width="fill_parent"
    android:layout_height="fill_parent" >

    <Button
        android:id="@+id/btnButton1"
        android:layout_width="wrap_content"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:text="Button ABC"/>
     
</RelativeLayout>
android wrap-content example1

2. fill_parent – width

Change the “layout_width” to “fill_parent“, now, the button’s width will fill in the remaining spaces, just as big as it’s parent “RelativeLayout“, but button’s height is still big enough to enclose it’s content only.


<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<RelativeLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    android:layout_width="fill_parent"
    android:layout_height="fill_parent" >

    <Button
        android:id="@+id/btnButton1"
        android:layout_width="fill_parent"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:text="Button ABC"/>
     
</RelativeLayout>
android wrap-content example2

3. fill_parent – height

Change the “layout_height” to “fill_parent“, now, the button’s height will fill in the remaining spaces, just as big as it’s parent “RelativeLayout“, but button’s width is still big enough to enclose it’s content only.


<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<RelativeLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    android:layout_width="fill_parent"
    android:layout_height="fill_parent" >

    <Button
        android:id="@+id/btnButton1"
        android:layout_width="wrap_content"
        android:layout_height="fill_parent"
        android:text="Button ABC"/>
     
</RelativeLayout>
android wrap-content example3

4. fill_parent – width, height

Change the both “layout_width” and “layout_height” to “fill_parent“, the button will display as big as the whole device screen, it just fill in the entire screen space.


<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<RelativeLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    android:layout_width="fill_parent"
    android:layout_height="fill_parent" >

    <Button
        android:id="@+id/btnButton1"
        android:layout_width="fill_parent"
        android:layout_height="fill_parent"
        android:text="Button ABC"/>
     
</RelativeLayout>
android wrap-content example4
Note
Actually, you can specifying an exact width and height, but it’s not recommended, due to Android variety of devices screen size. You just do not know what size of Android device is running your fantasy application.

References

  1. Android XML Layouts documentation
  2. Android ViewGroup.LayoutParams documentation

About Author

author image
Founder of Mkyong.com, love Java and open source stuff. Follow him on Twitter. If you like my tutorials, consider make a donation to these charities.

Comments

Subscribe
Notify of
27 Comments
Most Voted
Newest Oldest
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Shikor
3 years ago

I searched a lot, but still I’d not cleared,
But at last in here I understood completely & clearly.
Thanks

Areeb Anwar
5 years ago

great…… its real concept …. thanks…!!!

Abhijeet
8 years ago

Thank you for sharing the Demos for wrap_content vs fill_parent

?????
9 years ago

????

G.VINODH KUMAR
9 years ago

It”s usefull my carrier, Thank uuuuuuuuu………

deniz Balç?k
9 years ago

You are the MAN! 🙂

Iman Syaefulloh
10 years ago

Thanks, it’s understandable for me.

FSDDF
10 years ago

It’s very easily understandable …Thank you

Ralph
10 years ago

great tutorial. thanks a lot..
hope more tutorial will come

qinghai
10 years ago

Thank you very much

Vipin Prabhakaran
10 years ago

Really simple explanation. I was able to understand very clearly. Thank you

siva
10 years ago

super demonstration , i like very much thanks a lot and very useful for android beginners..

ez
10 years ago

Simple and to the point. Well done

Rajanikanth
10 years ago

Thank you alot….

Surya
11 years ago

I love your demonstration.. Admirable.. I’m unable to install android SDK in my windows 7.. I have already installed JDK, Eclipse helios.. Can you suggest me??

jay
11 years ago

Nice Post ….

winni56
11 years ago

Very usefull

Laurentiu
11 years ago

Thanks a lot for this tutorials. I just started learning Java and Android programming and you examples are very good !!!!

Sarika
11 years ago

Very nice website sir,i got many useful information from your site.

mm
11 years ago

@Nguyen Thang: Relative means we can fix the labels any where , but linear means its fixed by giving value by us

Zegarki
11 years ago

Good Tutorials! I`m student and i prepare for ma studies form your website 🙂

kai
11 years ago

thank you ^^

sekhar
11 years ago

nice explanation

Khanh Nguyen
11 years ago

Thanks ….. nice sharing!

Pras
11 years ago

i have created android Calculator app in Eclipse. if i want to run that app i need eclipse must and should.

But i want to make that app run without eclipse in any system as a normal apps run .

just download and run then time app has to be run.

If any one knows help me Pls

Nguyen Thang
11 years ago

The difference between linearlayout and relativelayout????

kuluval
11 years ago

Very use full….well explained
… thank you sir