Java AWT or Abstract Window Toolkit is an API used for developing GUI(Graphic User Interfaces) or Window-Based Applications in Java. Java AWT is part of the Java Foundation Classes (JFC) that provides a way to build platform-independent graphical applications.
In this AWT tutorial, you will learn the basics of the AWT, including how to create windows, buttons, labels, and text fields. We will also learn how to add event listeners to components so that they can respond to user input.
By the end of this tutorial, you will have a good understanding of the AWT and be able to create simple GUIs in Java.
Java AWT BasicsJava AWT (Abstract Window Toolkit) is an API used to create Graphical User Interface (GUI) or Windows-based Java programs and Java AWT components are platform-dependent, which means they are shown in accordance with the operating system's view. AWT is heavyweight, which means that its components consume resources from the underlying operating system (OS). The java.awt package contains AWT API classes such as TextField, Label, TextArea, RadioButton, CheckBox, Choice, List, and so on.
Why AWT is Platform Independent?Points about Java AWT components
i. Components of AWT are heavy and platform dependent
ii. AWT has less control as the result can differ because of components are platform dependent.
The Java AWT utilizes the native platform subroutine to create API components such as TextField, CheckBox, and buttons. This results in a different visual format for these components on different platforms such as Windows, MAC OS, and Unix. The reason for this is that each platform has a distinct view of its native components. AWT directly calls this native subroutine to create the components, resulting in an AWT application resembling a Windows application on Windows OS, and a Mac application on the MAC OS. In simpler terms, the AWT application's appearance adapts to the platform it is running on.
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AWT is platform independent even after the AWT components are platform dependent because of the points mentioned below:
1. JVM (Java Virtual Machine):As Java Virtual Machine is platform dependent
2. Abstract APIs:AWT provides an abstract layer for GUI. Java applications interact with AWT through Abstract API which are platform independent. Abstract API allows Java to isolate platform-specific details, making code portable across different systems.
3. Platform-Independent Libraries:The Libraries of AWT are written in Java which they are totally platform-independent. Because of this, it ensures that AWT functionality remains consistent across different environments.
Java AWT HierarchyTypes of Containers in Java AWTNote: Container can be added inside another container as it is type of component.
There are four types of containers in Java AWT:
Learn the basics of the Abstract Window Toolkit (AWT) in Java, for both beginners and experienced developers.
public class Label extends Component implements AccessibleAWT Label Class Constructors
There are three types of Java AWT Label Class
2. Java AWT Button1. Label():
Creates Empty Label.2. Label(String str):
Constructs a Label with str as its name.3. Label(String str, int x):
Constructs a label with the specified string and x as the specified alignment
AWT Button is a control component with a label that generates an event when clicked on. Button Class is used for creating a labeled button that is platform-independent.
Syntax of AWT Buttonpublic class Button extends Component implements AccessibleJava AWT Button Class Constructors
There are two types of Button class constructors as mentioned below:
3. Java AWT TextField Syntax of AWT TextField:1. Button( ):
Creates a Button with no label i.e. showing an empty box as a button.2. Button(String str):
Creates a Button with String str as a label. For example if str="Click Here" button with show click here as the value.
public class TextField extends TextComponentTextField Class constructors
There are TextField class constructors are mentioned below:
4. Java AWT Checkbox Syntax of AWT Checkbox:1. TextField():
Constructs a TextField component.2. TextField(String text):
Constructs a new text field initialized with the given string str to be displayed.3. TextField(int col):
Creates a new text field(empty) with the given number of columns (col).4. TextField(String str, int columns):
Creates a new text field(with String str in the display) with the given number of columns (col).
public class Checkbox extends Component implements ItemSelectable, AccessibleCheckbox Class Constructors
There are certain constructors in the AWT Checkbox class as mentioned below:
5. Java AWT CheckboxGroup1. Checkbox():
Creates a checkbox with no label.2. Checkbox(String str):
Creates a checkbox with a str label.3. Checkbox(String str, boolean state, CheckboxGroup group):
Creates a checkbox with the str label, and sets the state in the mentioned group.
CheckboxGroup Class is used to group together a set of Checkbox.
Syntax of AWT CheckboxGroup:public class CheckboxGroup extends Object implements Serializable
6. Java AWT ChoiceNote: CheckboxGroup enables the use of radio buttons in AWT.
The object of the Choice class is used to show a popup menu of choices.
Syntax of AWT Choice:public class Choice extends Component implements ItemSelectable, AccessibleAWT Choice Class constructor
7. Java AWT ListChoice(): It creates a new choice menu.
The object of the AWT List class represents a list of text items.
Syntax of Java AWT List:public class List extends Component implements ItemSelectable, AccessibleAWT List Class Constructors
The List of class constructors is defined below:
8. Java AWT Canvas Syntax of AWT Canvas:1. List():
Creates a new list.2. List(int row):
Creates lists for a given number of rows(row).3. List(int row, Boolean Mode)
Ceates new list initialized that displays the given number of rows.
public class Canvas extends Component implements AccessibleCanvas Class Constructors
Syntax of AWT Scrollbar:1. Canvas():
Creates new Canvas.2. Canvas(GraphicConfiguration config):
It creates a new Canvas with the given Graphic configuration.
public class Scrollbar extends Component implements Adjustable, AccessibleJava AWT Scrollbar Class Constructors
There are three constructor classes in Java mentioned below:
1. Scrollbar():
It Creates a new vertical Scrollbar in the Application.2. Scrollbar(int orientation):
Creates a new vertical Scrollbar with the given orientation.3. Scrollbar(int orientation, int value, int visible, int mini, int maxi):
Creates a new scrollbar with the orientation mentioned with value as the default value and [mini, maxi] as the lower and higher limit.
MenuItem class adds a simple labeled menu item on the menu. The MenuItem class allows you to create individual items that can be added to menus. And Menu is a component used to create a dropdown menu that can contain a list of MenuItem components.
public class MenuItem extends MenuComponent implements Accessible
public class Menu extends MenuItem implements MenuContainer, Accessible
Java AWT PopupMenu is a component that is used for dynamically popping up a menu that appears when the user right-clicks or performs any other action on a component.
public class PopupMenu extends Menu implements MenuContainer, Accessible12. Java AWT Panel
Java AWT Panel is a container class used to hold and organize graphical components in a Java Application.
Syntax of Java AWT Panel:public class Panel extends Container implements Accessible
Java AWT Toolkit class provides us with a platform-independent way to access various system resources and functionalities. Subclasses of Toolkit are used to bind various components.
Syntax of Java AWT Toolkitpublic abstract class Toolkit extends ObjectEvent Handling Components - Java AWT
Here are some of the event handling components in Java:
Java ActionListner is a interface which responds to the actions performed by the components like buttons, menu items ,etc.
Syntax of Java ActionListener:public class ActionListenerExample Implements ActionListener
There is only methods associated with ActionListner class that is actionPerformed().
Syntax of actionPerformed() method:public abstract void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e);2. Java MouseListener
Java MouseListner is a interface that responds to the actions performed by mouse events generated by the user. Example: mouse clicks , mouse movements, etc.
There are 5 Methods associated with MouseListner:
3. Java MouseMotionListener1. mouseClicked(MouseEvent e):
Responds to mouse buttons when clicked on a component in the Application.2. mousePressed(MouseEvent e):
Responds to mouse button is Pressed on a component in the Application.3. mouseReleased(MouseEvent e):
Responds to Mouse button released after being pressed over a component in the Application.4. mouseEntered(MouseEvent e):
Responds to the situation when a Mouse cursor enters the bounds of a component in an Application.5. mouseExited(MouseEvent e):
Responds to the situation when a Mouse cursor exits a component's bounds.
Java MouseMotionListner is a interface which is notified when mouse is moved or dragged.
It contains two Methods mentioned below:
4. Java ItemListener1. mouseDragged(MouseEvent e):
Responds when the mouse is dragged with mouse button clicked over a component in Application.2. mouseMoved(MouseEvent e):
Responds when the mouse is moved over a component in Application.
Java ItemListner is an interface which handles events related to item selection and deselection those that occur with checkboxes, radio buttons, etc. There is only one Method associated with ItemListner that is itemStateChanged(). This method provides information about the event, i.e. source of the event and the changed state.
Syntax of itemStateChanged() method:itemStateChanged(ItemEvent e)5. Java KeyListener
Java KeyListner is an interface in Java notified whenever you change the state of key or can be said for key related events.
Syntax of KeyListener:public interface KeyListener extends EventListener
There are three methods associated with KeyListner as mentioned below:
6. Java WindowListener1. keyPressed (KeyEvent e):
Responds to the event when key is pressed.2. keyReleased (KeyEvent e):
Responds to the event when the key is released.3. keyTyped (KeyEvent e):
Responds to the key has been typed.
Java WindowListener is a interface used for handling events related to window actions. Events like opening , closing, minimizing, etc are handled using WindowListener.
Syntax of WindowListenerpublic interface WindowListener extends EventListener
There are seven methods associated with WindowListener as mentioned below:
7. Java Adapter classes1. windowActivated (WindowEvent e):
Responds when window is first opened2. windowClosed (WindowEvent e):
Responds when the user attempts to close the window3. windowClosing (WindowEvent e):
Responds after a window has been closed4. windowDeactivated (WindowEvent e):
Responds when a window is minimized5. windowDeiconified (WindowEvent e):
Responds when a window is restored from a minimized state6. windowIconified (WindowEvent e):
Responds when a window is activated7. windowOpened (WindowEvent e):
Responds when a window loses focus
Java adapter classes provide the default implementation of listener interfaces.
8. Close AWT WindowAt the end we will need to Close AWT Window, So to perform this task we will use dispose() method. This method releases the resources associated with the window and also removes it from the screen.
Java AWT ExamplesHere are some Java AWT examples:
1. Hello World in Java AWTHello, World is was the first step in learning Java. So, let us program our first Program in Java AWT as Hello World using Labels and Frames.
Below is the implementation of the above method:
Java
// Java AWT Program for Hello World
import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.event.WindowAdapter;
import java.awt.event.WindowEvent;
// Driver Class
public class AWT_Example {
// main function
public static void main(String[] args)
{
// Declaring a Frame and Label
Frame frame = new Frame("Basic Program");
Label label = new Label("Hello World!");
// Aligning the label to CENTER
label.setAlignment(Label.CENTER);
// Adding Label and Setting
// the Size of the Frame
frame.add(label);
frame.setSize(300, 300);
// Making the Frame visible
frame.setVisible(true);
// Using WindowListener for closing the window
frame.addWindowListener(new WindowAdapter() {
@Override
public void windowClosing(WindowEvent e)
{
System.exit(0);
}
});
}
}
Running:
Output: 2. Java AWT Program to create Buttonjavac AWT_Example.java
java AWT_Example
Below is the implementation of the Java AWT Program to create a Button:
Java
// Java AWT Program for Button
import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.event.WindowAdapter;
import java.awt.event.WindowEvent;
// Driver Class
public class Button_Example {
// main function
public static void main(String[] args)
{
// Creating instance of frame with the label
Frame frame = new Frame("Example 2");
// Creating instance of button with label
Button button = new Button("Click Here");
// Setting the position for the button in frame
button.setBounds(80, 100, 64, 30);
// Adding button to the frame
frame.add(button);
// setting size, layout and visibility of frame
frame.setSize(300, 300);
frame.setLayout(null);
frame.setVisible(true);
// Using WindowListener for closing the window
frame.addWindowListener(new WindowAdapter() {
@Override
public void windowClosing(WindowEvent e)
{
System.exit(0);
}
});
}
}
Running:
Output:javac Button_Example.java
java Button_Example
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