Java Android App Development Course, Drawer Layout - Screen Composition that Opens from the Side

In Android app development, the Drawer Layout is a UI component that allows users to pull out a hidden menu from the side of the screen. This enables a more intuitive implementation of app navigation. In this tutorial, we will explain the concept of the Drawer Layout and how to implement it in detail.

What is Drawer Layout?

Drawer Layout is one of the layouts in Android that allows users to swipe from the left or right of the screen to open a menu. It is typically used to provide a navigation menu, helping users easily navigate to the main functions or sections of the app.

Advantages of Drawer Layout

Space-saving: It allows efficient use of limited screen space.
Relatively easy implementation: The Drawer Layout can be easily implemented in the Android SDK.
Consistent user experience: Commonly used in Android apps, it provides a familiar interface for users.

Steps to Implement Drawer Layout

1. Create a Project

Create a new project using Android Studio, selecting ‘Empty Activity’ as the project template.

2. Add Gradle Dependencies

Next, check the dependencies needed to use the Drawer Layout. It is usually included by default in the Android SDK, but if you want to add the latest library, you can add the following dependency in the build.gradle file.

implementation 'androidx.drawerlayout:drawerlayout:1.1.1'

3. Create Layout File

Now, open the activity_main.xml file and add the Drawer Layout. Refer to the example code below to create the basic structure.

<androidx.drawerlayout.widget.DrawerLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    xmlns:app="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res-auto"
    android:id="@+id/drawer_layout"
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="match_parent">

    <FrameLayout
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="match_parent">
    
        <TextView
            android:layout_width="wrap_content"
            android:layout_height="wrap_content"
            android:text="Main Content"
            android:layout_gravity="center"/>
    
    </FrameLayout>

    <NavigationView
        android:id="@+id/nav_view"
        android:layout_width="wrap_content"
        android:layout_height="match_parent"
        android:layout_gravity="start"
        app:menu="@menu/drawer_menu"/>

</androidx.drawerlayout.widget.DrawerLayout>

4. Create Menu File

To create a menu for the Drawer Layout, create a drawer_menu.xml file in the res/menu directory. This file will define the Drawer menu items.

<menu xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">
    <item
        android:id="@+id/nav_home"
        android:title="Home"/>
    <item
        android:id="@+id/nav_profile"
        android:title="Profile"/>
    <item
        android:id="@+id/nav_settings"
        android:title="Settings"/>
</menu>

5. Configure MainActivity

Now, set up the Drawer Layout in the MainActivity.java file. Define the click event for opening the menu and the actions when menu items are selected.

import android.os.Bundle;
import android.view.MenuItem;
import androidx.annotation.NonNull;
import androidx.appcompat.app.AppCompatActivity;
import androidx.drawerlayout.widget.DrawerLayout;
import com.google.android.material.navigation.NavigationView;

public class MainActivity extends AppCompatActivity {

    private DrawerLayout drawerLayout;

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

        drawerLayout = findViewById(R.id.drawer_layout);
        NavigationView navigationView = findViewById(R.id.nav_view);

        navigationView.setNavigationItemSelectedListener(new NavigationView.OnNavigationItemSelectedListener() {
            @Override
            public boolean onNavigationItemSelected(@NonNull MenuItem item) {
                switch (item.getItemId()) {
                    case R.id.nav_home:
                        // Handle home click
                        break;
                    case R.id.nav_profile:
                        // Handle profile click
                        break;
                    case R.id.nav_settings:
                        // Handle settings click
                        break;
                }
                drawerLayout.closeDrawers(); // Close drawer
                return true;
            }
        });
    }

    @Override
    public void onBackPressed() {
        if (drawerLayout.isDrawerOpen(GravityCompat.START)) {
            drawerLayout.closeDrawers();
        } else {
            super.onBackPressed();
        }
    }
}

Customizing Drawer Layout

There are several ways to customize the design or behavior of the Drawer Layout. Let’s look at a few methods below.

1. Adding a Drawer Icon

You can add an icon to open the drawer and set it to open when the user clicks that icon.

import androidx.appcompat.widget.Toolbar;

@Override
protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
    // ... existing code omitted ...
    
    Toolbar toolbar = findViewById(R.id.toolbar);
    setSupportActionBar(toolbar);
    ActionBarDrawerToggle toggle = new ActionBarDrawerToggle(this, drawerLayout, toolbar, R.string.navigation_drawer_open, R.string.navigation_drawer_close);
    drawerLayout.addDrawerListener(toggle);
    toggle.syncState();
}

2. Changing Drawer Design

The design of the drawer can be easily changed through XML files and styles. You can modify colors, fonts, and background images to harmonize with the overall theme of the app.

<NavigationView
    android:id="@+id/nav_view"
    android:layout_width="wrap_content"
    android:layout_height="match_parent"
    android:layout_gravity="start"
    app:headerLayout="@layout/nav_header"
    app:menu="@menu/drawer_menu"
    app:background="@color/colorAccent"/>

3. Adding Submenus to Drawer Menu Items

You can also add submenus to provide more navigation options. Manage submenus by adding them in the drawer_menu.xml file.

<menu xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">
    <group android:checkableBehavior="single">
        <item
            android:id="@+id/nav_home"
            android:title="Home"/>
        <item
            android:id="@+id/nav_profile"
            android:title="Profile">
            <menu>
                <item android:id="@+id/nav_profile_info" android:title="Info"/>
                <item android:id="@+id/nav_profile_settings" android:title="Settings"/>
            </menu>
        </item>
    </group>
</menu>

Other Tips and Precautions

There are a few things to keep in mind while using the Drawer Layout.

Swipe Actions: When the drawer is open, swipe actions may overlap. In such cases, event handling should be implemented to improve the user experience.
Layout Changes Based on Screen Size: You should consider various layouts to ensure the app functions correctly on different devices.
Navigation Type: You need to determine the most suitable navigation pattern that can be used alongside the drawer, taking the user’s experience into account.

Conclusion

The Drawer Layout is a very useful UI component in Android apps. When used properly, it can provide users with an intuitive navigation experience. Through this tutorial, you learned the basic usage and customization methods of the Drawer Layout. Utilize the Drawer Layout in various ways to develop attractive and user-friendly apps.

Java Android App Development Course, Drawer Layout – Screen Composition that Opens from the Side