Package javafx.scene.control

The JavaFX User Interface Controls (UI Controls or just Controls) are specialized Nodes in the JavaFX Scenegraph especially suited for reuse in many different application contexts.

See: Description

Interface Summary

Interface	Description
Skin<C extends Skinnable>	Base class for defining the visual representation of user interface controls by defining a scene graph of nodes to represent the skin.
Skinnable	The Skinnable interface is implemented by the Control class, and therefore is implemented by all Control implementations.
TextInputControl.Content	Interface representing a text input's content.
Toggle	Represents a control that can be toggled between selected and non-selected states.

Class Summary

Class	Description
Accordion	An accordion is a group of TitlePanes.
AccordionBuilder<B extends AccordionBuilder<B>>	Builder class for javafx.scene.control.Accordion
Button	A simple button control.
ButtonBase	Base class for button-like UI Controls, including Hyperlinks, Buttons, ToggleButtons, CheckBoxes, and RadioButtons.
ButtonBaseBuilder<B extends ButtonBaseBuilder<B>>	Builder class for javafx.scene.control.ButtonBase
ButtonBuilder<B extends ButtonBuilder<B>>	Builder class for javafx.scene.control.Button
Cell<T>	The Cell API is used for virtualized controls such as ListView, TreeView, and TableView.
CellBuilder<T,B extends CellBuilder<T,B>>	Builder class for javafx.scene.control.Cell
CheckBox	A tri-state selection Control typically skinned as a box with a checkmark or tick mark when checked.
CheckBoxBuilder<B extends CheckBoxBuilder<B>>	Builder class for javafx.scene.control.CheckBox
CheckBoxTreeItem<T>	TreeItem subclass that adds support for being in selected, unselected, and indeterminate states.
CheckBoxTreeItem.TreeModificationEvent<T>	A TreeModificationEvent class that works in a similar vein to the TreeItem.TreeModificationEvent class, in that this event will bubble up the CheckBoxTreeItem hierarchy, until the parent node is null.
CheckBoxTreeItemBuilder<T,B extends CheckBoxTreeItemBuilder<T,B>>	Builder class for javafx.scene.control.CheckBoxTreeItem
CheckMenuItem	A MenuItem that can be toggled between selected and unselected states.
CheckMenuItemBuilder<B extends CheckMenuItemBuilder<B>>	Builder class for javafx.scene.control.CheckMenuItem
ChoiceBox<T>	The ChoiceBox is used for presenting the user with a relatively small set of predefined choices from which they may choose.
ChoiceBoxBuilder<T,B extends ChoiceBoxBuilder<T,B>>	Builder class for javafx.scene.control.ChoiceBox
ColorPicker	ColorPicker control allows the user to select a color from either a standard palette of colors with a simple one click selection OR define their own custom color.
ColorPickerBuilder<B extends ColorPickerBuilder<B>>	Builder class for javafx.scene.control.ColorPicker
ComboBox<T>	An implementation of the ComboBoxBase abstract class for the most common form of ComboBox, where a popup list is shown to users providing them with a choice that they may select from.
ComboBoxBase<T>	Abstract base class for ComboBox-like controls.
ComboBoxBaseBuilder<T,B extends ComboBoxBaseBuilder<T,B>>	Builder class for javafx.scene.control.ComboBoxBase
ComboBoxBuilder<T,B extends ComboBoxBuilder<T,B>>	Builder class for javafx.scene.control.ComboBox
ContextMenu	A popup control containing an ObservableList of menu items.
ContextMenuBuilder<B extends ContextMenuBuilder<B>>	Builder class for javafx.scene.control.ContextMenu
Control	Base class for all user interface controls.
ControlBuilder<B extends ControlBuilder<B>>	Builder class for javafx.scene.control.Control
CustomMenuItem	A MenuItem that allows for arbitrary nodes to be embedded within it, by assigning a Node to the content property.
CustomMenuItemBuilder<B extends CustomMenuItemBuilder<B>>	Builder class for javafx.scene.control.CustomMenuItem
FocusModel<T>	The abstract base class for FocusModel implementations.
Hyperlink	An HTML like label which can be a graphic and/or text which responds to rollovers and clicks.
HyperlinkBuilder<B extends HyperlinkBuilder<B>>	Builder class for javafx.scene.control.Hyperlink
IndexedCell<T>	An implementation of Cell which contains an index property which maps into the data model underlying the visualization.
IndexedCellBuilder<T,B extends IndexedCellBuilder<T,B>>	Builder class for javafx.scene.control.IndexedCell
IndexRange	Class representing a contiguous range of integral values.
IndexRangeBuilder	Builder class for javafx.scene.control.IndexRange
Label	Label is a non-editable text control.
LabelBuilder<B extends LabelBuilder<B>>	Builder class for javafx.scene.control.Label
Labeled	A Labeled Control is one which has as part of its user interface a textual content associated with it.
LabeledBuilder<B extends LabeledBuilder<B>>	Builder class for javafx.scene.control.Labeled
ListCell<T>	The Cell type used within ListView instances.
ListCellBuilder<T,B extends ListCellBuilder<T,B>>	Builder class for javafx.scene.control.ListCell
ListView<T>	A ListView displays a horizontal or vertical list of items from which the user may select, or with which the user may interact.
ListView.EditEvent<T>	An Event subclass used specifically in ListView for representing edit-related events.
ListViewBuilder<T,B extends ListViewBuilder<T,B>>	Builder class for javafx.scene.control.ListView
Menu	A popup menu of actionable items which is displayed to the user only upon request.
MenuBar	A MenuBar control traditionally is placed at the very top of the user interface, and embedded within it are Menus.
MenuBarBuilder<B extends MenuBarBuilder<B>>	Builder class for javafx.scene.control.MenuBar
MenuBuilder<B extends MenuBuilder<B>>	Builder class for javafx.scene.control.Menu
MenuButton	MenuButton is a button which, when clicked or pressed, will show a ContextMenu.
MenuButtonBuilder<B extends MenuButtonBuilder<B>>	Builder class for javafx.scene.control.MenuButton
MenuItem	MenuItem is intended to be used in conjunction with Menu to provide options to users.
MenuItemBuilder<B extends MenuItemBuilder<B>>	Builder class for javafx.scene.control.MenuItem
MultipleSelectionModel<T>	An abstract class that extends SelectionModel to add API to support multiple selection.
MultipleSelectionModelBuilder<T,B extends MultipleSelectionModelBuilder<T,B>>	Builder class for javafx.scene.control.MultipleSelectionModel
Pagination	A Pagination control is used for navigation between pages of a single content, which has been divided into smaller parts.
PaginationBuilder<B extends PaginationBuilder<B>>	Builder class for javafx.scene.control.Pagination
PasswordField	Text field that masks entered characters.
PasswordFieldBuilder<B extends PasswordFieldBuilder<B>>	Builder class for javafx.scene.control.PasswordField
PopupControl	An extension of PopupWindow that allows for CSS styling.
PopupControlBuilder<B extends PopupControlBuilder<B>>	Builder class for javafx.scene.control.PopupControl
ProgressBar	A specialization of the ProgressIndicator which is represented as a horizontal bar.
ProgressBarBuilder<B extends ProgressBarBuilder<B>>	Builder class for javafx.scene.control.ProgressBar
ProgressIndicator	A circular control which is used for indicating progress, either infinite (aka indeterminate) or finite.
ProgressIndicatorBuilder<B extends ProgressIndicatorBuilder<B>>	Builder class for javafx.scene.control.ProgressIndicator
RadioButton	RadioButtons create a series of items where only one item can be selected.
RadioButtonBuilder<B extends RadioButtonBuilder<B>>	Builder class for javafx.scene.control.RadioButton
RadioMenuItem	A RadioMenuItem is a MenuItem that can be toggled (it uses the Toggle mixin).
RadioMenuItemBuilder<B extends RadioMenuItemBuilder<B>>	Builder class for javafx.scene.control.RadioMenuItem
ScrollBar	Either a horizontal or vertical bar with increment and decrement buttons and a "thumb" with which the user can interact.
ScrollBarBuilder<B extends ScrollBarBuilder<B>>	Builder class for javafx.scene.control.ScrollBar
ScrollPane	A Control that provides a scrolled, clipped viewport of its contents.
ScrollPaneBuilder<B extends ScrollPaneBuilder<B>>	Builder class for javafx.scene.control.ScrollPane
SelectionModel<T>	SelectionModel is an abstract class used by UI controls to provide a consistent API for maintaining selection.
Separator	A horizontal or vertical separator line.
SeparatorBuilder<B extends SeparatorBuilder<B>>	Builder class for javafx.scene.control.Separator
SeparatorMenuItem	A MenuItem that as the name suggests allows for a horizontal Separator to be embedded within it, by assigning a Separator to the content property of the CustomMenuItem This is provided for convenience as groups of menuitems can be separated by a separator.
SeparatorMenuItemBuilder<B extends SeparatorMenuItemBuilder<B>>	Builder class for javafx.scene.control.SeparatorMenuItem
SingleSelectionModel<T>	A SelectionModel which enforces the requirement that only a single index be selected at any given time.
Slider	The Slider Control is used to display a continuous or discrete range of valid numeric choices and allows the user to interact with the control.
SliderBuilder<B extends SliderBuilder<B>>	Builder class for javafx.scene.control.Slider
SplitMenuButton	The SplitMenuButton, like the MenuButton is closely associated with the concept of selecting a MenuItem from a menu.
SplitMenuButtonBuilder<B extends SplitMenuButtonBuilder<B>>	Builder class for javafx.scene.control.SplitMenuButton
SplitPane	A control that has two or more sides, each separated by a divider, which can be dragged by the user to give more space to one of the sides, resulting in the other side shrinking by an equal amount.
SplitPane.Divider	Represents a single divider in the SplitPane.
SplitPaneBuilder<B extends SplitPaneBuilder<B>>	Builder class for javafx.scene.control.SplitPane
Tab	Tabs are placed within a TabPane, where each tab represents a single 'page'.
TabBuilder<B extends TabBuilder<B>>	Builder class for javafx.scene.control.Tab
TableCell<S,T>	Represents a single row/column intersection in a TableView.
TableCellBuilder<S,T,B extends TableCellBuilder<S,T,B>>	Builder class for javafx.scene.control.TableCell
TableColumn<S,T>	A TableView is made up of a number of TableColumn instances.
TableColumn.CellDataFeatures<S,T>	A support class used in TableColumn as a wrapper class to provide all necessary information for a particular Cell.
TableColumn.CellEditEvent<S,T>	An event that is fired when a user performs an edit on a table cell.
TableColumnBuilder<S,T,B extends TableColumnBuilder<S,T,B>>	Builder class for javafx.scene.control.TableColumn
TablePosition<S,T>	This class is used to represent a single row/column/cell in a TableView.
TablePositionBuilder<S,T,B extends TablePositionBuilder<S,T,B>>	Builder class for javafx.scene.control.TablePosition
TableRow<T>	TableRow is an IndexedCell, but rarely needs to be used by developers creating TableView instances.
TableRowBuilder<T,B extends TableRowBuilder<T,B>>	Builder class for javafx.scene.control.TableRow
TableView<S>	The TableView control is designed to visualize an unlimited number of rows of data, broken out into columns.
TableView.ResizeFeatures<S>	An immutable wrapper class for use in the TableView column resize functionality.
TableView.TableViewFocusModel<S>	A FocusModel with additional functionality to support the requirements of a TableView control.
TableView.TableViewSelectionModel<S>	A simple extension of the SelectionModel abstract class to allow for special support for TableView controls.
TableViewBuilder<S,B extends TableViewBuilder<S,B>>	Builder class for javafx.scene.control.TableView
TabPane	A control that allows switching between a group of Tabs.
TabPaneBuilder<B extends TabPaneBuilder<B>>	Builder class for javafx.scene.control.TabPane
TextArea	Text input component that allows a user to enter multiple lines of plain text.
TextAreaBuilder<B extends TextAreaBuilder<B>>	Builder class for javafx.scene.control.TextArea
TextField	Text input component that allows a user to enter a single line of unformatted text.
TextFieldBuilder<B extends TextFieldBuilder<B>>	Builder class for javafx.scene.control.TextField
TextInputControl	Abstract base class for text input controls.
TextInputControlBuilder<B extends TextInputControlBuilder<B>>	Builder class for javafx.scene.control.TextInputControl
TitledPane	A TitledPane is a panel with a title that can be opened and closed.
TitledPaneBuilder<B extends TitledPaneBuilder<B>>	Builder class for javafx.scene.control.TitledPane
ToggleButton	A ToggleButton is a specialized control which has the ability to be selected.
ToggleButtonBuilder<B extends ToggleButtonBuilder<B>>	Builder class for javafx.scene.control.ToggleButton
ToggleGroup	A class which contains a reference to all Toggles whose selected variables should be managed such that only a single Toggle within the ToggleGroup may be selected at any one time.
ToggleGroupBuilder<B extends ToggleGroupBuilder<B>>	Builder class for javafx.scene.control.ToggleGroup
ToolBar	A ToolBar is a control which displays items horizontally or vertically.
ToolBarBuilder<B extends ToolBarBuilder<B>>	Builder class for javafx.scene.control.ToolBar
Tooltip	Tooltips are common UI elements which are typically used for showing additional information about a Control when the Control is hovered over by the mouse.
TooltipBuilder<B extends TooltipBuilder<B>>	Builder class for javafx.scene.control.Tooltip
TreeCell<T>	The Cell type used with the TreeView control.
TreeCellBuilder<T,B extends TreeCellBuilder<T,B>>	Builder class for javafx.scene.control.TreeCell
TreeItem<T>	The model for a single node supplying a hierarchy of values to a control such as TreeView.
TreeItem.TreeModificationEvent<T>	An Event that contains relevant information for all forms of TreeItem modifications.
TreeItemBuilder<T,B extends TreeItemBuilder<T,B>>	Builder class for javafx.scene.control.TreeItem
TreeView<T>	The TreeView control provides a view on to a tree root (of type TreeItem).
TreeView.EditEvent<T>	An Event subclass used specifically in TreeView for representing edit-related events.
TreeViewBuilder<T,B extends TreeViewBuilder<T,B>>	Builder class for javafx.scene.control.TreeView

Enum Summary

Enum	Description
ContentDisplay	The position to place the content within a Label.
OverrunStyle	Defines the behavior of a labeled Control when the space for rendering the text is smaller than the space needed to render the entire string.
ScrollPane.ScrollBarPolicy	An enumeration denoting the policy to be used by a scrollable Control in deciding whether to show a scroll bar.
SelectionMode	An enumeration used to specify how many items may be selected in a MultipleSelectionModel.
TableColumn.SortType	Enumeration that specifies the type of sorting being applied to a specific column.
TabPane.TabClosingPolicy	This specifies how the TabPane handles tab closing from an end-users perspective.

Package javafx.scene.control Description

The JavaFX User Interface Controls (UI Controls or just Controls) are specialized Nodes in the JavaFX Scenegraph especially suited for reuse in many different application contexts. They are designed to be highly customizable visually by designers and developers. They are designed to work well with layout systems. Examples of prominent controls include Button, Label, ListView, and TextField.

Since Controls are Nodes in the scenegraph, they can be freely mixed with Groups, Images, Media, Text, and basic geometric shapes. While writing new UI Controls is not trivial, using and styling them is very easy, especially to existing web developers.

The remainder of this document will describe the basic architecture of the JavaFX UI Control library, how to style existing controls, write custom skins, and how to use controls to build up more complicated user interfaces.

Architecture

Controls follow the classic MVC design pattern. The Control is the "model". It contains both the state and the functions which manipulate that state. The Control class itself does not know how it is rendered or what the user interaction is. These tasks are delegated to the Skin ("view"), which may internally separate out the view and controller functionality into separate classes, although at present there is no public API for the "controller" aspect.

All Controls extend from the Control class, which is in turn a Parent node, and which is a Node. Every Control has a reference to a single Skin, which is the view implementation for the Control. The Control delegates to the Skin the responsibility of computing the min, max, and pref sizes of the Control, the baseline offset, and hit testing (containment and intersection). It is also the responsibility of the Skin, or a delegate of the Skin, to implement and repond to all relevant key events which occur on the Control when it contains the focus.

Control

Control extends from Parent, and as such, is not a leaf node. From the perspective of a developer or designer the Control can be thought of as if it were a leaf node in many cases. For example, the developer or designer can consider a Button as if it were a Rectangle or other simple leaf node.

Since a Control is resizable, a Control will be auto-sized to its preferred size on each scenegraph pulse. Setting the width and height of the Control does not affect its preferred size. When used in a layout container, the layout constraints imposed upon the Control (or manually specified on the Control) will determine how it is positioned and sized.

The Skin of a Control can be changed at any time. Doing so will mark the Control as needing to be laid out since changing the Skin likely has changed the preferred size of the Control. If no Skin is specified at the time that the Control is created, then a default CSS-based skin will be provided for all of the built-in Controls.

Each Control may have an optional tooltip specified. The Tooltip is a Control which displays some (usually textual) information about the control to the user when the mouse hovers over the Control from some period of time. It can be styled from CSS the same as with other Controls.

focusTraversable is overridden in Control to be true by default, whereas with Node it is false by default. Controls which should not be focusable by default (such as Label) override this to be false.

The getMinWidth, getMinHeight, getPrefWidth, getPrefHeight, getMaxWidth, and getMaxHeight functions are delegated directly to the Skin. The baselineOffset method is delegated to the node of the skin. It is not recommended that subclasses alter these delegations.

Styling Controls

There are two methods for customizing the look of a Control. The most difficult and yet most flexible approach is to write a new Skin for the Control which precisely implements the visuals which you desire for the Control. Consult the Skin documentation for more details.

The easiest and yet very powerful method for styling the built in Controls is by using CSS. Please note that in this release the following CSS description applies only to the default Skins provided for the built in Controls. Subsequent releases will make this generally available for any custom third party Controls which desire to take advantage of these CSS capabilities.

Each of the default Skins for the built in Controls is comprised of multiple individually styleable areas or regions. This is much like an HTML page which is made up of <div>'s and then styled from CSS. Each individual region may be drawn with backgrounds, borders, images, padding, margins, and so on. The JavaFX CSS support includes the ability to have multiple backgrounds and borders, and to derive colors. These capabilities make it extremely easy to alter the look of Controls in JavaFX from CSS.

The colors used for drawing the default Skins of the built in Controls are all derived from a base color, an accent color and a background color. Simply by modifying the base color for a Control you can alter the derived gradients and create Buttons or other Controls which visually fit in with the default Skins but visually stand out.

As with all other Nodes in the scenegraph, Controls can be styled by using an external stylesheet, or by specifying the style directly on the Control. Although for examples it is easier to express and understand by specifying the style directly on the Node, it is recommended to use an external stylesheet and use either the styleClass or id of the Control, just as you would use the "class" or id of an HTML element with HTML CSS.

Each UI Control specifies a styleClass which may be used to style controls from an external stylesheet. For example, the Button control is given the "button" CSS style class. The CSS style class names are hyphen-separated lower case as opposed to camel case, otherwise, they are exactly the same. For example, Button is "button", RadioButton is "radio-button", Tooltip is "tooltip" and so on.

The class documentation for each Control defines the default Skin regions which can be styled. For further information regarding the CSS capabilities provided with JavaFX, see the CSS Reference Guide.