Android checkbox example

In Android, you can use “android.widget.CheckBox” class to render a checkbox.

In this tutorial, we show you how to create 3 checkboxes in XML file, and demonstrates the use of listener to check the checkbox state – checked or unchecked.

P.S This project is developed in Eclipse 3.7, and tested with Android 2.3.3.

1. Custom String

Open “res/values/strings.xml” file, add some user-defined string.

File : res/values/strings.xml


<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<resources>
    <string name="hello">Hello World, MyAndroidAppActivity!</string>
    <string name="app_name">MyAndroidApp</string>
    <string name="chk_ios">IPhone</string>
    <string name="chk_android">Android</string>
    <string name="chk_windows">Windows Mobile</string>
    <string name="btn_display">Display</string>
</resources>

2. CheckBox

Open “res/layout/main.xml” file, add 3 “CheckBox” and a button, inside the LinearLayout.

File : res/layout/main.xml


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

    <CheckBox
        android:id="@+id/chkIos"
        android:layout_width="wrap_content"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:text="@string/chk_ios" />
		
    <CheckBox
        android:id="@+id/chkAndroid"
        android:layout_width="wrap_content"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:text="@string/chk_android"
        android:checked="true" />

    <CheckBox
        android:id="@+id/chkWindows"
        android:layout_width="wrap_content"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:text="@string/chk_windows" />

    <Button
        android:id="@+id/btnDisplay"
        android:layout_width="wrap_content"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:text="@string/btn_display" />

</LinearLayout>

Make CheckBox is checked by default
Put android:checked="true" inside checkbox element to make it checked bu default. In this case, “Android” option is checked by default.

3. Code Code

Attach listeners inside your activity “onCreate()” method, to monitor following events :

If checkbox id : “chkIos” is checked, display a floating box with message “Bro, try Android”.
If button is is clicked, display a floating box and display the checkbox states.

File : MyAndroidAppActivity.java


package com.mkyong.android;

import android.app.Activity;
import android.os.Bundle;
import android.view.View;
import android.view.View.OnClickListener;
import android.widget.Button;
import android.widget.CheckBox;
import android.widget.Toast;

public class MyAndroidAppActivity extends Activity {

  private CheckBox chkIos, chkAndroid, chkWindows;
  private Button btnDisplay;

  @Override
  public void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
	super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
	setContentView(R.layout.main);

	addListenerOnChkIos();
	addListenerOnButton();
  }

  public void addListenerOnChkIos() {

	chkIos = (CheckBox) findViewById(R.id.chkIos);

	chkIos.setOnClickListener(new OnClickListener() {

	  @Override
	  public void onClick(View v) {
                //is chkIos checked?
		if (((CheckBox) v).isChecked()) {
			Toast.makeText(MyAndroidAppActivity.this,
		 	   "Bro, try Android :)", Toast.LENGTH_LONG).show();
		}

	  }
	});

  }

  public void addListenerOnButton() {

	chkIos = (CheckBox) findViewById(R.id.chkIos);
	chkAndroid = (CheckBox) findViewById(R.id.chkAndroid);
	chkWindows = (CheckBox) findViewById(R.id.chkWindows);
	btnDisplay = (Button) findViewById(R.id.btnDisplay);

	btnDisplay.setOnClickListener(new OnClickListener() {

          //Run when button is clicked
	  @Override
	  public void onClick(View v) {

		StringBuffer result = new StringBuffer();
		result.append("IPhone check : ").append(chkIos.isChecked());
		result.append("\nAndroid check : ").append(chkAndroid.isChecked());
		result.append("\nWindows Mobile check :").append(chkWindows.isChecked());

		Toast.makeText(MyAndroidAppActivity.this, result.toString(),
				Toast.LENGTH_LONG).show();

	  }
	});

  }
}

4. Demo

Run the application.

1. Result :

2. If “IPhone” is checked :

3. Checked “IPhone” and “Windows Mobile”, later, click on the “display” button :

Download Source Code

Download it – Android-Checkbox-Example.zip (15 KB)

References

Written by mkyong

Software Engineer • Writer • Dad

20+ years hands-on, writing about Java, Spring, and AI. Every code example here is tested.

All posts by mkyong

23 comments on “Android checkbox example”

John Champin

May 3, 2017 at 10:11 pm

I had run this code. by the way I cannot find symbol variables: chkDriver, chkCarOwner, buttonDisplay. Please I wish to have your advice.

nanda kumar

July 15, 2016 at 8:17 pm

how to arrange password edittext and checkbox(hide/show)?

Thomas

May 3, 2016 at 5:53 am

But how to check the widget programmaticaly? How to set text to appear on the left of the checkbox?

goso

February 25, 2015 at 5:47 pm

what is the syntax of radiobutton

azeem

February 19, 2015 at 6:42 pm

good

lavlesh

September 1, 2014 at 9:06 pm

sir how can i arrange check box in single row

Smc
October 17, 2019 at 11:43 am

By using linear layout orientation horizontal..

Reply

ashish

March 1, 2014 at 2:54 pm

hi,is this possible without using xml (i.e. using java),because my reqirement is creating checkboxes dynamically

hariy

January 16, 2014 at 11:01 pm

this is what I looking for. thanks from Indonesia 🙂

full

June 30, 2013 at 9:50 am

Thank you man, it helped me 🙂

full

June 30, 2013 at 9:49 am

Thank you man it helped me

robert

May 21, 2013 at 2:56 pm

i have problem with this one

chkIos = (CheckBox) findViewById(R.id.chkIos);

and of course

chkIos = (CheckBox) findViewById(R.id.chkIos);
chkAndroid = (CheckBox) findViewById(R.id.chkAndroid);
chkWindows = (CheckBox) findViewById(R.id.chkWindows);
btnDisplay = (Button) findViewById(R.id.btnDisplay);

error about “chkIos cannot be resolved or is not a field”

Anik
June 20, 2014 at 3:58 am

you did not mention the type of chklos. you have to write like CheckBox chklos=(CheckBox) findViewById(R.id.chkIos);

Reply

Kaamz

March 30, 2013 at 11:39 pm

As a beginner I like this site. Easy to understand each topic in detail..

Learned lot from here…. Hats off to U…

Abdul Latheef.A

March 6, 2013 at 4:05 pm

Dear friend
Very Good tutorial and simple to understand.
Thank u
Latheef

Believer

March 1, 2013 at 1:34 am

Hi, I’m a software developer just like you. I just want to congratulate you for this fantastic work of delivering concrete and useful source code. I’m know that there is more of you that can be appreciated in your web pages. I don’t know if you are Christian and/or believe in The Lord Jesus Christ, but I will certainly include you in my prayers, as a Christian Catholic. God be with you, Lord Jesus Christ always protect you, and give you the strength to contribute more to the SW Developer Community with this kind of work. Thank you, and God bless you.

Reece
June 27, 2013 at 6:29 pm

Just stop. You’re devaluing the word “developer” by preaching your beliefs. This page/post isn’t about religion so don’t bother mentioning it, you just look like a fool.

Reply
1. JavaPeaceLoveAndHappiness
  December 14, 2013 at 2:59 am
  
  He doesn’t look like a fool. Let the guy thank Minyong any way he likes. I am not Catholic but am not offended in anyway. You’re just tearing people down instead of being tolerant of different ideas.
  
  Reply
Minyong
July 25, 2013 at 3:58 pm

Oi kirig wag dito!

Reply

devendra

February 26, 2013 at 2:56 pm

Very good site for freshers many thanks for MKYONG.

Rick

February 23, 2013 at 8:57 pm

How can I check dynamic checkbox ?

CheckBox cb = new CheckBox(this);
		cb.setId(Integer.valueOf(id));
		
		cb.setPadding(12, 0, 15, 0);
		cb.setTextColor(Color.WHITE);
		tr.addView(cb);

Frank

December 10, 2012 at 4:19 pm

Thanks for your examples for android! 😉

Frank (Germany)

onks_

August 1, 2012 at 2:03 pm

This was a tad helpful…thanks mkyong 🙂