Module javafx.graphics
Package javafx.scene.layout

Class BorderPane

java.lang.Object
javafx.scene.Node
javafx.scene.Parent
javafx.scene.layout.Region
javafx.scene.layout.Pane
javafx.scene.layout.BorderPane
All Implemented Interfaces:
Styleable, EventTarget
public class BorderPane extends Pane
BorderPane lays out children in top, left, right, bottom, and center positions.

A diagram that shows the position of each child

The top and bottom children will be resized to their preferred heights and extend the width of the border pane. The left and right children will be resized to their preferred widths and extend the length between the top and bottom nodes. And the center node will be resized to fill the available space in the middle. Any of the positions may be null. Example: 
     BorderPane borderPane = new BorderPane();
     ToolBar toolbar = new ToolBar();
     HBox statusbar = new HBox();
     Node appContent = new AppContentNode();
     borderPane.setTop(toolbar);
     borderPane.setCenter(appContent);
     borderPane.setBottom(statusbar);

Borderpanes may be styled with backgrounds and borders using CSS. See Region superclass for details.

BorderPane honors the minimum, preferred, and maximum sizes of its children. If the child's resizable range prevents it from be resized to fit within its position, it will be aligned relative to the space using a default alignment as follows:

  • top: Pos.TOP_LEFT
  • bottom: Pos.BOTTOM_LEFT
  • left: Pos.TOP_LEFT
  • right: Pos.TOP_RIGHT
  • center: Pos.CENTER
See "Optional Layout Constraints" on how to customize these alignments.

BorderPane lays out each child set in the five positions regardless of the child's visible property value; unmanaged children are ignored.

Resizable Range

BorderPane is commonly used as the root of a Scene, in which case its size will track the size of the scene. If the scene or stage size has not been directly set by the application, the scene size will be initialized to the border pane's preferred size. However, if a border pane has a parent other than the scene, that parent will resize the border pane within the border pane's resizable range during layout. By default the border pane computes this range based on its content as outlined in the table below.

BorderPane Resize Table
widthheight
minimum left/right insets plus width required to display right/left children at their pref widths and top/bottom/center with at least their min widths top/bottom insets plus height required to display top/bottom children at their pref heights and left/right/center with at least their min heights
preferred left/right insets plus width required to display top/right/bottom/left/center children with at least their pref widths top/bottom insets plus height required to display top/right/bottom/left/center children with at least their pref heights
maximum Double.MAX_VALUEDouble.MAX_VALUE

A border pane's unbounded maximum width and height are an indication to the parent that it may be resized beyond its preferred size to fill whatever space is assigned to it.

BorderPane provides properties for setting the size range directly. These properties default to the sentinel value Region.USE_COMPUTED_SIZE, however the application may set them to other values as needed: 


     borderPane.setPrefSize(500,400);
Applications may restore the computed values by setting these properties back to Region.USE_COMPUTED_SIZE.

BorderPane does not clip its content by default, so it is possible that children's bounds may extend outside its own bounds if a child's min size prevents it from being fit within it space.

Optional Layout Constraints

An application may set constraints on individual children to customize BorderPane's layout. For each constraint, BorderPane provides a static method for setting it on the child.

BorderPane Constraint Table
ConstraintTypeDescription
alignmentjavafx.geometry.PosThe alignment of the child within its area of the border pane.
marginjavafx.geometry.InsetsMargin space around the outside of the child.

Example: 

     ListView list = new ListView();
     BorderPane.setAlignment(list, Pos.TOP_LEFT);
     BorderPane.setMargin(list, new Insets(12,12,12,12));
     borderPane.setCenter(list);
Since:
JavaFX 2.0

  • Property Details

    • center

      public final ObjectProperty<Node> centerProperty
      The node placed in the center of this border pane. If resizable, it will be resized fill the center of the border pane between the top, bottom, left, and right nodes. If the node cannot be resized to fill the center space (it's not resizable or its max size prevents it) then it will be center aligned unless the child's alignment constraint has been set.
      See Also:

    • top

      public final ObjectProperty<Node> topProperty
      The node placed on the top edge of this border pane. If resizable, it will be resized to its preferred height and it's width will span the width of the border pane. If the node cannot be resized to fill the top space (it's not resizable or its max size prevents it) then it will be aligned top-left within the space unless the child's alignment constraint has been set.
      See Also:

    • bottom

      public final ObjectProperty<Node> bottomProperty
      The node placed on the bottom edge of this border pane. If resizable, it will be resized to its preferred height and it's width will span the width of the border pane. If the node cannot be resized to fill the bottom space (it's not resizable or its max size prevents it) then it will be aligned bottom-left within the space unless the child's alignment constraint has been set.
      See Also:

    • left

      public final ObjectProperty<Node> leftProperty
      The node placed on the left edge of this border pane. If resizable, it will be resized to its preferred width and it's height will span the height of the border pane between the top and bottom nodes. If the node cannot be resized to fill the left space (it's not resizable or its max size prevents it) then it will be aligned top-left within the space unless the child's alignment constraint has been set.
      See Also:

    • right

      public final ObjectProperty<Node> rightProperty
      The node placed on the right edge of this border pane. If resizable, it will be resized to its preferred width and it's height will span the height of the border pane between the top and bottom nodes. If the node cannot be resized to fill the right space (it's not resizable or its max size prevents it) then it will be aligned top-right within the space unless the child's alignment constraint has been set.
      See Also:

  • Constructor Details

    • BorderPane

      public BorderPane()
      Creates a BorderPane layout.

    • BorderPane

      public BorderPane(Node center)
      Creates an BorderPane layout with the given Node as the center of the BorderPane.
      Parameters:
      center - The node to set as the center of the BorderPane.
      Since:
      JavaFX 8.0

    • BorderPane

      public BorderPane(Node center, Node top, Node right, Node bottom, Node left)
      Creates an BorderPane layout with the given Nodes to use for each of the main layout areas of the Border Pane. The top, right, bottom, and left nodes are listed in clockwise order.
      Parameters:
      center - The node to set as the center of the BorderPane.
      top - The node to set as the top of the BorderPane.
      right - The node to set as the right of the BorderPane.
      bottom - The node to set as the bottom of the BorderPane.
      left - The node to set as the left of the BorderPane.
      Since:
      JavaFX 8.0

  • Method Details

    • setAlignment

      public static void setAlignment(Node child, Pos value)
      Sets the alignment for the child when contained by a border pane. If set, will override the border pane's default alignment for the child's position. Setting the value to null will remove the constraint.
      Parameters:
      child - the child node of a border pane
      value - the alignment position for the child

    • getAlignment

      public static Pos getAlignment(Node child)
      Returns the child's alignment constraint if set.
      Parameters:
      child - the child node of a border pane
      Returns:
      the alignment position for the child or null if no alignment was set

    • setMargin

      public static void setMargin(Node child, Insets value)
      Sets the margin for the child when contained by a border pane. If set, the border pane will lay it out with the margin space around it. Setting the value to null will remove the constraint.
      Parameters:
      child - the child node of a border pane
      value - the margin of space around the child

    • getMargin

      public static Insets getMargin(Node child)
      Returns the child's margin constraint if set.
      Parameters:
      child - the child node of a border pane
      Returns:
      the margin for the child or null if no margin was set

    • clearConstraints

      public static void clearConstraints(Node child)
      Removes all border pane constraints from the child node.
      Parameters:
      child - the child node

    • centerProperty

      public final ObjectProperty<Node> centerProperty()
      The node placed in the center of this border pane. If resizable, it will be resized fill the center of the border pane between the top, bottom, left, and right nodes. If the node cannot be resized to fill the center space (it's not resizable or its max size prevents it) then it will be center aligned unless the child's alignment constraint has been set.
      Returns:
      the node placed in the center of this border pane
      See Also:

    • setCenter

      public final void setCenter(Node value)
      Sets the value of the center property.
      Property description:
      The node placed in the center of this border pane. If resizable, it will be resized fill the center of the border pane between the top, bottom, left, and right nodes. If the node cannot be resized to fill the center space (it's not resizable or its max size prevents it) then it will be center aligned unless the child's alignment constraint has been set.
      Parameters:
      value - the value for the center property
      See Also:

    • getCenter

      public final Node getCenter()
      Gets the value of the center property.
      Property description:
      The node placed in the center of this border pane. If resizable, it will be resized fill the center of the border pane between the top, bottom, left, and right nodes. If the node cannot be resized to fill the center space (it's not resizable or its max size prevents it) then it will be center aligned unless the child's alignment constraint has been set.
      Returns:
      the value of the center property
      See Also:

    • topProperty

      public final ObjectProperty<Node> topProperty()
      The node placed on the top edge of this border pane. If resizable, it will be resized to its preferred height and it's width will span the width of the border pane. If the node cannot be resized to fill the top space (it's not resizable or its max size prevents it) then it will be aligned top-left within the space unless the child's alignment constraint has been set.
      Returns:
      the node placed on the top edge of this border pane
      See Also:

    • setTop

      public final void setTop(Node value)
      Sets the value of the top property.
      Property description:
      The node placed on the top edge of this border pane. If resizable, it will be resized to its preferred height and it's width will span the width of the border pane. If the node cannot be resized to fill the top space (it's not resizable or its max size prevents it) then it will be aligned top-left within the space unless the child's alignment constraint has been set.
      Parameters:
      value - the value for the top property
      See Also:

    • getTop

      public final Node getTop()
      Gets the value of the top property.
      Property description:
      The node placed on the top edge of this border pane. If resizable, it will be resized to its preferred height and it's width will span the width of the border pane. If the node cannot be resized to fill the top space (it's not resizable or its max size prevents it) then it will be aligned top-left within the space unless the child's alignment constraint has been set.
      Returns:
      the value of the top property
      See Also:

    • bottomProperty

      public final ObjectProperty<Node> bottomProperty()
      The node placed on the bottom edge of this border pane. If resizable, it will be resized to its preferred height and it's width will span the width of the border pane. If the node cannot be resized to fill the bottom space (it's not resizable or its max size prevents it) then it will be aligned bottom-left within the space unless the child's alignment constraint has been set.
      Returns:
      the node placed on the bottom edge of this border pane
      See Also:

    • setBottom

      public final void setBottom(Node value)
      Sets the value of the bottom property.
      Property description:
      The node placed on the bottom edge of this border pane. If resizable, it will be resized to its preferred height and it's width will span the width of the border pane. If the node cannot be resized to fill the bottom space (it's not resizable or its max size prevents it) then it will be aligned bottom-left within the space unless the child's alignment constraint has been set.
      Parameters:
      value - the value for the bottom property
      See Also:

    • getBottom

      public final Node getBottom()
      Gets the value of the bottom property.
      Property description:
      The node placed on the bottom edge of this border pane. If resizable, it will be resized to its preferred height and it's width will span the width of the border pane. If the node cannot be resized to fill the bottom space (it's not resizable or its max size prevents it) then it will be aligned bottom-left within the space unless the child's alignment constraint has been set.
      Returns:
      the value of the bottom property
      See Also:

    • leftProperty

      public final ObjectProperty<Node> leftProperty()
      The node placed on the left edge of this border pane. If resizable, it will be resized to its preferred width and it's height will span the height of the border pane between the top and bottom nodes. If the node cannot be resized to fill the left space (it's not resizable or its max size prevents it) then it will be aligned top-left within the space unless the child's alignment constraint has been set.
      Returns:
      the node placed on the left edge of this border pane
      See Also:

    • setLeft

      public final void setLeft(Node value)
      Sets the value of the left property.
      Property description:
      The node placed on the left edge of this border pane. If resizable, it will be resized to its preferred width and it's height will span the height of the border pane between the top and bottom nodes. If the node cannot be resized to fill the left space (it's not resizable or its max size prevents it) then it will be aligned top-left within the space unless the child's alignment constraint has been set.
      Parameters:
      value - the value for the left property
      See Also:

    • getLeft

      public final Node getLeft()
      Gets the value of the left property.
      Property description:
      The node placed on the left edge of this border pane. If resizable, it will be resized to its preferred width and it's height will span the height of the border pane between the top and bottom nodes. If the node cannot be resized to fill the left space (it's not resizable or its max size prevents it) then it will be aligned top-left within the space unless the child's alignment constraint has been set.
      Returns:
      the value of the left property
      See Also:

    • rightProperty

      public final ObjectProperty<Node> rightProperty()
      The node placed on the right edge of this border pane. If resizable, it will be resized to its preferred width and it's height will span the height of the border pane between the top and bottom nodes. If the node cannot be resized to fill the right space (it's not resizable or its max size prevents it) then it will be aligned top-right within the space unless the child's alignment constraint has been set.
      Returns:
      the node placed on the right edge of this border pane
      See Also:

    • setRight

      public final void setRight(Node value)
      Sets the value of the right property.
      Property description:
      The node placed on the right edge of this border pane. If resizable, it will be resized to its preferred width and it's height will span the height of the border pane between the top and bottom nodes. If the node cannot be resized to fill the right space (it's not resizable or its max size prevents it) then it will be aligned top-right within the space unless the child's alignment constraint has been set.
      Parameters:
      value - the value for the right property
      See Also:

    • getRight

      public final Node getRight()
      Gets the value of the right property.
      Property description:
      The node placed on the right edge of this border pane. If resizable, it will be resized to its preferred width and it's height will span the height of the border pane between the top and bottom nodes. If the node cannot be resized to fill the right space (it's not resizable or its max size prevents it) then it will be aligned top-right within the space unless the child's alignment constraint has been set.
      Returns:
      the value of the right property
      See Also:

    • getContentBias

      public Orientation getContentBias()
      Description copied from class: Node
      Returns the orientation of a node's resizing bias for layout purposes. If the node type has no bias, returns null. If the node is resizable and it's height depends on its width, returns HORIZONTAL, else if its width depends on its height, returns VERTICAL.

      Resizable subclasses should override this method to return an appropriate value.

      Overrides:
      getContentBias in class Node
      Returns:
      null unless the center, right, bottom, left or top has a content bias.
      See Also: