Class HBox

java.lang.Object
javafx.scene.Node
javafx.scene.Parent
javafx.scene.layout.Region
javafx.scene.layout.Pane
javafx.scene.layout.HBox
All Implemented Interfaces:
Styleable, EventTarget
public class HBox extends Pane
HBox lays out its children in a single horizontal row. If the hbox has a border and/or padding set, then the contents will be laid out within those insets.

HBox example: 


     HBox hbox = new HBox(8); // spacing = 8
     hbox.getChildren().addAll(new Label("Name:), new TextBox());
HBox will resize children (if resizable) to their preferred widths and uses its fillHeight property to determine whether to resize their heights to fill its own height or keep their heights to their preferred (fillHeight defaults to true). The alignment of the content is controlled by the alignment property, which defaults to Pos.TOP_LEFT.

If an hbox is resized larger than its preferred width, by default it will keep children to their preferred widths, leaving the extra space unused. If an application wishes to have one or more children be allocated that extra space it may optionally set an hgrow constraint on the child. See "Optional Layout Constraints" for details.

HBox lays out each managed child regardless of the child's visible property value; unmanaged children are ignored.

Resizable Range

An hbox's parent will resize the hbox within the hbox's resizable range during layout. By default the hbox computes this range based on its content as outlined in the table below.

HBox Resize Table
widthheight
minimum left/right insets plus the sum of each child's min width plus spacing between each child. top/bottom insets plus the largest of the children's min heights.
preferred left/right insets plus the sum of each child's pref width plus spacing between each child. top/bottom insets plus the largest of the children's pref heights.
maximum Double.MAX_VALUEDouble.MAX_VALUE

An hbox'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.

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


     hbox.setPrefWidth(400);
Applications may restore the computed values by setting these properties back to USE_COMPUTED_SIZE.

HBox 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 the hbox.

Optional Layout Constraints

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

HBox Constraint Table
ConstraintTypeDescription
hgrowjavafx.scene.layout.PriorityThe horizontal grow priority for the child.
marginjavafx.geometry.InsetsMargin space around the outside of the child.

For example, if an hbox needs the TextField to be allocated all extra space: 


     HBox hbox = new HBox();
     TextField field = new TextField();
     HBox.setHgrow(field, Priority.ALWAYS);
     hbox.getChildren().addAll(new Label("Search:"), field, new Button("Go"));
If more than one child has the same grow priority set, then the hbox will allocate equal amounts of space to each. HBox will only grow a child up to its maximum width, so if the child has a max width other than Double.MAX_VALUE, the application may need to override the max to allow it to grow. For example: 

     HBox hbox = new HBox();
     Button button1 = new Button("Add");
     Button button2 = new Button("Remove");
     HBox.setHgrow(button1, Priority.ALWAYS);
     HBox.setHgrow(button2, Priority.ALWAYS);
     button1.setMaxWidth(Double.MAX_VALUE);
     button2.setMaxWidth(Double.MAX_VALUE);
     hbox.getChildren().addAll(button1, button2);
Since:
JavaFX 2.0

  • Property Details

  • Constructor Details

    • HBox

      public HBox()
      Creates an HBox layout with spacing = 0.

    • HBox

      public HBox(double spacing)
      Creates an HBox layout with the specified spacing between children.
      Parameters:
      spacing - the amount of horizontal space between each child

    • HBox

      public HBox(Node... children)
      Creates an HBox layout with spacing = 0.
      Parameters:
      children - the initial set of children for this pane
      Since:
      JavaFX 8.0

    • HBox

      public HBox(double spacing, Node... children)
      Creates an HBox layout with the specified spacing between children.
      Parameters:
      spacing - the amount of horizontal space between each child
      children - the initial set of children for this pane
      Since:
      JavaFX 8.0

  • Method Details

    • setHgrow

      public static void setHgrow(Node child, Priority value)
      Sets the horizontal grow priority for the child when contained by an hbox. If set, the hbox will use the priority value to allocate additional space if the hbox is resized larger than its preferred width. If multiple hbox children have the same horizontal grow priority, then the extra space will be split evenly between them. If no horizontal grow priority is set on a child, the hbox will never allocate any additional horizontal space for that child.

      Setting the value to null will remove the constraint.

      Parameters:
      child - the child of an hbox
      value - the horizontal grow priority for the child

    • getHgrow

      public static Priority getHgrow(Node child)
      Returns the child's hgrow constraint if set.
      Parameters:
      child - the child node of an hbox
      Returns:
      the horizontal grow priority for the child or null if no priority was set

    • setMargin

      public static void setMargin(Node child, Insets value)
      Sets the margin for the child when contained by an hbox. If set, the hbox will layout the child with the margin space around it. Setting the value to null will remove the constraint.
      Parameters:
      child - the child mode of the hbox
      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 an hbox
      Returns:
      the margin for the child or null if no margin was set

    • clearConstraints

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

    • spacingProperty

      public final DoubleProperty spacingProperty()
      The amount of horizontal space between each child in the hbox.
      Returns:
      the amount of horizontal space between each child in the hbox
      See Also:

    • setSpacing

      public final void setSpacing(double value)
      Sets the value of the spacing property.
      Property description:
      The amount of horizontal space between each child in the hbox.
      Parameters:
      value - the value for the spacing property
      See Also:

    • getSpacing

      public final double getSpacing()
      Gets the value of the spacing property.
      Property description:
      The amount of horizontal space between each child in the hbox.
      Returns:
      the value of the spacing property
      See Also:

    • alignmentProperty

      public final ObjectProperty<Pos> alignmentProperty()
      The overall alignment of children within the hbox's width and height.
      Returns:
      the overall alignment of children within the hbox's width and height
      See Also:

    • setAlignment

      public final void setAlignment(Pos value)
      Sets the value of the alignment property.
      Property description:
      The overall alignment of children within the hbox's width and height.
      Parameters:
      value - the value for the alignment property
      See Also:

    • getAlignment

      public final Pos getAlignment()
      Gets the value of the alignment property.
      Property description:
      The overall alignment of children within the hbox's width and height.
      Returns:
      the value of the alignment property
      See Also:

    • fillHeightProperty

      public final BooleanProperty fillHeightProperty()
      Whether or not resizable children will be resized to fill the full height of the hbox or be resized to their preferred height and aligned according to the alignment vpos value. Note that if the hbox vertical alignment is set to BASELINE, then this property will be ignored and children will be resized to their preferred heights.
      Returns:
      true if resizable children will be resized to fill the full height of the hbox
      See Also:

    • setFillHeight

      public final void setFillHeight(boolean value)
      Sets the value of the fillHeight property.
      Property description:
      Whether or not resizable children will be resized to fill the full height of the hbox or be resized to their preferred height and aligned according to the alignment vpos value. Note that if the hbox vertical alignment is set to BASELINE, then this property will be ignored and children will be resized to their preferred heights.
      Parameters:
      value - the value for the fillHeight property
      See Also:

    • isFillHeight

      public final boolean isFillHeight()
      Gets the value of the fillHeight property.
      Property description:
      Whether or not resizable children will be resized to fill the full height of the hbox or be resized to their preferred height and aligned according to the alignment vpos value. Note that if the hbox vertical alignment is set to BASELINE, then this property will be ignored and children will be resized to their preferred heights.
      Returns:
      the value of the fillHeight 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 one of its children has a content bias.
      See Also:

    • getClassCssMetaData

      public static List<CssMetaData<? extends Styleable,?>> getClassCssMetaData()
      Gets the CssMetaData associated with this class, which may include the CssMetaData of its superclasses.
      Returns:
      the CssMetaData
      Since:
      JavaFX 8.0

    • getCssMetaData

      public List<CssMetaData<? extends Styleable,?>> getCssMetaData()
      This method should delegate to Node.getClassCssMetaData() so that a Node's CssMetaData can be accessed without the need for reflection.
      Specified by:
      getCssMetaData in interface Styleable
      Overrides:
      getCssMetaData in class Region
      Returns:
      The CssMetaData associated with this node, which may include the CssMetaData of its superclasses.
      Since:
      JavaFX 8.0