Data Binding Library

Basic text field binding

Gradle (Module:app) Configuration

android {
    ....
    dataBinding {
        enabled = true
    }
}

Data model

public class Item {
    public String name;
    public String description;

    public Item(String name, String description) {
        this.name = name;
        this.description = description;
    }
}

Layout XML

The first step is wrapping your layout in a <layout> tag, adding a <data> element, and adding a <variable> element for your data model.

Then you can bind XML attributes to fields in the data model using @{model.fieldname}, where model is the variable’s name and fieldname is the field you want to access.

item_detail_activity.xml:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<layout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">
   <data>
       <variable name="item" type="com.example.Item"/>
   </data>

   <LinearLayout
       android:orientation="vertical"
       android:layout_width="match_parent"
       android:layout_height="match_parent">

       <TextView
           android:layout_width="wrap_content"
           android:layout_height="wrap_content"
           android:text="@{item.name}"/>

       <TextView
           android:layout_width="wrap_content"
           android:layout_height="wrap_content"
           android:text="@{item.description}"/>

   </LinearLayout>
</layout>

For each XML layout file properly configured with bindings, the Android Gradle plugin generates a corresponding class : bindings. Because we have a layout named item_detail_activity, the corresponding generated binding class is called ItemDetailActivityBinding.

This binding can then be used in an Activity like so:

public class ItemDetailActivity extends Activity {
    @Override
    protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
       super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
       ItemDetailActivityBinding binding = DataBindingUtil.setContentView(this, R.layout.item_detail_activity);
       Item item = new Item("Example item", "This is an example item.");
       binding.setItem(item);
    }
}

Built-in two-way Data Binding

Two-way Data-Binding supports the following attributes:

|Element|Properties |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|--- |AbsListView|android:selectedItemPosition |CalendarView|android:date |CompoundButton|android:checked |DatePicker|- android:year- android:month- android:day |EditText|android:text |NumberPicker|android:value |RadioGroup|android:checkedButton |RatingBar|android:rating |SeekBar|android:progress |TabHost|android:currentTab |TextView|android:text |TimePicker|- android:hour- android:minute |ToggleButton|android:checked |Switch|android:checked

Usage

<layout ...>
    <data>
        <variable type="com.example.myapp.User" name="user"/>
    </data>
    <RelativeLayout ...>
        <EditText android:text="@={user.firstName}" .../>
    </RelativeLayout>
</layout>

Notice that the Binding expression @={} has an additional =, which is necessary for the two-way Binding. It is not possible to use methods in two-way Binding expressions.

Custom event using lambda expression

Define Interface

public interface ClickHandler {
    public void onButtonClick(User user);
}

Create Model class

public class User {
    private String name;

    public User(String name) {
        this.name = name;
    }

    public String getName() {
        return name;
    }

    public void setName(String name) {
        this.name = name;
    }
}

Layout XML

<layout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">

    <data>
        <variable
            name="handler"
            type="com.example.ClickHandler"/>

        <variable
            name="user"
            type="com.example.User"/>
    </data>

    <RelativeLayout
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="match_parent">

        <Button
            android:layout_width="wrap_content"
            android:layout_height="wrap_content"
            android:text="@{user.name}"
            android:onClick="@{() -> handler.onButtonClick(user)}"/>
    </RelativeLayout>
</layout>

Activity code :

public class MainActivity extends Activity implements ClickHandler {

    private ActivityMainBinding binding;
    @Override
    protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
        binding = DataBindingUtil.setContentView(this,R.layout.activity_main);
        binding.setUser(new User("DataBinding User"));
        binding.setHandler(this);
    }

    @Override
    public void onButtonClick(User user) {
        Toast.makeText(MainActivity.this,"Welcome " + user.getName(),Toast.LENGTH_LONG).show();
    }
}

For some view listener which is not available in xml code but can be set in java code, it can be bind with custom binding.

Custom class

public class BindingUtil {
    @BindingAdapter({"bind:autoAdapter"})
    public static void setAdapter(AutoCompleteTextView view, ArrayAdapter<String> pArrayAdapter) {
        view.setAdapter(pArrayAdapter);
    }
    @BindingAdapter({"bind:onKeyListener"})
    public static void setOnKeyListener(AutoCompleteTextView view , View.OnKeyListener pOnKeyListener)
    {
        view.setOnKeyListener(pOnKeyListener);
    }
}

Handler class

public class Handler extends BaseObservable {
    private ArrayAdapter<String> roleAdapter;

    public ArrayAdapter<String> getRoleAdapter() {
        return roleAdapter;
    }
    public void setRoleAdapter(ArrayAdapter<String> pRoleAdapter) {
        roleAdapter = pRoleAdapter;
    }
}

XML

<layout
    xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    xmlns:bind="http://schemas.android.com/tools" >

    <data>
        <variable
            name="handler"
            type="com.example.Handler" />
    </data>

    <LinearLayout
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="match_parent"
        android:orientation="vertical" >

        <AutoCompleteTextView
            android:layout_width="match_parent"
            android:layout_height="wrap_content"
            android:singleLine="true"
            bind:autoAdapter="@{handler.roleAdapter}" />

    </LinearLayout>
</layout>

Default value in Data Binding

The Preview pane displays default values for data binding expressions if provided.

For example :

android:layout_height="@{@dimen/main_layout_height, default=wrap_content}"

It will take wrap_content while designing and will act as a wrap_content in preview pane.

Another example is

android:text="@{user.name, default=`Preview Text`}"

It will display Preview Text in preview pane but when you run it in device/emulator actual text binded to it will be displayed

Binding with an accessor method

If your model has private methods, the databinding library still allows you to access them in your view without using the full name of the method.

Data model

public class Item {
    private String name;

    public String getName() {
        return name;
    }
}

Layout XML

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<layout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">
   <data>
       <variable name="item" type="com.example.Item"/>
   </data>

   <LinearLayout
       android:orientation="vertical"
       android:layout_width="match_parent"
       android:layout_height="match_parent">

       <!-- Since the "name" field is private on our data model,
            this binding will utilize the public getName() method instead. -->
       <TextView
           android:layout_width="wrap_content"
           android:layout_height="wrap_content"
           android:text="@{item.name}"/>

   </LinearLayout>
</layout>

Databinding in Dialog

public void doSomething() {
    DialogTestBinding binding = DataBindingUtil
            .inflate(LayoutInflater.from(context), R.layout.dialog_test, null, false);

    Dialog dialog = new Dialog(context);
    dialog.setContentView(binding.getRoot());
    dialog.show();
}

Referencing classes

Data model

public class Item {
    private String name;

    public String getName() {
        return name;
    }
}

Layout XML

You must import referenced classes, just as you would in Java.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<layout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">
   <data>
       <import type="android.view.View"/>
       <variable name="item" type="com.example.Item"/>
   </data>

   <LinearLayout
       android:orientation="vertical"
       android:layout_width="match_parent"
       android:layout_height="match_parent">

       <!-- We reference the View class to set the visibility of this TextView -->
       <TextView
           android:layout_width="wrap_content"
           android:layout_height="wrap_content"
           android:text="@{item.name}"
           android:visibility="@{item.name == null ? View.VISIBLE : View.GONE"/>

   </LinearLayout>
</layout>

Note: The package java.lang.* is imported automatically by the system. (The same is made by JVM for Java)

Databinding in Fragment

Data Model

public class Item {
    private String name;

    public String getName() {
        return name;
    }

    public void setName(String name){
        this.name = name;
    }

}

Layout XML

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<layout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">
   <data>
       <variable name="item" type="com.example.Item"/>
   </data>

   <LinearLayout
       android:orientation="vertical"
       android:layout_width="match_parent"
       android:layout_height="match_parent">

       <TextView
           android:layout_width="wrap_content"
           android:layout_height="wrap_content"
           android:text="@{item.name}"/>

   </LinearLayout>
</layout>

Fragment

@Override
public View onCreateView(LayoutInflater inflater, @Nullable ViewGroup container, @Nullable Bundle savedInstanceState) {
    FragmentTest binding = DataBindingUtil.inflate(inflater, R.layout.fragment_test, container, false);
    Item item = new Item();
    item.setName("Thomas");
    binding.setItem(item);
    return binding.getRoot();
}

Data binding in RecyclerView Adapter

It’s also possible to use data binding within your RecyclerView Adapter.

Data model

public class Item {
    private String name;

    public String getName() {
        return name;
    }
}

XML Layout

<TextView
       android:layout_width="wrap_content"
       android:layout_height="wrap_content"
       android:text="@{item.name}"/>

Adapter class

public class ListItemAdapter extends RecyclerView.Adapter<RecyclerView.ViewHolder> {

    private Activity host;
    private List<Item> items;

    public ListItemAdapter(Activity activity, List<Item> items) {
        this.host = activity;
        this.items = items;
    }

    @Override
    public RecyclerView.ViewHolder onCreateViewHolder(ViewGroup parent, int viewType) {
        // inflate layout and retrieve binding
        ListItemBinding binding = DataBindingUtil.inflate(host.getLayoutInflater(),
                R.layout.list_item, parent, false);

        return new ItemViewHolder(binding);
    }

    @Override
    public void onBindViewHolder(RecyclerView.ViewHolder holder, int position) {
        Item item = items.get(position);

        ItemViewHolder itemViewHolder = (ItemViewHolder)holder;
        itemViewHolder.bindItem(item);
    }

    @Override
    public int getItemCount() {
        return items.size();
    }

    private static class ItemViewHolder extends RecyclerView.ViewHolder {
        ListItemBinding binding;

        ItemViewHolder(ListItemBinding binding) {
            super(binding.getRoot());
            this.binding = binding;
        }

        void bindItem(Item item) {
            binding.setItem(item);
            binding.executePendingBindings();
        }
    }
}

Click listener with Binding

Create interface for clickHandler

public interface ClickHandler {
    public void onButtonClick(View v);
}

Layout XML

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<layout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">

    <data>
        <variable
            name="handler"
            type="com.example.ClickHandler"/>
    </data>

    <RelativeLayout
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="match_parent">

        <Button
            android:layout_width="wrap_content"
            android:layout_height="wrap_content"
            android:text="click me"
            android:onClick="@{handler.onButtonClick}"/>
    </RelativeLayout>
</layout>

Handle event in your Activity

public class MainActivity extends Activity implements ClickHandler {

    private ActivityMainBinding binding;
    @Override
    protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
        binding = DataBindingUtil.setContentView(this,R.layout.activity_main);
        binding.setHandler(this);
    }

    @Override
    public void onButtonClick(View v) {
        Toast.makeText(context,"Button clicked",Toast.LENGTH_LONG).show();
    }
}

DataBinding with custom variables(int,boolean)

Sometimes we need to perform basic operations like hide/show view based on single value, for that single variable we cannot create model or it is not good practice to create model for that. DataBinding supports basic datatypes to perform those oprations.

<layout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">

    <data>

        <import type="android.view.View" />

        <variable
            name="selected"
            type="Boolean" />

    </data>

    <RelativeLayout
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="match_parent">

        <TextView
            android:layout_width="wrap_content"
            android:layout_height="wrap_content"
            android:text="Hello World"
            android:visibility="@{selected ? View.VISIBLE : View.GONE}" />

    </RelativeLayout>
</layout>

and set its value from java class.

binding.setSelected(true);

Layout XML

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<layout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">
   <data>

   </data>

   <LinearLayout
       android:orientation="vertical"
       android:layout_width="match_parent"
       android:layout_height="match_parent">

       <ProgressBar
        android:id="@+id/progressBar"
        style="?android:attr/progressBarStyleSmall"
        android:layout_width="wrap_content"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"/>

        <ImageView
        android:id="@+id/img"
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="100dp"
        app:imageUrl="@{url}"
        app:progressbar="@{progressBar}"/>

   </LinearLayout>
</layout>

BindingAdapter method

@BindingAdapter({"imageUrl","progressbar"})
public static void loadImage(ImageView view, String imageUrl, ProgressBar progressBar){
    Glide.with(view.getContext()).load(imageUrl)
                        .listener(new RequestListener<String, GlideDrawable>() {
                    @Override
                    public boolean onException(Exception e, String model, Target<GlideDrawable> target, boolean isFirstResource) {
                        return false;
                    }

                    @Override
                    public boolean onResourceReady(GlideDrawable resource, String model, Target<GlideDrawable> target, boolean isFromMemoryCache, boolean isFirstResource) {
                        progressBar.setVisibility(View.GONE);
                        return false;
                    }
                }).into(view);
}

Remarks

Setup

Before using data binding, you must enable the plugin in your build.gradle.

android {
    ....
    dataBinding {
        enabled = true
    }
}

Note: Data binding was added to the Android Gradle plugin in version 1.5.0

Binding class names

The data binding plugin generates a binding class name by converting your layout’s file name to Pascal case and adding “Binding” to the end. Thus item_detail_activity.xml will generate a class named ItemDetailActivityBinding.

Resources

Official documentation

Data Binding Library

Basic text field binding

Built-in two-way Data Binding

Custom event using lambda expression

Default value in Data Binding

Binding with an accessor method

Databinding in Dialog

Referencing classes

Databinding in Fragment

Data binding in RecyclerView Adapter

Data model

XML Layout

Adapter class

Click listener with Binding

DataBinding with custom variables(int,boolean)

Pass widget as reference in BindingAdapter

Remarks