Class HBox
- All Implemented Interfaces:
-
Styleable,EventTarget
public class HBox extends Pane
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.
| width | height | |
|---|---|---|
| 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_VALUE | Double.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.
| Constraint | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| hgrow | javafx.scene.layout.Priority | The horizontal grow priority for the child. |
| margin | javafx.geometry.Insets | Margin 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 Summary
| Type | Property | Description |
|---|---|---|
final ObjectProperty |
alignment |
The overall alignment of children within the hbox's width and height. |
final BooleanProperty |
fillHeight |
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. |
final DoubleProperty |
spacing |
The amount of horizontal space between each child in the hbox. |
Properties declared in class javafx.scene.layout.Region
background, border, cacheShape, centerShape, height, insets, maxHeight, maxWidth, minHeight, minWidth, opaqueInsets, padding, prefHeight, prefWidth, scaleShape, shape, snapToPixel, width
Properties declared in class javafx.scene.Parent
needsLayout
Properties declared in class javafx.scene.Node
accessibleHelp, accessibleRoleDescription, accessibleRole, accessibleText, blendMode, boundsInLocal, boundsInParent, cacheHint, cache, clip, cursor, depthTest, disabled, disable, effectiveNodeOrientation, effect, eventDispatcher, focused, focusTraversable, focusVisible, focusWithin, hover, id, inputMethodRequests, layoutBounds, layoutX, layoutY, localToParentTransform, localToSceneTransform, managed, mouseTransparent, nodeOrientation, onContextMenuRequested, onDragDetected, onDragDone, onDragDropped, onDragEntered, onDragExited, onDragOver, onInputMethodTextChanged, onKeyPressed, onKeyReleased, onKeyTyped, onMouseClicked, onMouseDragEntered, onMouseDragExited, onMouseDragged, onMouseDragOver, onMouseDragReleased, onMouseEntered, onMouseExited, onMouseMoved, onMousePressed, onMouseReleased, onRotate, onRotationFinished, onRotationStarted, onScrollFinished, onScroll, onScrollStarted, onSwipeDown, onSwipeLeft, onSwipeRight, onSwipeUp, onTouchMoved, onTouchPressed, onTouchReleased, onTouchStationary, onZoomFinished, onZoom, onZoomStarted, opacity, parent, pickOnBounds, pressed, rotate, rotationAxis, scaleX, scaleY, scaleZ, scene, style, translateX, translateY, translateZ, viewOrder, visible
Field Summary
Fields declared in class javafx.scene.layout.Region
USE_COMPUTED_SIZE, USE_PREF_SIZE
Fields declared in class javafx.scene.Node
BASELINE_OFFSET_SAME_AS_HEIGHT
Constructor Summary
| Constructor | Description |
|---|---|
HBox() |
Creates an HBox layout with spacing = 0. |
HBox |
Creates an HBox layout with the specified spacing between children. |
HBox |
Creates an HBox layout with the specified spacing between children. |
HBox |
Creates an HBox layout with spacing = 0. |
Method Summary
| Modifier and Type | Method | Description |
|---|---|---|
final ObjectProperty |
alignmentProperty() |
The overall alignment of children within the hbox's width and height. |
static void |
clearConstraints |
Removes all hbox constraints from the child node. |
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. |
final Pos |
getAlignment() |
Gets the value of the alignment property. |
static List |
getClassCssMetaData() |
Gets the CssMetaData associated with this class, which may include the CssMetaData of its superclasses. |
Orientation |
getContentBias() |
Returns the orientation of a node's resizing bias for layout purposes. |
List |
getCssMetaData() |
This method should delegate to Node.getClassCssMetaData() so that a Node's CssMetaData can be accessed without the need for reflection. |
static Priority |
getHgrow |
Returns the child's hgrow constraint if set. |
static Insets |
getMargin |
Returns the child's margin constraint if set. |
final double |
getSpacing() |
Gets the value of the spacing property. |
final boolean |
isFillHeight() |
Gets the value of the fillHeight property. |
final void |
setAlignment |
Sets the value of the alignment property. |
final void |
setFillHeight |
Sets the value of the fillHeight property. |
static void |
setHgrow |
Sets the horizontal grow priority for the child when contained by an hbox. |
static void |
setMargin |
Sets the margin for the child when contained by an hbox. |
final void |
setSpacing |
Sets the value of the spacing property. |
final DoubleProperty |
spacingProperty() |
The amount of horizontal space between each child in the hbox. |
Methods declared in class javafx.scene.layout.Pane
getChildren
Methods declared in class javafx.scene.layout.Region
backgroundProperty, borderProperty, cacheShapeProperty, centerShapeProperty, computeMaxHeight, computeMaxWidth, computeMinHeight, computeMinWidth, computePrefHeight, computePrefWidth, getBackground, getBorder, getHeight, getInsets, getMaxHeight, getMaxWidth, getMinHeight, getMinWidth, getOpaqueInsets, getPadding, getPrefHeight, getPrefWidth, getShape, getUserAgentStylesheet, getWidth, heightProperty, insetsProperty, isCacheShape, isCenterShape, isResizable, isScaleShape, isSnapToPixel, layoutInArea, layoutInArea, layoutInArea, layoutInArea, maxHeight, maxHeightProperty, maxWidth, maxWidthProperty, minHeight, minHeightProperty, minWidth, minWidthProperty, opaqueInsetsProperty, paddingProperty, positionInArea, positionInArea, prefHeight, prefHeightProperty, prefWidth, prefWidthProperty, resize, scaleShapeProperty, setBackground, setBorder, setCacheShape, setCenterShape, setHeight, setMaxHeight, setMaxSize, setMaxWidth, setMinHeight, setMinSize, setMinWidth, setOpaqueInsets, setPadding, setPrefHeight, setPrefSize, setPrefWidth, setScaleShape, setShape, setSnapToPixel, setWidth, shapeProperty, snappedBottomInset, snappedLeftInset, snappedRightInset, snappedTopInset, snapPosition, snapPositionX, snapPositionY, snapSize, snapSizeX, snapSizeY, snapSpace, snapSpaceX, snapSpaceY, snapToPixelProperty, widthProperty
Methods declared in class javafx.scene.Parent
getBaselineOffset, getChildrenUnmodifiable, getManagedChildren, getStylesheets, isNeedsLayout, layout, layoutChildren, needsLayoutProperty, requestLayout, requestParentLayout, setNeedsLayout, updateBounds
Methods declared in class javafx.scene.Node
accessibleHelpProperty, accessibleRoleDescriptionProperty, accessibleRoleProperty, accessibleTextProperty, addEventFilter, addEventHandler, applyCss, autosize, blendModeProperty, boundsInLocalProperty, boundsInParentProperty, buildEventDispatchChain, cacheHintProperty, cacheProperty, clipProperty, computeAreaInScreen, contains, contains, cursorProperty, depthTestProperty, disabledProperty, disableProperty, effectiveNodeOrientationProperty, effectProperty, eventDispatcherProperty, executeAccessibleAction, fireEvent, focusedProperty, focusTraversableProperty, focusVisibleProperty, focusWithinProperty, getAccessibleHelp, getAccessibleRole, getAccessibleRoleDescription, getAccessibleText, getBlendMode, getBoundsInLocal, getBoundsInParent, getCacheHint, getClip, getCursor, getDepthTest, getEffect, getEffectiveNodeOrientation, getEventDispatcher, getId, getInitialCursor, getInitialFocusTraversable, getInputMethodRequests, getLayoutBounds, getLayoutX, getLayoutY, getLocalToParentTransform, getLocalToSceneTransform, getNodeOrientation, getOnContextMenuRequested, getOnDragDetected, getOnDragDone, getOnDragDropped, getOnDragEntered, getOnDragExited, getOnDragOver, getOnInputMethodTextChanged, getOnKeyPressed, getOnKeyReleased, getOnKeyTyped, getOnMouseClicked, getOnMouseDragEntered, getOnMouseDragExited, getOnMouseDragged, getOnMouseDragOver, getOnMouseDragReleased, getOnMouseEntered, getOnMouseExited, getOnMouseMoved, getOnMousePressed, getOnMouseReleased, getOnRotate, getOnRotationFinished, getOnRotationStarted, getOnScroll, getOnScrollFinished, getOnScrollStarted, getOnSwipeDown, getOnSwipeLeft, getOnSwipeRight, getOnSwipeUp, getOnTouchMoved, getOnTouchPressed, getOnTouchReleased, getOnTouchStationary, getOnZoom, getOnZoomFinished, getOnZoomStarted, getOpacity, getParent, getProperties, getPseudoClassStates, getRotate, getRotationAxis, getScaleX, getScaleY, getScaleZ, getScene, getStyle, getStyleableParent, getStyleClass, getTransforms, getTranslateX, getTranslateY, getTranslateZ, getTypeSelector, getUserData, getViewOrder, hasProperties, hoverProperty, idProperty, inputMethodRequestsProperty, intersects, intersects, isCache, isDisable, isDisabled, isFocused, isFocusTraversable, isFocusVisible, isFocusWithin, isHover, isManaged, isMouseTransparent, isPickOnBounds, isPressed, isVisible, layoutBoundsProperty, layoutXProperty, layoutYProperty, localToParent, localToParent, localToParent, localToParent, localToParent, localToParentTransformProperty, localToScene, localToScene, localToScene, localToScene, localToScene, localToScene, localToScene, localToScene, localToScene, localToScene, localToSceneTransformProperty, localToScreen, localToScreen, localToScreen, localToScreen, localToScreen, lookup, lookupAll, managedProperty, mouseTransparentProperty, nodeOrientationProperty, notifyAccessibleAttributeChanged, onContextMenuRequestedProperty, onDragDetectedProperty, onDragDoneProperty, onDragDroppedProperty, onDragEnteredProperty, onDragExitedProperty, onDragOverProperty, onInputMethodTextChangedProperty, onKeyPressedProperty, onKeyReleasedProperty, onKeyTypedProperty, onMouseClickedProperty, onMouseDragEnteredProperty, onMouseDragExitedProperty, onMouseDraggedProperty, onMouseDragOverProperty, onMouseDragReleasedProperty, onMouseEnteredProperty, onMouseExitedProperty, onMouseMovedProperty, onMousePressedProperty, onMouseReleasedProperty, onRotateProperty, onRotationFinishedProperty, onRotationStartedProperty, onScrollFinishedProperty, onScrollProperty, onScrollStartedProperty, onSwipeDownProperty, onSwipeLeftProperty, onSwipeRightProperty, onSwipeUpProperty, onTouchMovedProperty, onTouchPressedProperty, onTouchReleasedProperty, onTouchStationaryProperty, onZoomFinishedProperty, onZoomProperty, onZoomStartedProperty, opacityProperty, parentProperty, parentToLocal, parentToLocal, parentToLocal, parentToLocal, parentToLocal, pickOnBoundsProperty, pressedProperty, pseudoClassStateChanged, queryAccessibleAttribute, relocate, removeEventFilter, removeEventHandler, requestFocus, requestFocusTraversal, resizeRelocate, rotateProperty, rotationAxisProperty, scaleXProperty, scaleYProperty, scaleZProperty, sceneProperty, sceneToLocal, sceneToLocal, sceneToLocal, sceneToLocal, sceneToLocal, sceneToLocal, sceneToLocal, sceneToLocal, screenToLocal, screenToLocal, screenToLocal, setAccessibleHelp, setAccessibleRole, setAccessibleRoleDescription, setAccessibleText, setBlendMode, setCache, setCacheHint, setClip, setCursor, setDepthTest, setDisable, setDisabled, setEffect, setEventDispatcher, setEventHandler, setFocused, setFocusTraversable, setHover, setId, setInputMethodRequests, setLayoutX, setLayoutY, setManaged, setMouseTransparent, setNodeOrientation, setOnContextMenuRequested, setOnDragDetected, setOnDragDone, setOnDragDropped, setOnDragEntered, setOnDragExited, setOnDragOver, setOnInputMethodTextChanged, setOnKeyPressed, setOnKeyReleased, setOnKeyTyped, setOnMouseClicked, setOnMouseDragEntered, setOnMouseDragExited, setOnMouseDragged, setOnMouseDragOver, setOnMouseDragReleased, setOnMouseEntered, setOnMouseExited, setOnMouseMoved, setOnMousePressed, setOnMouseReleased, setOnRotate, setOnRotationFinished, setOnRotationStarted, setOnScroll, setOnScrollFinished, setOnScrollStarted, setOnSwipeDown, setOnSwipeLeft, setOnSwipeRight, setOnSwipeUp, setOnTouchMoved, setOnTouchPressed, setOnTouchReleased, setOnTouchStationary, setOnZoom, setOnZoomFinished, setOnZoomStarted, setOpacity, setPickOnBounds, setPressed, setRotate, setRotationAxis, setScaleX, setScaleY, setScaleZ, setStyle, setTranslateX, setTranslateY, setTranslateZ, setUserData, setViewOrder, setVisible, snapshot, snapshot, startDragAndDrop, startFullDrag, styleProperty, toBack, toFront, toString, translateXProperty, translateYProperty, translateZProperty, usesMirroring, viewOrderProperty, visibleProperty
Methods declared in class java.lang.Object
clone, equals, finalize, getClass, hashCode, notify, notifyAll, wait, wait, wait
Methods declared in interface javafx.css.Styleable
getStyleableNode
Property Details
spacing
public final DoubleProperty spacingProperty
- See Also:
alignment
public final ObjectProperty<Pos> alignmentProperty
- See Also:
fillHeight
public final BooleanProperty fillHeightProperty
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.- See Also:
Constructor Details
HBox
public HBox()
HBox layout with spacing = 0.HBox
public HBox(double spacing)
HBox layout with the specified spacing between children.- Parameters:
-
spacing- the amount of horizontal space between each child
HBox
public HBox(Node... children)
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)
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)
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)
- 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)
- Parameters:
-
child- the child mode of the hbox -
value- the margin of space around the child
getMargin
public static Insets getMargin(Node child)
- 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)
- Parameters:
-
child- the child node
spacingProperty
public final DoubleProperty spacingProperty()
- Returns:
- the amount of horizontal space between each child in the hbox
- See Also:
setSpacing
public final void setSpacing(double value)
spacing property.- Property description:
- The amount of horizontal space between each child in the hbox.
- Parameters:
-
value- the value for thespacingproperty - See Also:
getSpacing
public final double getSpacing()
spacing property.- Property description:
- The amount of horizontal space between each child in the hbox.
- Returns:
- the value of the
spacingproperty - See Also:
alignmentProperty
public final ObjectProperty<Pos> alignmentProperty()
- Returns:
- the overall alignment of children within the hbox's width and height
- See Also:
setAlignment
public final void setAlignment(Pos value)
alignment property.- Property description:
- The overall alignment of children within the hbox's width and height.
- Parameters:
-
value- the value for thealignmentproperty - See Also:
getAlignment
public final Pos getAlignment()
alignment property.- Property description:
- The overall alignment of children within the hbox's width and height.
- Returns:
- the value of the
alignmentproperty - See Also:
fillHeightProperty
public final BooleanProperty fillHeightProperty()
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)
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
alignmentvpos 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 thefillHeightproperty - See Also:
isFillHeight
public final boolean isFillHeight()
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
alignmentvpos 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
fillHeightproperty - See Also:
getContentBias
public Orientation getContentBias()
NodeResizable subclasses should override this method to return an appropriate value.
- Overrides:
-
getContentBiasin classNode - Returns:
- null unless one of its children has a content bias.
- See Also:
getClassCssMetaData
public static List<CssMetaData<? extends Styleable,?>> getClassCssMetaData()
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()
Node.getClassCssMetaData() so that a Node's CssMetaData can be accessed without the need for reflection.- Specified by:
-
getCssMetaDatain interfaceStyleable - Overrides:
-
getCssMetaDatain classRegion - Returns:
- The CssMetaData associated with this node, which may include the CssMetaData of its superclasses.
- Since:
- JavaFX 8.0
© 2008, 2025, Oracle and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.
Documentation extracted from JavaFX API Documentation.
Licensed under the GNU General Public License, version 2, with the Classpath Exception.
Java, JavaFX and OpenJDK are trademarks or registered trademarks of Oracle and/or its affiliates.