1 page.title=UI Overview 2 @jd:body 3 4 <p>Android's system UI provides the framework on top of which you build your app. Important aspects 5 include the Home screen experience, global device navigation, and notifications.</p> 6 <p>Your app will play an important part in keeping the overall Android experience consistent and 7 enjoyable to use. At the end of this chapter we introduce the main elements for achieving this goal 8 in your app.</p> 9 <p>Read on for a quick overview of the most important aspects of the Android user interface.</p> 10 11 <h2 id="home-all-apps-recents">Home, All Apps, and Recents</h2> 12 13 <div class="vspace size-1"> </div> 14 15 <div class="layout-content-row"> 16 <div class="layout-content-col span-4"> 17 18 <img src="{@docRoot}design/media/ui_overview_home_screen.png"> 19 20 <h4>Home screen</h4> 21 <p>Home is a customizable space that houses app shortcuts, folders and widgets. Navigate between 22 different home screen panels by swiping left and right.</p> 23 <p>The Favorites Tray at the bottom always keeps your most important shortcuts and folders in view 24 regardless of which panel is currently showing.</p> 25 <p>Access the entire collection of apps and widgets by touching the All Apps button at the center of 26 the Favorites Tray.</p> 27 28 </div> 29 <div class="layout-content-col span-4"> 30 31 <img src="{@docRoot}design/media/ui_overview_all_apps.png"> 32 33 <h4>All apps screen</h4> 34 <p>The All Apps screen lets you browse the entire set of apps and widgets that are installed on your 35 device.</p> 36 <p>Users can drag an app or widget icon from the All Apps screen and place it in any empty location on 37 any Home screen.</p> 38 39 </div> 40 <div class="layout-content-col span-4"> 41 42 <img src="{@docRoot}design/media/ui_overview_recents.png"> 43 44 <h4>Recents screen</h4> 45 <p>Recents provides an efficient way of switching between recently used applications. It provides a 46 clear navigation path between multiple ongoing tasks.</p> 47 <p>The Recents button at the right side of the navigation bar displays the apps that the user has 48 interacted with most recently. They are organized in reverse chronological order with the most 49 recently used app at the bottom.</p> 50 <p>Switch to an app by touching it. Remove an item by swiping left or right.</p> 51 52 </div> 53 </div> 54 55 <h2 id="system-bars">System Bars</h2> 56 57 <p>The system bars are screen areas dedicated to the display of notifications, communication of device 58 status, and device navigation. Typically the system bars are displayed concurrently with your app. 59 Apps that display immersive content, such as movies or images, can temporarily hide the system bars 60 to allow the user to enjoy full screen content without distraction.</p> 61 62 <img src="{@docRoot}design/media/ui_overview_system_ui.png"> 63 64 <div class="with-callouts"> 65 66 <ol> 67 <li> 68 <h4>Status Bar</h4> 69 <p>Displays pending notifications on the left and status, such as time, battery level, or signal 70 strength, on the right. Swipe down from the status bar to show notification details.</p> 71 </li> 72 <li> 73 <h4>Navigation Bar</h4> 74 <p>New for phones in Android 4.0, the navigation bar is present only on devices that don't have 75 the traditional hardware keys. It houses the device navigation controls Back, Home, and 76 Recents, and also displays a menu for apps written for Android 2.3 or earlier.</p> 77 </li> 78 </ol> 79 80 </div> 81 82 <h2 id="notifications">Notifications</h2> 83 84 <p>Notifications are brief messages that users can access at any time from the status bar. They 85 provide updates, reminders, or information that's important, but not critical enough to warrant 86 interrupting the user. Open the notifications drawer by swiping down on the status bar. Touching a 87 notification opens the associated app. <a href="{@docRoot}design/patterns/notifications.html">More on Notifications</a></p> 88 89 <div class="layout-content-row"> 90 <div class="layout-content-col span-4"> 91 92 <img src="{@docRoot}design/media/ui_overview_notifications.png"> 93 94 </div> 95 <div class="layout-content-col span-9"> 96 97 <img src="{@docRoot}design/media/notifications_dismiss.png"> 98 99 <p>Notifications can be expanded to uncover more details and relevant actions. When collapsed, notifications 100 have a one-line title and a one-line message.The recommended layout for a notification includes two lines. 101 If necessary, you can add a third line.</p> 102 <p>Swiping a notification right or left removes it from the notification drawer.</p> 103 104 </div> 105 </div> 106 107 108 <h2 id="app">Common App UI</h2> 109 110 111 <div class="layout-content-row"> 112 <div class="layout-content-col span-7"> 113 114 <img src="{@docRoot}design/media/app_structure_drawer.png"> 115 116 </div> 117 <div class="layout-content-col span-6 with-callouts"> 118 119 <p>A typical Android app uses action bars, and many apps will include a navigation drawer.</p> 120 <ol> 121 <li> 122 <h4>Action Bar</h4> 123 <p>The command and control center for your app. The action bar surfaces the most important actions 124 for the current view, and may include simple controls for switching between views.</p> 125 <p><a href="{@docRoot}design/patterns/actionbar.html">More on the Action Bar</a></p> 126 </li> 127 <li> 128 <h4>Navigation Drawer</h4> 129 <p>If your app's structure is more complex, the navigation drawer can display the main navigation 130 options. The navigation drawer expands from the left edge of the screen, overlaying the content 131 area but not the action bar.</p> 132 <p><a href="{@docRoot}design/patterns/navigation-drawer.html">More on the Navigation Drawer</a></p> 133 </li> 134 <li> 135 <h4>Content Area</h4> 136 <p>The space where the content of your app is displayed.</p> 137 </li> 138 </ol> 139 140 </div> 141 </div> 142
