Android’s UI is made with the help of various user interface design patterns. These patterns are used throughout Android to give it a uniform look and feel across all apps. These design patterns are present in every Android app, but they come in different variants depending on their purpose.
Some of these designs emphasize ease of use by hiding complex options or secondary information from the user until they need it. Others are used as a way to keep your app consistent with other apps on your device. This article discusses some of the most commonly used Android UI design patterns, how they work, and when you should use them to make your app more friendly and intuitive for users.
Notification Shade
The notification shade is a bar at the top of an app that displays notifications for the app. The notification shade can show several notifications that are important to the app, such as new messages or reminders.
When the user selects one of these notifications, the app is launched and the selected notification is displayed until the user dismisses it. To access the notification shade, start an app and swipe up from the bottom edge of the screen. Alternatively, tap the ‘Notification Panel’ button in the app’s top-right corner. The notification shade appears at the top of the screen.
Floating Action Button
The floating action button (FAB) is an icon that appears on the left side of an app’s screen. When selected, it opens up an action menu that provides quick actions that the user can perform in the app. The FAB can be used for actions such as ‘Reply’, ‘Add Note’, or ‘Mark As Read’.
Android provides several FABs which appear depending on the activity in which the app is running. For example, when the app is running a dialer, the FAB appears next to the ‘End’, ‘Send’, and ‘Clear’ options in the action menu. When the app is running a note-taking app, the FAB appears next to the ‘Add’ and ‘Delete’ options in the action menu.
Recycler View
A recycler view is a design pattern used to create scrolling lists. Using this pattern, you can create lists that can be scrolled horizontally by swiping the list up or down. The components in a recycler view are arranged like a shelf, where items are displayed on a scrollable view underneath.
The recycler view helps you create lists that can be scrolled horizontally by swiping the list up or down. The shelf of the list features views that can be easily rearranged or swiped out to create new views. You can also use the search bar to quickly find specific views and rearrange, them or remove them entirely.
Navigation Drawer
A navigation drawer is a pop-up menu that appears when you press down on an action in an app. The drawer can contain different options such as ‘Back’, ‘Home’, or ‘Recently Used’ options depending on the app. The drawer appears when you press down on the action in the app.
If you keep pressing down, the options in the drawer appear one after another until you lift your finger from the screen. The navigation drawer is helpful when you have a list of options that you can access by pressing one of the icons. When you have a long list of options in a navigation drawer, you can quickly access the option you need while keeping the rest hidden.
Alert Dialog
An alert dialogue is a visual notification that appears on the screen when it is needed. You can use this pattern to prevent the app from crashing by displaying important information to the user, such as ‘Low Battery’, ‘Unread Notifications’, or ‘New Message’.
Text View
A text view is a block-level view used to display text. You can create a list of items and items from other apps, or create a read-out-loud view for a specific message. You can also create a 3D Maze game or a rotating banner.
Browse Dialog
The browse dialogue is a rectangle with “Browse” written in it. When the user taps on this button, it opens up a drop-down menu with various options. In this pattern, you display a Browse button on the screen. When the user taps on it, the drop-down menu appears. One of the most common uses of the browse dialogue is when you have a list of items in your app.
Conclusion
Mobile app development has come a long way since the first mobile phones hit the market. The advancements in technology have made it easier than ever to develop an app for any device, including mobile phones, computers, wearables, and even self-driving cars. The best way to create a great app is to understand the user’s needs and create an app that meets their needs.
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