Android: set empty view to a list view

Android: Set Empty View to a ListView

Introduction

In Android development, displaying a user-friendly message when a ListView is empty is crucial. This article will guide you on setting an empty view to a ListView in your Android application.

Understanding Empty Views

An empty view serves as a placeholder when your ListView has no data to display. This enhances user experience by providing clear information instead of an empty or visually jarring list.

Setting an Empty View

Follow these steps to set an empty view to your ListView:

1. Create an Empty View Layout:
   • Design a layout file (e.g., `empty_view.xml`) that contains the content you want to display when the ListView is empty.
   • This layout can include a TextView, ImageView, or any other view elements.
2. Inflate the Empty View:
   • In your Activity or Fragment, inflate the empty view layout using `LayoutInflater`.
   • Retrieve the reference to the inflated view.
3. Set the Empty View:
   • Call `setEmptyView()` on your ListView object.
   • Pass the inflated empty view as an argument.

Code Example

Consider the following code snippet demonstrating the process:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="match_parent"
    android:gravity="center"
    android:orientation="vertical">

    <ImageView
        android:layout_width="wrap_content"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:src="@drawable/empty_icon" />

    <TextView
        android:layout_width="wrap_content"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_marginTop="16dp"
        android:text="No items found." />

</LinearLayout>

// empty_view.xml
// Inside your Activity or Fragment
ListView myListView = findViewById(R.id.my_list_view);
LayoutInflater inflater = getLayoutInflater();
View emptyView = inflater.inflate(R.layout.empty_view, null);
myListView.setEmptyView(emptyView);

Dynamic Empty View Management

If you want to display different empty views based on certain conditions, follow these steps:

1. Create Multiple Empty Views: Design multiple empty view layouts with distinct content.
2. Dynamically Set Empty View:
   • Inside your adapter’s `getCount()` method, check the data size.
   • If the list is empty, determine which empty view to display based on your criteria.
   • Inflate the appropriate empty view and call `setEmptyView()` on your ListView.

Conclusion

By incorporating empty views into your ListView, you create a user-friendly experience, providing informative and aesthetically pleasing visuals when your list is empty.