Overview of Layout Managers

Layout Manager	Description
BoxLayout	Arranges components in a linear sequence.
BorderLayout	Assigns components to one of 5 regions based on cardinal directions.
BoxLayout	Arranges items in a linear sequence (either horizontally or vertically).
FlowLayout	Adds components from left to right in the order in which they where added.
GridLayout	Arranges components in 2D grid of equal sized cells.

• There are more, but these are the ones covered in CIS2430.

BorderLayout

• Assigns components to one of 5 regions based on cardinal directions.
  1. BorderLayout.NORTH
  2. BorderLayout.SOUTH
  3. BorderLayout.EAST
  4. BorderLayout.WEST
  5. BorderLayout.CENTER
• Added to a JFrame using its setLayout method.
  • ie. setLayout(new BorderLayout).
• Components are added to a region using JFrame’s add method.
  • ie. add(label, BorderLayout.CENTER).
  • Two parameters, first for label (String), second for region.

BoxLayout

• Arranges items in a linear sequence (either horizontally or vertically).
• Components are placed in the order they are added.
• Optimized to fill the whole space with the existing components that are visible.
• Components are added to a region using JFrame’s add method.
  • ie. add(label).
  • One parameter for label (String).

FlowLayout

• Adds components from left to right in the order in which they where added.
• The default layout manager which is used when none other is set.
• Components are added to a region using JFrame’s add method.
  • One parameter for label (String).

GridLayout

• Arranges components in 2D grid of equal sized cells.
• Added to a JFrame using its setLayout method.
  • ie. setLayout(new GridLayout(rows, cols)).
• Components are added to a region using JFrame’s add method.
  • One parameter for label (String).
• Each component is stretched so that it completely fills a cell.