CardLayout class

The CardLayout class manages the components in such a manner that only one component is visible at a time. It treats each component as a card that is why it is known as CardLayout.

Constructors of CardLayout class

CardLayout(): creates a card layout with zero horizontal and vertical gap. CardLayout(int hgap, int vgap): creates a card layout with the given horizontal and vertical gap.

Commonly used methods of CardLayout class

public void next(Container parent): is used to flip to the next card of the given container. public void previous(Container parent): is used to flip to the previous card of the given container. public void first(Container parent): is used to flip to the first card of the given container. public void last(Container parent): is used to flip to the last card of the given container. public void show(Container parent, String name): is used to flip to the specified card with the given name.

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Example of CardLayout class

1. import java.awt.*;  
2. import java.awt.event.*;  
3.   
4. import javax.swing.*;  
5.   
6. public class CardLayoutExample extends JFrame implements ActionListener{  
7. CardLayout card;  
8. JButton b1,b2,b3;  
9. Container c;  
10.     CardLayoutExample(){  
11.           
12.         c=getContentPane();  
13.         card=new CardLayout(40,30);  
14. //create CardLayout object with 40 hor space and 30 ver space  
15.         c.setLayout(card);  
16.           
17.         b1=new JButton("Apple");  
18.         b2=new JButton("Boy");  
19.         b3=new JButton("Cat");  
20.         b1.addActionListener(this);  
21.         b2.addActionListener(this);  
22.         b3.addActionListener(this);  
23.               
24.         c.add("a",b1);c.add("b",b2);c.add("c",b3);  
25.                           
26.     }  
27.     public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {  
28.     card.next(c);  
29.     }  
30.   
31.     public static void main(String[] args) {  
32.         CardLayoutExample cl=new CardLayoutExample();  
33.         cl.setSize(400,400);  
34.         cl.setVisible(true);  
35.         cl.setDefaultCloseOperation(EXIT_ON_CLOSE);  
36.     }  
37. }