Android How to set maximum "word" limit on EditText

Question

How to set maximum word limit on Android EditText I know how to set character limit but I am looking for Word Limit.

Answer 1

You need to add a TextChangedListener to your EditText then apply an InputFilter see the following code.

edDesc.addTextChangedListener(new TextWatcher() {

    @Override
    public void onTextChanged(CharSequence s, int start, int before, int count) {}

    @Override
    public void beforeTextChanged(CharSequence s, int start, int count, int after) {
        int wordsLength = countWords(s.toString());// words.length;
        // count == 0 means a new word is going to start
        if (count == 0 && wordsLength >= MAX_WORDS) {
            setCharLimit(edDesc, edDesc.getText().length());
        } else {
            removeFilter(edDesc);
        }

        tvWordCount.setText(String.valueOf(wordsLength) + "/" + MAX_WORDS);
        }

    @Override
    public void afterTextChanged(Editable s) {}
});

private int countWords(String s) {
    String trim = s.trim();
    if (trim.isEmpty())
        return 0;
    return trim.split("\\s+").length; // separate string around spaces
}

private InputFilter filter;

private void setCharLimit(EditText et, int max) {
    filter = new InputFilter.LengthFilter(max);
    et.setFilters(new InputFilter[] { filter });
}

private void removeFilter(EditText et) {
    if (filter != null) {
        et.setFilters(new InputFilter[0]);
        filter = null;
    }
}

You have to intercept Paste event so that user shouldn't be able to paste more than required words. You can intercept Android EditText Paste event [read more]

Answer 2

I have made Extension function for the EditText and it works perfectly

fun EditText.addWordCounter(func: (wordCount: Int?) -> Unit) {

addTextChangedListener(object :TextWatcher{
    override fun afterTextChanged(s: Editable?) {}

    override fun beforeTextChanged(s: CharSequence?, start: Int, count: Int, after: Int) {}

    override fun onTextChanged(s: CharSequence?, start: Int, before: Int, count: Int) {
        val trim = s?.trim()
        val wordCount = if (trim?.isEmpty()!!or(false)) 0 else trim.split("\\s+".toRegex()).dropLastWhile { it.isEmpty() }.toTypedArray().size

        func(wordCount)
    }
})}

then use like

etDesc.addWordCounter { wordCount ->
        Log.d(TAG, "addWordCounter: $wordCount")
    }