How to create ripple effect in simple layout

Question

Set these properties on your layout (if your layout has the default white/light background):

          android:clickable="true"
          android:focusable="true"
          android:background="?attr/selectableItemBackground"

You don't need a custom drawable in this case.

However, if your layout has a black/dark background, you'd have to create your own ripple drawable like this one:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<!-- An white rectangle ripple. -->
<ripple xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    android:color="@android:color/white">
    <item
        android:id="@android:id/mask"
        android:gravity="center">
        <shape android:shape="rectangle">
            <solid android:color="@android:color/white"/>
        </shape>
    </item>
</ripple>

And then set this ripple drawable as your android:background property.

You can see many examples of these types of ripples in AOSP: in here

I'm adding this in addition to Igor Ganapolsky's answer in case anyone wants to have a layout with different color and also have a ripple effect. You simply create a ripple effect in drawables like this:

ripple.xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<ripple xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"
    android:color="@color/rippleColor"
    tools:targetApi="lollipop"> <!-- ripple effect color -->
    <item android:id="@android:id/background">
        <shape android:shape="rectangle">
            <solid android:color="@color/backgroundColor" /> <!-- background color -->
        </shape>
    </item>
</ripple>

then give it as your layout's background or any button as Igor Ganapolsky mentioned in his answer.

android:clickable="true"
android:background="@drawable/ripple"

You have to alter following code snippet in any widget(TextView/Button) and you can implement Ripple Effect:

android:clickable="true"
android:focusable="true"
android:foreground="?attr/selectableItemBackground"

And you are good to go.

It turns out this is working as intended. The standard Material theme colorControlHighlight value is #40ffffff. So on a white background, this will not show up. Changing the highlight color to something else works, and/or changing the background color of the object.

Thanks all (especially Alanv for pointing me in the right direction).

This is an example for clicking on a sample layout with ripple effect :

 <LinearLayout
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="wrap_content"
    android:background="?attr/selectableItemBackground"
    android:clickable="true"
    android:focusable="true"
    android:orientation="vertical">

Set android:clickable="true" on your layout.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<ripple xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"
    android:color="#cfd8dc"
    tools:targetApi="lollipop">
    <item android:id="@android:id/mask">
        <shape android:shape="rectangle">
            <solid android:color="#d1c4e9" />
        </shape>
    </item>
</ripple>

Use this ripple.xml in Drawable folder, then assign it as View's

android:background="@drawable/ripple"

android:clickable="true"