How to implement a ViewPager with different Fragments / Layouts

Question

As this is a very frequently asked question, I wanted to take the time and effort to explain the ViewPager with multiple Fragments and Layouts in detail. Here you go.

ViewPager with multiple Fragments and Layout files - How To

The following is a complete example of how to implement a ViewPager with different fragment Types and different layout files.

In this case, I have 3 Fragment classes, and a different layout file for each class. In order to keep things simple, the fragment-layouts only differ in their background color. Of course, any layout-file can be used for the Fragments.

FirstFragment.java has a orange background layout, SecondFragment.java has a green background layout and ThirdFragment.java has a red background layout. Furthermore, each Fragment displays a different text, depending on which class it is from and which instance it is.

Also be aware that I am using the support-library's Fragment: android.support.v4.app.Fragment

MainActivity.java (Initializes the Viewpager and has the adapter for it as an inner class). Again have a look at the imports. I am using the android.support.v4 package.

import android.os.Bundle;
import android.support.v4.app.Fragment;
import android.support.v4.app.FragmentActivity;
import android.support.v4.app.FragmentManager;
import android.support.v4.app.FragmentPagerAdapter;
import android.support.v4.view.ViewPager;

public class MainActivity extends FragmentActivity {

    @Override
    protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
        setContentView(R.layout.activity_main);     

        ViewPager pager = (ViewPager) findViewById(R.id.viewPager);
        pager.setAdapter(new MyPagerAdapter(getSupportFragmentManager()));
    }

    private class MyPagerAdapter extends FragmentPagerAdapter {

        public MyPagerAdapter(FragmentManager fm) {
            super(fm);
        }

        @Override
        public Fragment getItem(int pos) {
            switch(pos) {

            case 0: return FirstFragment.newInstance("FirstFragment, Instance 1");
            case 1: return SecondFragment.newInstance("SecondFragment, Instance 1");
            case 2: return ThirdFragment.newInstance("ThirdFragment, Instance 1");
            case 3: return ThirdFragment.newInstance("ThirdFragment, Instance 2");
            case 4: return ThirdFragment.newInstance("ThirdFragment, Instance 3");
            default: return ThirdFragment.newInstance("ThirdFragment, Default");
            }
        }

        @Override
        public int getCount() {
            return 5;
        }       
    }
}

activity_main.xml (The MainActivitys .xml file) - a simple layout file, only containing the ViewPager that fills the whole screen.

<android.support.v4.view.ViewPager
    xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    xmlns:app="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res-auto"
    android:id="@+id/viewPager"
    android:layout_width="fill_parent"
    android:layout_height="fill_parent"
    />

The Fragment classes, FirstFragment.java import android.support.v4.app.Fragment;

public class FirstFragment extends Fragment {

    @Override
    public View onCreateView(LayoutInflater inflater, ViewGroup container, Bundle savedInstanceState) {
        View v = inflater.inflate(R.layout.first_frag, container, false);

        TextView tv = (TextView) v.findViewById(R.id.tvFragFirst);
        tv.setText(getArguments().getString("msg"));

        return v;
    }

    public static FirstFragment newInstance(String text) {

        FirstFragment f = new FirstFragment();
        Bundle b = new Bundle();
        b.putString("msg", text);

        f.setArguments(b);

        return f;
    }
}

first_frag.xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<RelativeLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="match_parent"
    android:background="@android:color/holo_orange_dark" >

    <TextView
        android:id="@+id/tvFragFirst"
        android:layout_width="wrap_content"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_centerHorizontal="true"
        android:layout_centerVertical="true"
        android:textSize="26dp"
        android:text="TextView" />
</RelativeLayout>

SecondFragment.java

public class SecondFragment extends Fragment {

@Override
public View onCreateView(LayoutInflater inflater, ViewGroup container, Bundle savedInstanceState) {
    View v = inflater.inflate(R.layout.second_frag, container, false);

    TextView tv = (TextView) v.findViewById(R.id.tvFragSecond);
    tv.setText(getArguments().getString("msg"));

    return v;
}

public static SecondFragment newInstance(String text) {

    SecondFragment f = new SecondFragment();
    Bundle b = new Bundle();
    b.putString("msg", text);

    f.setArguments(b);

    return f;
}
}

second_frag.xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<RelativeLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="match_parent"
    android:background="@android:color/holo_green_dark" >

    <TextView
        android:id="@+id/tvFragSecond"
        android:layout_width="wrap_content"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_centerHorizontal="true"
        android:layout_centerVertical="true"
        android:textSize="26dp"
        android:text="TextView" />

</RelativeLayout>

ThirdFragment.java

public class ThirdFragment extends Fragment {

@Override
public View onCreateView(LayoutInflater inflater, ViewGroup container, Bundle savedInstanceState) {
    View v = inflater.inflate(R.layout.third_frag, container, false);

    TextView tv = (TextView) v.findViewById(R.id.tvFragThird);      
    tv.setText(getArguments().getString("msg"));

    return v;
}

public static ThirdFragment newInstance(String text) {

    ThirdFragment f = new ThirdFragment();
    Bundle b = new Bundle();
    b.putString("msg", text);

    f.setArguments(b);

    return f;
}
}

third_frag.xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<RelativeLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="match_parent"
    android:background="@android:color/holo_red_light" >

    <TextView
        android:id="@+id/tvFragThird"
        android:layout_width="wrap_content"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_centerHorizontal="true"
        android:layout_centerVertical="true"
        android:textSize="26dp"
        android:text="TextView" />

</RelativeLayout>

The end result is the following:

The Viewpager holds 5 Fragments, Fragments 1 is of type FirstFragment, and displays the first_frag.xml layout, Fragment 2 is of type SecondFragment and displays the second_frag.xml, and Fragment 3-5 are of type ThirdFragment and all display the third_frag.xml.

Above you can see the 5 Fragments between which can be switched via swipe to the left or right. Only one Fragment can be displayed at the same time of course.

Last but not least:

I would recommend that you use an empty constructor in each of your Fragment classes.

Instead of handing over potential parameters via constructor, use the newInstance(...) method and the Bundle for handing over parameters.

This way if detached and re-attached the object state can be stored through the arguments. Much like Bundles attached to Intents.

Create an array of Views and apply it to: container.addView(viewarr[position]);

public class Layoutes extends PagerAdapter {

    private Context context;
    private LayoutInflater layoutInflater;
    Layoutes(Context context){
        this.context=context;
    }
    int layoutes[]={R.layout.one,R.layout.two,R.layout.three};
    @Override
    public int getCount() {
        return layoutes.length;
    }

    @Override
    public boolean isViewFromObject(View view, Object object) {
        return (view==(LinearLayout)object);
    }
    @Override
    public Object instantiateItem(ViewGroup container, int position){
        layoutInflater=(LayoutInflater) context.getSystemService(Context.LAYOUT_INFLATER_SERVICE);
        View one=layoutInflater.inflate(R.layout.one,container,false);
        View two=layoutInflater.inflate(R.layout.two,container,false);
        View three=layoutInflater.inflate(R.layout.three,container,false);
        View viewarr[]={one,two,three};
        container.addView(viewarr[position]);
        return viewarr[position];
    }
    @Override
    public void destroyItem(ViewGroup container, int position, Object object){
        container.removeView((LinearLayout) object);
    }

}

Code for adding fragment

public Fragment getItem(int position) {

    switch (position){
        case 0:
            return new Fragment1();

        case 1:
            return new Fragment2();

        case 2:
            return new Fragment3();

        case 3:
            return new Fragment4();

        default:
            break;
    }

    return null;
}

Create an xml file for each fragment say for Fragment1, use fragment_one.xml as layout file, use the below code in Fragment1 java file.

public class Fragment1 extends Fragment {

    public View onCreateView(LayoutInflater inflater, ViewGroup container, Bundle savedInstanceState) {

        View view = inflater.inflate(R.layout.fragment_one, container, false);

        return view;

    }
}

Later you can make necessary corrections.. It worked for me.

Basic ViewPager Example

This answer is a simplification of the documentation, this tutorial, and the accepted answer. It's purpose is to get a working ViewPager up and running as quickly as possible. Further edits can be made after that.

XML

Add the xml layouts for the main activity and for each page (fragment). In our case we are only using one fragment layout, but if you have different layouts on the different pages then just make one for each of them.

activity_main.xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<RelativeLayout
    xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="match_parent"
    tools:context="com.example.verticalviewpager.MainActivity">

    <android.support.v4.view.ViewPager
        android:id="@+id/viewpager"
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="match_parent" />

</RelativeLayout>

fragment_one.xml

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

    <TextView
        android:id="@+id/textview"
        android:textSize="30sp"
        android:layout_width="wrap_content"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_centerInParent="true" />

</RelativeLayout>

Code

This is the code for the main activity. It includes the PagerAdapter and FragmentOne as inner classes. If these get too large or you are reusing them in other places, then you can move them to their own separate classes.

import android.support.v4.app.Fragment;
import android.support.v4.app.FragmentManager;
import android.support.v4.app.FragmentPagerAdapter;
import android.support.v4.view.ViewPager;

public class MainActivity extends AppCompatActivity {

    static final int NUMBER_OF_PAGES = 2;

    MyAdapter mAdapter;
    ViewPager mPager;

    @Override
    protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
        setContentView(R.layout.activity_main);

        mAdapter = new MyAdapter(getSupportFragmentManager());
        mPager = findViewById(R.id.viewpager);
        mPager.setAdapter(mAdapter);
    }

    public static class MyAdapter extends FragmentPagerAdapter {
        public MyAdapter(FragmentManager fm) {
            super(fm);
        }

        @Override
        public int getCount() {
            return NUMBER_OF_PAGES;
        }

        @Override
        public Fragment getItem(int position) {

            switch (position) {
                case 0:
                    return FragmentOne.newInstance(0, Color.WHITE);
                case 1:
                    // return a different Fragment class here
                    // if you want want a completely different layout
                    return FragmentOne.newInstance(1, Color.CYAN);
                default:
                    return null;
            }
        }
    }

    public static class FragmentOne extends Fragment {

        private static final String MY_NUM_KEY = "num";
        private static final String MY_COLOR_KEY = "color";

        private int mNum;
        private int mColor;

        // You can modify the parameters to pass in whatever you want
        static FragmentOne newInstance(int num, int color) {
            FragmentOne f = new FragmentOne();
            Bundle args = new Bundle();
            args.putInt(MY_NUM_KEY, num);
            args.putInt(MY_COLOR_KEY, color);
            f.setArguments(args);
            return f;
        }

        @Override
        public void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
            super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
            mNum = getArguments() != null ? getArguments().getInt(MY_NUM_KEY) : 0;
            mColor = getArguments() != null ? getArguments().getInt(MY_COLOR_KEY) : Color.BLACK;
        }

        @Override
        public View onCreateView(LayoutInflater inflater, ViewGroup container,
                                 Bundle savedInstanceState) {
            View v = inflater.inflate(R.layout.fragment_one, container, false);
            v.setBackgroundColor(mColor);
            TextView textView = v.findViewById(R.id.textview);
            textView.setText("Page " + mNum);
            return v;
        }
    }
}

Finished

If you copied and pasted the three files above to your project, you should be able to run the app and see the result in the animation above.

Going on

There are quite a few things you can do with ViewPagers. See the following links to get started:

• Creating Swipe Views with Tabs
• ViewPager with FragmentPagerAdapter (CodePath tutorials are always good)

This is also fine:

<android.support.v4.view.ViewPager
    xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    xmlns:app="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res-auto"
    android:id="@+id/viewPager"
    android:layout_width="fill_parent"
    android:layout_height="fill_parent"
    />

public class MainActivity extends FragmentActivity {
    @Override
    public void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
        setContentView(R.layout.main_activity);

        ViewPager pager = (ViewPager) findViewById(R.id.viewPager);
        pager.setAdapter(new MyPagerAdapter(getSupportFragmentManager()));

    }
}


public class FragmentTab1 extends Fragment {
    @Override
    public View onCreateView(LayoutInflater inflater, ViewGroup container,
            Bundle savedInstanceState) {
        View rootView = inflater.inflate(R.layout.fragmenttab1, container, false);
        return rootView;
    }
}

class MyPagerAdapter extends FragmentPagerAdapter{

    public MyPagerAdapter(FragmentManager fragmentManager){
        super(fragmentManager);

    }
    @Override
    public android.support.v4.app.Fragment getItem(int position) {
        switch(position){
            case 0:
                FragmentTab1 fm =   new FragmentTab1();
                return fm;
            case 1: return new FragmentTab2();
            case 2: return new FragmentTab3();
        }
        return null;
    }

    @Override
    public int getCount() {
        return 3;
    }
}

<RelativeLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="match_parent" >

    <TextView
        android:layout_width="wrap_content"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_centerHorizontal="true"
        android:layout_centerVertical="true"
        android:text="@string/Fragment1" />

</RelativeLayout>