How to Set Opacity (Alpha) for View in Android

Question

I'm amazed by everyone else's MUCH more complicated answers.

XML

You can very simply define the alpha in the color definition of the button (or any other view) in your xml:

android:color="#66FF0000"    // Partially transparent red

In the above example, the color would be a partially transparent red.

When defining the color of a view, the format can be either #RRGGBB or #AARRGGBB, where AA is the hex alpha value. FF would be fully opaque and 00 would be full transparent.

Dynamically

If you need to dynamically alter the opacity in your code, use

myButton.getBackground().setAlpha(128);  // 50% transparent

Where the INT ranges from 0 (fully transparent) to 255 (fully opaque).

I guess you may have already found the answer, but if not (and for other developers), you can do it like this:

btnMybutton.getBackground().setAlpha(45);

Here I have set the opacity to 45. You can basically set it from anything between 0(fully transparent) to 255 (completely opaque)

Much more easier from the above. Default alpha attribute is there for button

android:alpha="0.5"

The range is between 0 for complete transparent and 1 for complete opacity.

What I would suggest you do is create a custom ARGB color in your colors.xml file such as :

<resources>
<color name="translucent_black">#80000000</color>
</resources>

then set your button background to that color :

android:background="@android:color/translucent_black"

Another thing you can do if you want to play around with the shape of the button is to create a Shape drawable resource where you set up the properties what the button should look like :

file: res/drawable/rounded_corner_box.xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<shape xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    android:shape="rectangle">
    <gradient
        android:startColor="#80000000"
        android:endColor="#80FFFFFF"
        android:angle="45"/>
    <padding android:left="7dp"
        android:top="7dp"
        android:right="7dp"
        android:bottom="7dp" />
    <corners android:radius="8dp" />
</shape>

Then use that as the button background :

    android:background="@drawable/rounded_corner_box"

I just found your question while having the similar problem with a TextView. I was able to solve it, by extending TextView and overriding onSetAlpha. Maybe you could try something similar with your button:

import android.content.Context;
import android.util.AttributeSet;
import android.widget.TextView;

public class AlphaTextView extends TextView {

  public AlphaTextView(Context context) {
    super(context);
  }

  public AlphaTextView(Context context, AttributeSet attrs) {
    super(context, attrs);
  }

  public AlphaTextView(Context context, AttributeSet attrs, int defStyle) {
    super(context, attrs, defStyle);
  }

  @Override
  public boolean onSetAlpha(int alpha) {
    setTextColor(getTextColors().withAlpha(alpha));
    setHintTextColor(getHintTextColors().withAlpha(alpha));
    setLinkTextColor(getLinkTextColors().withAlpha(alpha));
    return true;
  }
}

According to the android docs view alpha is a value between 0 and 1. So to set it use something like this:

View v;
v.setAlpha(.5f);

android:background="@android:color/transparent"

The above is something that I know... I think creating a custom button class is the best idea

API Level 11
Recently I came across this android:alpha xml attribute which takes a value between 0 and 1. The corresponding method is setAlpha(float).