Implementing SearchView as per the material design guidelines

Question

I have been looking for ways to implement a searchview in the activity toolbar (actionbar) as per the material design guidelines.

On clicking on the search icon, the entire toolbar animates to have only the search EditText with white background with suggestions appearing in the main view instead of a drop down.

Here is a screenshot from the guidelines:

Here is a gif from the Gmail Inbox implementation:

I have been looking for code examples and tutorials but so far I have been unsuccesful. How do I go about doing this?

Answer 1

I tried several material SearchView libraries, but none of them worked good as the one from the support library, so I decided to redesign it, after a lot of work, I am pleased with the result:

Here is how you can do it:

1) Add SearchView item to your menu

<item     android:id="@+id/m_search"     android:icon="@drawable/ic_action_search"     android:title="@string/search_title"     app:actionLayout="@layout/search_view_layout"     app:showAsAction="ifRoom|collapseActionView" /> 

Notice that I'm declaring actionLayout instead of actionViewClass, I figured that this is the only way to set SearchView theme separately from Toolbar theme.

search_view_layout.xml:

<android.support.v7.widget.SearchView     android:id="@+id/search_view"     android:layout_width="match_parent"     android:layout_height="wrap_content"     android:theme="@style/SearchViewTheme" /> 

2) Add the custom SearchView theme to your styles, declare SearchView theme in your Toolbar theme as well:

<style name="SearchViewTheme" parent="Widget.AppCompat.SearchView.ActionBar">     <item name="layout">@layout/toolbar_search_view</item>     <item name="commitIcon">@drawable/ic_search_commit</item>     <item name="colorControlNormal">@color/material_light_active_icon</item>     <item name="colorControlHighlight">@color/material_ripple_light</item>     <item name="autoCompleteTextViewStyle">@style/AutoCompleteTextViewStyle</item>     <item name="suggestionRowLayout">@layout/search_view_suggestion_row</item>     <item name="android:maxWidth">9999dp</item> </style>  <style name="AutoCompleteTextViewStyle" parent="Widget.AppCompat.Light.AutoCompleteTextView">     <item name="android:popupBackground">@drawable/search_suggestions_bg</item>     <item name="android:popupElevation">0dp</item> </style>  <style name="ToolbarTheme" parent="ThemeOverlay.AppCompat.Dark.ActionBar">     <item name="searchViewStyle">@style/SearchViewTheme</item> </style> 

toolbar_search_view.xml:

<LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"     android:id="@+id/search_bar"     android:layout_width="match_parent"     android:layout_height="match_parent"     android:orientation="horizontal"     android:paddingEnd="8dp">  <!-- This is actually used for the badge icon *or* the badge label (or neither) --> <TextView     android:id="@+id/search_badge"     android:layout_width="wrap_content"     android:layout_height="match_parent"     android:layout_marginBottom="2dp"     android:drawablePadding="0dp"     android:gravity="center_vertical"     android:textAppearance="?android:attr/textAppearanceMedium"     android:textColor="?android:attr/textColorPrimary"     android:visibility="gone" />  <ImageView     android:id="@+id/search_button"     style="?attr/actionButtonStyle"     android:layout_width="wrap_content"     android:layout_height="match_parent"     android:layout_gravity="center_vertical"     android:contentDescription="@string/abc_searchview_description_search"     android:focusable="true" />  <LinearLayout     android:id="@+id/search_edit_frame"     android:layout_width="0dp"     android:layout_height="match_parent"     android:layout_weight="1"     android:layoutDirection="locale"     android:orientation="horizontal">      <ImageView         android:id="@+id/search_mag_icon"         style="@style/RtlOverlay.Widget.AppCompat.SearchView.MagIcon"         android:layout_width="@dimen/abc_dropdownitem_icon_width"         android:layout_height="wrap_content"         android:layout_gravity="center_vertical"         android:scaleType="centerInside"         android:visibility="gone" />      <!-- Inner layout contains the app icon, button(s) and EditText -->     <LinearLayout         android:id="@+id/search_plate"         android:layout_width="0dp"         android:layout_height="match_parent"         android:layout_gravity="center_vertical"         android:layout_weight="1"         android:orientation="horizontal">          <view             android:id="@+id/search_src_text"             class="android.support.v7.widget.SearchView$SearchAutoComplete"             android:layout_width="0dp"             android:layout_height="match_parent"             android:layout_gravity="center_vertical"             android:layout_marginEnd="@dimen/item_list_horizontal_margin"             android:layout_marginStart="@dimen/item_list_horizontal_margin"             android:layout_weight="1"             android:background="@null"             android:dropDownAnchor="@id/anchor_dropdown"             android:dropDownHeight="wrap_content"             android:dropDownHorizontalOffset="0dp"             android:dropDownVerticalOffset="0dp"             android:ellipsize="end"             android:imeOptions="actionSearch"             android:inputType="text|textAutoComplete|textNoSuggestions"             android:maxLines="1"             android:paddingEnd="8dp"             android:textColor="@android:color/black"             android:textColorHint="@color/material_light_hint_text"             android:textSize="20sp" />          <ImageView             android:id="@+id/search_close_btn"             android:layout_width="wrap_content"             android:layout_height="match_parent"             android:layout_gravity="center_vertical"             android:background="?attr/selectableItemBackgroundBorderless"             android:contentDescription="@string/abc_searchview_description_clear"             android:focusable="true"             android:paddingEnd="8dp"             android:paddingStart="8dp" />     </LinearLayout>      <LinearLayout         android:id="@+id/submit_area"         android:layout_width="wrap_content"         android:layout_height="match_parent"         android:orientation="horizontal">          <ImageView             android:id="@+id/search_go_btn"             android:layout_width="wrap_content"             android:layout_height="match_parent"             android:layout_gravity="center_vertical"             android:background="?attr/selectableItemBackgroundBorderless"             android:contentDescription="@string/abc_searchview_description_submit"             android:focusable="true"             android:paddingEnd="8dp"             android:paddingStart="8dp"             android:visibility="gone" />          <ImageView             android:id="@+id/search_voice_btn"             android:layout_width="wrap_content"             android:layout_height="match_parent"             android:layout_gravity="center_vertical"             android:background="?attr/selectableItemBackgroundBorderless"             android:contentDescription="@string/abc_searchview_description_voice"             android:focusable="true"             android:paddingEnd="8dp"             android:paddingStart="8dp"             android:visibility="gone" />     </LinearLayout> </LinearLayout> 

Notice that I added anchor dropdown view under the Toolbar view, so suggestions will get full screen width.

<android.support.design.widget.AppBarLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"     xmlns:app="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res-auto"     android:id="@+id/appBar"     android:layout_width="match_parent"     android:layout_height="wrap_content">  <android.support.v7.widget.Toolbar     android:id="@+id/toolbar"     android:layout_width="match_parent"     android:layout_height="?attr/actionBarSize"     android:background="?attr/colorPrimary"     app:collapseIcon="@drawable/ic_search_collapse"     app:popupTheme="@style/AppTheme.PopupOverlay"     app:theme="@style/ToolbarTheme" />  <View     android:id="@+id/anchor_dropdown"     android:layout_width="match_parent"     android:layout_height="0dp" />  </android.support.design.widget.AppBarLayout> 

search_view_suggestion_row.xml:

(change suggestion_divider visibility if you want divider between suggestions):

<RelativeLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"     android:layout_width="match_parent"     android:layout_height="58dp"     android:theme="@style/Theme.AppCompat.DayNight">  <!-- Icons come first in the layout, since their placement doesn't depend on      the placement of the text views. --> <ImageView     android:id="@android:id/icon1"     style="@style/RtlOverlay.Widget.AppCompat.Search.DropDown.Icon1"     android:layout_width="56dp"     android:layout_height="56dp"     android:layout_alignParentBottom="true"     android:layout_alignParentTop="true"     android:scaleType="centerInside"     android:visibility="invisible" />  <ImageView     android:id="@+id/edit_query"     style="@style/RtlOverlay.Widget.AppCompat.Search.DropDown.Query"     android:layout_width="56dp"     android:layout_height="56dp"     android:layout_alignParentBottom="true"     android:layout_alignParentTop="true"     android:background="?attr/selectableItemBackground"     android:scaleType="centerInside"     android:visibility="gone" />  <ImageView     android:id="@id/android:icon2"     style="@style/RtlOverlay.Widget.AppCompat.Search.DropDown.Icon2"     android:layout_width="56dp"     android:layout_height="56dp"     android:layout_alignParentBottom="true"     android:layout_alignParentTop="true"     android:layout_alignWithParentIfMissing="true"     android:scaleType="centerInside"     android:visibility="gone" />  <!-- The subtitle comes before the title, since the height of the title depends on whether the      subtitle is visible or gone. --> <TextView     android:id="@android:id/text2"     style="?android:attr/dropDownItemStyle"     android:layout_width="match_parent"     android:layout_height="29dp"     android:layout_alignParentBottom="true"     android:layout_alignWithParentIfMissing="true"     android:gravity="top"     android:maxLines="1"     android:paddingBottom="4dp"     android:textColor="?android:textColorSecondary"     android:textSize="12sp"     android:visibility="gone" />  <!-- The title is placed above the subtitle, if there is one. If there is no      subtitle, it fills the parent. --> <TextView     android:id="@android:id/text1"     style="?android:attr/dropDownItemStyle"     android:layout_width="match_parent"     android:layout_height="wrap_content"     android:layout_above="@android:id/text2"     android:layout_centerVertical="true"     android:ellipsize="end"     android:maxLines="1"     android:scrollHorizontally="false"     android:textColor="?android:textColorPrimary"     android:textSize="16sp" />  <View     android:id="@+id/suggestion_divider"     android:layout_width="match_parent"     android:layout_height="0.5dp"     android:layout_alignParentBottom="true"     android:layout_alignStart="@android:id/text1"     android:layout_marginStart="8dp"     android:background="@color/divider_color"     android:visibility="gone" /> 

The suggestions background and the commit icon are custom made, the rest of the icons I used can be found at: https://material.io/icons/

ic_search_commit.xml:

<vector xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"     android:width="24dp"     android:height="24dp"     android:autoMirrored="true"     android:viewportHeight="24.0"     android:viewportWidth="24.0">     <path         android:fillColor="@color/active_icon_color"         android:pathData="m18.364,16.95l-8.605,-8.605l7.905,-0l-0.007,-2.001l-11.314,0l0,11.314l1.994,-0l0.007,-7.898l8.605,8.605l1.414,-1.414z" /> 

search_suggestions_bg.xml:

<layer-list xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"> <item>     <shape android:shape="rectangle">         <padding android:top="0.5dp" />         <stroke             android:width="0.5dp"             android:color="@color/divider_color" />     </shape> </item> <item>     <shape android:shape="rectangle">         <solid android:color="@color/cards_and_dialogs_color" />     </shape> </item> </layer-list> 

Add following values to your colors.xml (add values-night only if you are using DayNight theme):

values/colors.xml

<color name="material_light_primary_text">#DE000000</color> <color name="material_light_hint_text">#61000000</color> <color name="material_light_active_icon">#8A000000</color> <color name="material_ripple_light">#1F000000</color> <color name="divider_color">#1F000000</color> <color name="active_icon_color">#8A000000</color> <color name="cards_and_dialogs_color">@android:color/white</color> <color name="quantum_grey_600">#757575</color> 

values-night/colors.xml:

<color name="divider_color">#1FFFFFFF</color> <color name="active_icon_color">@android:color/white</color> <color name="cards_and_dialogs_color">#424242</color> 

3) Last part, make the magic happen in code:

Setup and initialize SearchView in your desired activity

private MenuItem mSearchItem; private Toolbar mToolbar;  @Override protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {     super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);     ...     mToolbar = (Toolbar) findViewById(R.id.toolbar);     setSupportActionBar(mToolbar); }  @Override public boolean onCreateOptionsMenu(Menu menu) {     getMenuInflater().inflate(R.menu.main, menu);      mSearchItem = menu.findItem(R.id.m_search);      MenuItemCompat.setOnActionExpandListener(mSearchItem, new MenuItemCompat.OnActionExpandListener() {         @Override         public boolean onMenuItemActionCollapse(MenuItem item) {             // Called when SearchView is collapsing             if (mSearchItem.isActionViewExpanded()) {                 animateSearchToolbar(1, false, false);             }             return true;         }          @Override         public boolean onMenuItemActionExpand(MenuItem item) {             // Called when SearchView is expanding             animateSearchToolbar(1, true, true);             return true;         }     });      return true; }  public void animateSearchToolbar(int numberOfMenuIcon, boolean containsOverflow, boolean show) {      mToolbar.setBackgroundColor(ContextCompat.getColor(this, android.R.color.white));     mDrawerLayout.setStatusBarBackgroundColor(ContextCompat.getColor(this, R.color.quantum_grey_600));      if (show) {         if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.LOLLIPOP) {             int width = mToolbar.getWidth() -                     (containsOverflow ? getResources().getDimensionPixelSize(R.dimen.abc_action_button_min_width_overflow_material) : 0) -                     ((getResources().getDimensionPixelSize(R.dimen.abc_action_button_min_width_material) * numberOfMenuIcon) / 2);             Animator createCircularReveal = ViewAnimationUtils.createCircularReveal(mToolbar,                     isRtl(getResources()) ? mToolbar.getWidth() - width : width, mToolbar.getHeight() / 2, 0.0f, (float) width);             createCircularReveal.setDuration(250);             createCircularReveal.start();         } else {             TranslateAnimation translateAnimation = new TranslateAnimation(0.0f, 0.0f, (float) (-mToolbar.getHeight()), 0.0f);             translateAnimation.setDuration(220);             mToolbar.clearAnimation();             mToolbar.startAnimation(translateAnimation);         }     } else {         if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.LOLLIPOP) {             int width = mToolbar.getWidth() -                     (containsOverflow ? getResources().getDimensionPixelSize(R.dimen.abc_action_button_min_width_overflow_material) : 0) -                     ((getResources().getDimensionPixelSize(R.dimen.abc_action_button_min_width_material) * numberOfMenuIcon) / 2);             Animator createCircularReveal = ViewAnimationUtils.createCircularReveal(mToolbar,                     isRtl(getResources()) ? mToolbar.getWidth() - width : width, mToolbar.getHeight() / 2, (float) width, 0.0f);             createCircularReveal.setDuration(250);             createCircularReveal.addListener(new AnimatorListenerAdapter() {                 @Override                 public void onAnimationEnd(Animator animation) {                     super.onAnimationEnd(animation);                     mToolbar.setBackgroundColor(getThemeColor(MainActivity.this, R.attr.colorPrimary));                     mDrawerLayout.setStatusBarBackgroundColor(getThemeColor(MainActivity.this, R.attr.colorPrimaryDark));                 }             });             createCircularReveal.start();         } else {             AlphaAnimation alphaAnimation = new AlphaAnimation(1.0f, 0.0f);             Animation translateAnimation = new TranslateAnimation(0.0f, 0.0f, 0.0f, (float) (-mToolbar.getHeight()));             AnimationSet animationSet = new AnimationSet(true);             animationSet.addAnimation(alphaAnimation);             animationSet.addAnimation(translateAnimation);             animationSet.setDuration(220);             animationSet.setAnimationListener(new Animation.AnimationListener() {                 @Override                 public void onAnimationStart(Animation animation) {                  }                  @Override                 public void onAnimationEnd(Animation animation) {                     mToolbar.setBackgroundColor(getThemeColor(MainActivity.this, R.attr.colorPrimary));                 }                  @Override                 public void onAnimationRepeat(Animation animation) {                  }             });             mToolbar.startAnimation(animationSet);         }         mDrawerLayout.setStatusBarBackgroundColor(getThemeColor(MainActivity.this, R.attr.colorPrimaryDark));     } }  private boolean isRtl(Resources resources) {     return resources.getConfiguration().getLayoutDirection() == View.LAYOUT_DIRECTION_RTL; }  private static int getThemeColor(Context context, int id) {     Resources.Theme theme = context.getTheme();     TypedArray a = theme.obtainStyledAttributes(new int[]{id});     int result = a.getColor(0, 0);     a.recycle();     return result; } 

Few things to notice about the code:

1) The animation will adjust it's start point based on your set of number of menu items and if the toolbar has overflow icon, it will detect if layout is LTR or RTL automatically.

2) I'm using navigation drawer activity, so I set StatusBar color to mDrawerLayout, if you are using regular activity, you can set StatusBar color this way:

getWindow().setStatusBarColor(ContextCompat.getColor(this, R.color.quantum_grey_600)); 

3) The circular reveal animation will only work on KitKat and above.

Answer 2

It is actually quite easy to do this, if you are using android.support.v7 library.

Step - 1

Declare a menu item

<item android:id="@+id/action_search" android:title="Search" android:icon="@drawable/abc_ic_search_api_mtrl_alpha" app:showAsAction="ifRoom|collapseActionView" app:actionViewClass="android.support.v7.widget.SearchView" /> 

Step - 2

Extend AppCompatActivity and in the onCreateOptionsMenu setup the SearchView.

import android.support.v7.widget.SearchView;  public class YourActivity extends AppCompatActivity {      ...      @Override     public boolean onCreateOptionsMenu(Menu menu) {         getMenuInflater().inflate(R.menu.menu_home, menu);         // Retrieve the SearchView and plug it into SearchManager         final SearchView searchView = (SearchView) MenuItemCompat.getActionView(menu.findItem(R.id.action_search));         SearchManager searchManager = (SearchManager) getSystemService(SEARCH_SERVICE);         searchView.setSearchableInfo(searchManager.getSearchableInfo(getComponentName()));         return true;     }      ...  }