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JavaFX

Introduction to JavaFX

JavaFX is a software platform designed to deliver rich internet applications that can run across a wide array of devices. It is intended to replace Swing as the standard GUI library for Java.

What is JavaFX?​

JavaFX is a set of graphics and media packages that enables developers to design, create, test, debug, and deploy rich client applications that operate consistently across diverse platforms. It is a part of the JDK (Java Development Kit) since JDK 8.

JavaFX provides a powerful Java-based UI platform capable of handling large-scale data-driven business applications. It provides a special declarative syntax called FXML, which is an XML-based language that provides the structure for building a user interface separate from the application logic of your code. This separation of the presentation and application logic is attractive for large and complex applications.

Setting Up JavaFX​

Before we can start programming with JavaFX, we need to set it up. The latest version of JavaFX is JavaFX 14. Here is how you can set it up:

  1. Download the JavaFX SDK from here.
  2. Unzip the downloaded file to a desired location.
  3. Add the path of the lib folder of the unzipped JavaFX SDK to the PATH environment variable.

Creating Your First JavaFX Application​

Now that we have JavaFX set up, let's create a simple JavaFX application.

import javafx.application.Application;
import javafx.scene.Scene;
import javafx.scene.control.Label;
import javafx.stage.Stage;

public class HelloWorld extends Application {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        launch(args);
    }

    @Override
    public void start(Stage primaryStage) throws Exception {
        Label label = new Label("Hello, World!");
        Scene scene = new Scene(label, 200, 100);
        primaryStage.setScene(scene);
        primaryStage.show();
    }
}

In the above code, we first import the necessary JavaFX classes. We then create a class that extends Application. The Application class is the base class for all JavaFX applications.

The main method launches the JavaFX application. The start method is the main entry point for all JavaFX applications, and it is called after the init method has returned, and after the system is ready for the application to begin running.

A Stage is the top-level container, and a Scene is the container for all content in a scene graph. The Scene class holds all the physical contents in a JavaFX application.

The primaryStage.show() method is used to display the stage.

JavaFX Basic Components​

JavaFX comes with a large set of built-in components for building your desktop applications, such as:

  • Buttons: Buttons in JavaFX can be of three different types: Normal buttons, Default buttons, and Cancel buttons.

  • Labels: A Label is a non-editable text control that can display a text element, an image, or both.

  • Text Fields: A Text Field is a text control that allows a user to input a single line of unformatted text.

  • Text Areas: A Text Area is a text control that allows a user to input multiple lines of text.

  • Check Boxes: A Check Box is a control that allows a user to select multiple options from a number of choices.

  • Radio Buttons: A Radio Button is a control that allows a user to select one option from a group of options.

  • Choice Boxes: A Choice Box is a control that allows a user to choose an option from a drop-down list.

  • Menus: A Menu is a piece of functionality that offers various commands to a user.

Conclusion​

JavaFX is a powerful platform that makes it easy to create and deliver desktop applications as well as rich internet applications that can run across a wide variety of devices. It comes with a large set of built-in components that are easy to use.

In this guide, we have learned the basics of JavaFX, how to set it up and create a simple JavaFX application, and learned about some basic JavaFX components. There's much more to learn about JavaFX, but this guide should help you get started!

Happy Coding!