Android Button Example – Setup, Click Handling, and Usage

Buttons are one of the most frequently used UI components in Android apps. They allow users to trigger actions such as submitting a form, navigating to a new screen, or performing a task. This guide explains how to create and use buttons in Android with modern practices and clear examples.

What Is a Button in Android?

A Button is a UI widget that users can tap or click to perform an action. Android’s Button class is a subclass of TextView, and it supports all text-related attributes while providing built-in click behavior.

Buttons are typically declared in XML layouts and paired with click listeners in code.

Adding a Button in Layout XML

Create a layout (e.g., activity_main.xml) with a Button:

<LinearLayout
    xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="match_parent"
    android:orientation="vertical"
    android:gravity="center"
    android:padding="16dp">

    <Button
        android:id="@+id/btnClickMe"
        android:layout_width="wrap_content"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:text="Click Me"/>
</LinearLayout>

This defines a basic button centered in the screen.

Handling Button Clicks in Java

In your MainActivity.java, attach a click listener to handle button taps:

public class MainActivity extends AppCompatActivity {

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

        Button btnClickMe = findViewById(R.id.btnClickMe);
        btnClickMe.setOnClickListener(view -> {
            Toast.makeText(this, "Button clicked!", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
        });
    }
}

Here:

• The button is referenced using findViewById()
• The click listener shows a toast message

This is the most common pattern for button interactions.

Using Buttons with AppCompat

If you use AppCompatButton for theming:

<androidx.appcompat.widget.AppCompatButton
    android:id="@+id/btnAppCompat"
    android:layout_width="wrap_content"
    android:layout_height="wrap_content"
    android:text="AppCompat Button"/>

AppCompat widgets ensure consistent style across Android versions and support Material theming.

Multiple Buttons and Click Routing

If you have more than one button:

<Button
    android:id="@+id/btnStart"
    android:layout_width="wrap_content"
    android:layout_height="wrap_content"
    android:text="Start"/>

<Button
    android:id="@+id/btnStop"
    android:layout_width="wrap_content"
    android:layout_height="wrap_content"
    android:text="Stop"/>

Then:

btnStart.setOnClickListener(v -> handleStart());
btnStop.setOnClickListener(v -> handleStop());

This separates click logic into reusable methods.

Buttons with Navigation

Buttons frequently trigger navigation to another screen:

Intent intent = new Intent(MainActivity.this, SecondActivity.class);
startActivity(intent);

Attach this inside the click listener to transition to SecondActivity.

Enabling/Disabling Buttons

You can control button availability based on application logic:

btnClickMe.setEnabled(false); // Disable
btnClickMe.setEnabled(true);  // Enable

This is useful for form validation workflows.

Styling Buttons

Text and Color Styling

<Button
    android:layout_width="wrap_content"
    android:layout_height="wrap_content"
    android:textColor="@color/white"
    android:background="@color/primaryColor"
    android:text="Submit"/>

Use colors and styles consistent with your app’s theme.

Material Design Buttons

Using Material Components:

<com.google.android.material.button.MaterialButton
    android:id="@+id/btnMaterial"
    style="@style/Widget.MaterialComponents.Button"
    android:text="Material Button"/>

Material buttons provide elevation, ripple effects, and built-in theming.

Accessibility Considerations

To support screen readers and accessibility tools:

<Button
    android:id="@+id/btnAction"
    android:layout_width="wrap_content"
    android:layout_height="wrap_content"
    android:text="Submit"
    android:contentDescription="Submits the form"/>

Always provide meaningful labels and descriptions.

Preventing Double Clicks

In cases where network requests or navigation occur, prevent rapid double taps:

btnClickMe.setOnClickListener(v -> {
    btnClickMe.setEnabled(false);
    performAction();
});

Then re-enable later when the task completes.

Buttons with Icons

You can add icons to buttons:

<Button
    android:layout_width="wrap_content"
    android:drawableLeft="@drawable/ic_send"
    android:padding="12dp"
    android:text="Send"/>

Or use MaterialButton with icon support:

<com.google.android.material.button.MaterialButton
    android:layout_width="wrap_content"
    android:layout_height="wrap_content"
    app:icon="@drawable/ic_send"
    app:iconPadding="8dp"
    android:text="Send"/>

This improves UI clarity.

Best Practices (Senior Engineering Insight)

From real application development experience:

• Use AppCompat or Material Buttons for consistent theming across versions
• Keep button text descriptive and concise (e.g., “Save”, “Send”, “Next”)
• Avoid heavy logic inside click listeners — delegate to ViewModel or handler
• Use feedback UI (loading indicator) for long operations

These practices increase usability and maintainability.

Common Issues and Fixes

Button doesn’t respond to clicks:
✔ Ensure you set the click listener after setContentView()
✔ Check view IDs are correct

Button overlaps or is clipped:
✔ Use proper layout constraints (ConstraintLayout recommended)

Button style inconsistent across devices:
✔ Use AppCompat or Material components

Summary

Buttons are essential interactive components in Android. Whether you’re showing a simple toast, triggering navigation, validating input, or performing network calls, buttons connect UI with app logic. By using modern patterns (AppCompat/Material), clean click handling, and accessibility best practices, you can build responsive and intuitive user interfaces.