Android RadioButton Example – Usage and Selection Handling

In Android user interfaces, RadioButtons allow users to select a single choice from a group of mutually exclusive options. They are typically grouped using RadioGroup, which ensures that only one RadioButton can be selected at a time.

This guide explains how to set up RadioButtons, handle user selection, and access the selected value with practical examples.

What Is a RadioButton?

A RadioButton is a UI component that represents a selectable option. RadioButtons work in pairs or groups where only one option should be selected at a time.

A RadioGroup wraps multiple RadioButtons to enforce exclusive selection automatically.

When to Use RadioButton

Use RadioButtons when:

• There is a limited set of choices (e.g., gender, delivery options)
• Only one option should be selected
• You want clear visual feedback of the selected state

For multiple independent selections, use CheckBoxes instead.

Basic RadioButton in XML

Define a RadioGroup with multiple RadioButton elements in your layout (e.g., activity_main.xml):

<RadioGroup
    android:id="@+id/radioGroup"
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="wrap_content"
    android:orientation="vertical"
    android:padding="16dp">

    <RadioButton
        android:id="@+id/rbOption1"
        android:layout_width="wrap_content"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:text="Option 1"/>

    <RadioButton
        android:id="@+id/rbOption2"
        android:layout_width="wrap_content"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:text="Option 2"/>

    <RadioButton
        android:id="@+id/rbOption3"
        android:layout_width="wrap_content"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:text="Option 3"/>
</RadioGroup>

This layout displays three choices stacked vertically.

Handling Selection in Java

To listen for selection changes, set a OnCheckedChangeListener on the RadioGroup:

RadioGroup radioGroup = findViewById(R.id.radioGroup);

radioGroup.setOnCheckedChangeListener((group, checkedId) -> {
    RadioButton selectedRadio = findViewById(checkedId);
    if (selectedRadio != null) {
        String selectedText = selectedRadio.getText().toString();
        Toast.makeText(this, "Selected: " + selectedText, Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
    }
});

Here:

• checkedId is the ID of the selected RadioButton
• You can access text or tag associated with the selection

This listener triggers whenever the user selects a different option.

Accessing Selected Option Programmatically

If you need to read the selected RadioButton on a button click:

Button btnSubmit = findViewById(R.id.btnSubmit);
btnSubmit.setOnClickListener(v -> {
    int selectedId = radioGroup.getCheckedRadioButtonId();
    if (selectedId != -1) {
        RadioButton selectedRadio = findViewById(selectedId);
        String value = selectedRadio.getText().toString();
        // Handle the selected value
    } else {
        Toast.makeText(this, "Please select an option", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
    }
});

This pattern is common when submitting a form.

Example: Gender Selection

To demonstrate a real use case:

<RadioGroup
    android:id="@+id/genderGroup"
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="wrap_content">

    <RadioButton
        android:id="@+id/rbMale"
        android:layout_width="wrap_content"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:text="Male"/>

    <RadioButton
        android:id="@+id/rbFemale"
        android:layout_width="wrap_content"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:text="Female"/>
</RadioGroup>

In code:

RadioGroup genderGroup = findViewById(R.id.genderGroup);
genderGroup.setOnCheckedChangeListener((group, checkedId) -> {
    RadioButton radio = findViewById(checkedId);
    String gender = radio.getText().toString();
    Log.d("Gender", gender);
});

RadioButton With Tags

Use tags if RadioButton text isn’t the data you need:

<RadioButton
    android:id="@+id/rbYes"
    android:layout_width="wrap_content"
    android:layout_height="wrap_content"
    android:text="Yes"
    android:tag="TRUE"/>

Access the tag value:

String tagValue = selectedRadio.getTag().toString();

Tags are useful when the displayed label differs from the logical value.

Styling RadioButtons

You can style RadioButtons using XML attributes or themes:

<RadioButton
    style="@style/Widget.AppCompat.CompoundButton.RadioButton"
    android:textColor="@color/primaryText"
    android:buttonTint="@color/primaryColor"/>

Apply consistent styles across your application for a unified look and feel.

RadioGroup Attributes You Should Know

For example:

android:checkedButton="@id/rbOption2"

preselects the second option.

Best Practices (Senior Engineering Insight)

From real Android application experience:

• Use RadioGroup to enforce mutually exclusive selection
• Always validate that a selection exists before processing data
• Avoid deep nested layouts around RadioGroups for performance
• Use buttonTint with state lists for consistent theming

These practices help build resilient and accessible forms.

Common Issues and Fixes

RadioButton not responding on click:
✔ Confirm the RadioGroup wraps the RadioButtons

No selection detected:
✔ Check for getCheckedRadioButtonId() != -1

Text not updating or binding issue:
✔ Ensure you call findViewById() after setContentView()

Summary

Android RadioButtons are essential for creating simple single-choice interfaces. Together with RadioGroup, they provide a convenient pattern for enforcing exclusive choices. By implementing listeners, accessing selected values, and using tags or styling, you can build integrated forms with clean user interactions.