How can I create a border around an Android LinearLayout?

Question

I have one big layout, and one smaller layout inside of it.

How do I create a line border around the small layout?

Answer 1

Sure. You can add a border to any layout you want. Basically, you need to create a custom drawable and add it as a background to your layout. example:

Create a file called customborder.xml in your drawable folder:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
 <shape xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android" android:shape="rectangle">
   <corners android:radius="20dp"/> 
   <padding android:left="10dp" android:right="10dp" android:top="10dp" android:bottom="10dp"/>
   <stroke android:width="1dp" android:color="#CCCCCC"/>
 </shape>

Now apply it as a background to your smaller layout:

<LinearLayout android:orientation="vertical"
    android:layout_width="fill_parent"
    android:layout_height="fill_parent"
    android:background="@drawable/customborder">

That should do the trick.

Also see:

• http://tekeye.biz/2012/add-a-border-to-an-android-layout
• How to add border around linear layout except at the bottom?

Answer 2

Try this:

For example, let's define res/drawable/my_custom_background.xml as:

(create this layout in your drawable folder) layout_border.xml

  <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<layer-list xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">
    <item>
        <shape android:shape="rectangle">
            <stroke android:width="2dp" android:height="2dp"
                android:color="#FF0000" />
            <solid android:color="#000000" />
            <padding android:left="1dp" android:top="1dp" android:right="1dp"
                android:bottom="1dp" />

            <corners android:radius="1dp" android:bottomRightRadius="5dp"
                android:bottomLeftRadius="0dp" android:topLeftRadius="5dp"
                android:topRightRadius="0dp" />
        </shape>
    </item>

</layer-list>

main.xml

<LinearLayout 
    android:layout_gravity="center"
    android:layout_width="200dp" 
    android:layout_height="200dp"   
    android:background="@drawable/layout_border" />
</LinearLayout>

Answer 3

I'll add Android docs link to other answers.

https://developer.android.com/guide/topics/resources/drawable-resource.html#Shape

It describes all attributes of the Shape Drawable and stroke among them to set the border.

Example:

<shape xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android" android:shape="rectangle">
  <stroke android:width="1dp" android:color="#F00"/>
  <solid android:color="#0000"/>
</shape>

Red border with transparent background.

Answer 4

This solution will only add the border, the body of the LinearLayout will be transparent.

First, Create this border drawable in the drawable folder, border.xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<shape xmlns:android= "http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    android:shape="rectangle">
    <stroke android:width="2dp" android:color="#ec0606"/>
    <corners android:radius="10dp"/>
</shape>

Then, in your LinearLayout View, add the border.xml as the background like this

<LinearLayout 
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="match_parent"
    android:orientation="vertical"
    android:background="@drawable/border">

Answer 5

Don't want to create a drawable resource?

  <FrameLayout
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="wrap_content"
    android:background="@android:color/black"
    android:minHeight="128dp">

    <FrameLayout
      android:layout_width="match_parent"
      android:layout_height="match_parent"
      android:layout_margin="1dp"
      android:background="@android:color/white">

      <TextView ... />
    </FrameLayout>
  </FrameLayout>

Answer 6

Create a one xml file in drawable folder

<stroke
    android:width="2dp"
    android:color="#B40404" />

<padding
    android:bottom="5dp"
    android:left="5dp"
    android:right="5dp"
    android:top="5dp" />

<corners android:radius="4dp" />

Now call this xml to your small layout background

android:background="@drawable/yourxml"