What is the difference between linear and relative layout?

Question

What is the difference between linear and relative layout?

Answer 1

difference is simple: in LinearLayout we arrange stuff in linear manner (one after another), and in RelativeLayout we can place stuff anywhere on screen.

=> Linear Layout is arranged as a list. Rest they are similar in functionality.

Answer 2

In the relative layout ,all the content in the layout page is related to other contents in the example_layout.xml page

In the case of Linear Layout the elements are displayed in the linear format

Answer 3

LINEAR LAYOUT ::

• In a linear layout, like the name suggests, all the elements are displayed in a linear fashion
• Either Horizontally or Vertically and this behavior is set in android:orientation which is an attribute of the node LinearLayout.
• Linear layouts put every child, one after the other, in a line, either horizontally or vertically.

Click here ---- for --- Android Docs reference for linear layout

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RELATIVE LAYOUT::

• In a relative layout every element arranges itself relative to other elements or a parent element.
• It is helpful while adding views one next to other etc
• With a relative layout you can give each child a LayoutParam that specifies exactly where is should go, relative to the parent or relative to other children.
• Views are layered on top of each other in relative layout

Click here ---- for ---Android Docs reference for Relative layout

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Optimization::Have a look at Optimizing Layout Hierarchies

The Fewer Views, the Better::

1. The number one goal for your layouts should be using the fewest number of Views possible. The fewer Views you have to work with, the faster your application will run. Excessive nesting of Views further slows down your application.

2. A RelativeLayout hierarchy will typically use fewer Views and have a flatter tree than a LinearLayout hierarchy. With LinearLayout, you must create a new LinearLayout every time you want to change the orientation of your views – creating additional Views and a more nested hierarchy. As a result, it is recommended that you first use RelativeLayout for any layout that has any complexity. There is a high probability you will reduce the number of Views – and the depth of your View tree – by doing so.

Answer 4

Linear Layouts

1. Linear Layouts are great for aligning views in rows and columns.
2. They are a good way to divide up one place using layout weights that will expand or shrink views depending on the size of the Display.

Relative Layouts

1. Relative Layouts are great for positioning elements relative to one another.
2. For example putting B below A or putting C in the lower left hand corner.Check the Screen shoot
3. Relative layout also make it easy to overlap views. For Example : view A is overlapping view B. Check the Screen-Shoot

Answer 5

RelativeLayout is more flexible than LinearLayout but if you have proper knowledge about LinearLayout you Can use that too. For LinearLayout every attribute has a significant position hardcoded by the developer. For RelativeLayout you can change the position by relating with others attribute.

Answer 6

The difference between linear and relative layout in android is that in linear layout, the "children" can be placed either horizontally or vertically, but, in relative layout, the children can be placed with relative distance from each other. This is the difference between linear and relative layouts.