TextField in JavaFX

Introduction

JavaFX is a collection of graphics and media bundles that allow developers to create, develop, debug, and publish rich client applications that work consistently across several platforms. JavaFX applications' appearance and feel can be changed. Designers can easily alter the appearance and design of the applications.TextField is one of the most often used components in JavaFX. It is so prevalent that we use it unconsciously. Developers use Textfields in JavaFX to let the user enter the required text for the application to read. TextField in JavaFX and its applications will be covered in this article.

TextFields in JavaFX

TextField allows the user to write a limited quantity of text. When the user indicates that the text entry is finished, the text field triggers an action event (usually by pressing 'Enter'). We use a text area if we need to collect more than one line of information from the user.
A TextField class in the JavaFX package assists users in entering unformatted text that the program can read. Since it only supports a single line of input text, the text should not be on several lines. The class 'javafx.scene.control.TextField' can be used to instantiate this JavaFX TextField control. Different uses and an example of TextField in JavaFX are covered in the following sections.

Uses of TextFields

We can see the uses of TextField in JavaFX below.

• Inserting texts for a particular purpose: It lets the user insert texts or combinations of alphabets and integers for particular purposes. 
  Example: TextField box is used to input the software installation location or username to log in. The formatting can also be made with the need for an entry in mind. 
  Another example can be where the developer might want the user to input a contact number. Here the purpose of the TextField would be to take in integers.
• Dedicated use of space: A TextField object is a text component that allows editing a single line of text. As each part of a window may be reserved for a particular purpose, the developer can choose where to put the TextField in JavaFX.
• Targeted positioning: A TextField in JavaFX allows the developers to let the user input text in a targeted window position. This enables the developer to design a targeted area of focus in the window. It also enables the user to have easy accessibility.

Example

We will look into an example of 'TextField in JavaFX'. 

package application;
import javafx.application.Application;
import javafx.event.ActionEvent;
import javafx.event.EventHandler;
import javafx.scene.Scene;
import javafx.scene.control.TextField;
import javafx.scene.layout.HBox;
import javafx.stage.Stage;

public class Main extends Application {
	@Override
	public void start(Stage primaryStage) throws Exception {
		primaryStage.setTitle("TextField Explorer");
		// 1. Create new TextField
		TextField textField = new TextField();
		// 2. Set Prompt Text
		textField.setPromptText("Enter some text");
		textField.setFocusTraversable(false);
		// 3. Set On Action
		textField.setOnAction(new EventHandler<ActionEvent>() {
			@Override
			public void handle(ActionEvent event) {
				System.out.println("Congratulations, you entered some text!");
				// 4. Get Text from TextField
				System.out.println(textField.getText());
				// 5. Set Text on TextField
				textField.setText("I replaced your text!");
			}
		});
		HBox hbox = new HBox(textField);
		Scene scene = new Scene(hbox, 500, 300);
		primaryStage.setScene(scene);
		primaryStage.show();
	}
	public static void main(String[] args) {
		Application.launch(args);
	}
}

You can also try this code with Online Java Compiler

Run Code

Output

We will be getting an output displaying the text field. It shows that the text field is ready for input.

We will now enter the text "I love coding ninjas" in the text field. The window below shows the text being entered in the text box provided.

Once the required entry of text is fulfilled, the user presses the enter key as an action triggering event.

Immediately after the triggering event, the terminal window above immediately shows a congratulatory message followed by the text input that was given. In this case, it is  "I love coding ninjas". Therefore, confirming the entry of the text.

Simultaneously the popup window where the text field exists reformats itself and shows that the text that has been replaced with the handler. This is done with the message "I replaced your text!"
With the above demonstration, we covered a simple example of TextField in JavaFX.