What is JavaFX?

Needs and Advantages of JavaFX

Here are some key points about the needs and advantages of JavaFX:

1. Rich User Interface:
   • Allows creation of visually appealing and modern UIs
   • Supports CSS styling for customizable designs
2. Cross-platform compatibility:
   • Runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux
   • Enables development of consistent applications across different platforms
3. Hardware acceleration:
   • Utilizes GPU for improved performance in rendering graphics and animations
4. Multimedia support:
   • Built-in capabilities for audio, video, and image handling
5. FXML for separation of UI and logic:
   • Enables designers and developers to work more efficiently
   • Improves maintainability of code
6. Scene Builder tool:
   • Visual layout tool for rapid UI development
   • Reduces time spent on UI design
7. 3D graphics support:
   • Enables creation of 3D visualizations and games
8. Web integration:
   • WebView component for embedding web content in applications
9. Touch and gesture support:
   • Facilitates development of touch-friendly applications
10. Animation framework:
    • Simplifies creation of smooth animations and transitions
11. Swing interoperability:
    • Allows gradual migration from Swing to JavaFX
12. Active development and community support:
    • Regular updates and improvements
    • Large community for resources and problem-solving

History of JavaFX

Chris Oliver is the creator of JavaFX. Form Follows Functions (F3) was the project's original name. Its purpose is to provide more advanced functionality for GUI application development. In June 2005, Sun Microsystems purchased the F3 project and renamed it JavaFX.

Sun Microsystems made an official announcement during the W3 Conference in 2007.JavaFX 1.0 was released in October 2008. ORACLE Corporation purchased Sun Microsystems in 2009 and launched JavaFX 1.2. JavaFX 1.8, which was released on March 18, 2014, is the most recent version.

Features of JavaFX

The JavaFX library has a number of unique features that make it a top choice for developers creating rich client applications. The following are some of these characteristics/features:

Architecture of JavaFX

There are various built-in features in JavaFX that are interrelated. The JavaFX library contains a useful set of APIs, classes, and interfaces that are more than enough to create sophisticated online applications and graphical user interfaces that work consistently across different platforms.

The JavaFX architecture is made up of a number of different components. The following is a brief description of these components:

• JavaFX API: The top layer of the JavaFX architecture contains the JavaFX public API, which implements all of the essential classes for creating a full-featured JavaFX application with rich graphics.
• javafx.animation: It offers classes for combining transition-based animations to JavaFX nodes, such as fill, fade, rotate, scale, and translation.
• javafx.css:  It consists of classes for applying CSS-like styling to JavaFX GUI applications.
• javafx.geometry: It offers classes for representing 2D figures and performing methods on them.
• javafx.scene: This JavaFX API package contains classes and interfaces for establishing the scene graph. It also renders sub-packages like canvas, control, input, layout, paint, shape, transform, web, and so on.
• javafx.application: This package contains a set of classes that are responsible for the JavaFX application's life cycle.
• javafx.event :  It contains classes and interfaces for performing and managing JavaFX events.
• javafx.stage: The top-level container classes for the JavaFX application are contained in this JavaFX API package.
• Scene Graph: The construction of any GUI application begins with the creation of a Scene Graph. All GUI applications in JavaFX are built using only a Scene Graph. The Scene Graph is made up of nodes, which are the building blocks of rich internet applications.
• Quantum Toolkit: It connects Prism and GWT and makes them accessible to JavaFX.

LifeCycle of a JavaFX Application

A JavaFX Application class has three life cycle methods in total. These techniques are:

start(): This method is the JavaFX application's entry point procedure, where all of JavaFX's graphics code is written.

init(): This method is a static method that can be extended. The user is unable to create a stage or scenario using this method.

stop(): The stop() function, like the init() method, is an empty method that can be altered. The user can use this method to write the code that will bring the application to a halt.

So when a user runs a JavaFX application, there are a few tasks that must be performed in a specific order. The order in which a JavaFX application is launched is as follows.

• The application class is first generated as an instance.
• Following that, the init() method is invoked.
• Then the start() method is called after the init() method.
• The launcher waits for the JavaFX application to finish before calling the stop() method after calling the start() method.

Termination of JavaFX Application

The JavaFX application is halted implicitly when the last window of the JavaFX application is closed. The user can disable this function by calling the static method setImplicitExit() with the Boolean value "False". This method should only ever be used in a static situation.

A JavaFX application can also be directly stopped by using one of the two methods, Platform.exit() or system.exit(int).

JavaFX Event Handling

When the user interacts with the application nodes in JavaFX, an event happens. There are many references that the user can utilize to construct an event. In order to trigger an event, the user can, for example, use a mouse, press any key on the keyboard, or navigate through any page of the program. As a result, we may argue that events are essentially announcements that inform us that something has occurred on the user's end. An ideal application is one that handles events in the shortest amount of time possible.

Processing of Events in JavaFX:

Events are generally utilized in JavaFX to tell the program about the actions taken by the user. The instrument to achieve the events, route the event to its goal and offer the application the ability to handle the events is implemented by JavaFX.

The class javafx.event.Event is provided by JavaFX. This class contains all of the subclasses that describe the different types of events that can be created in JavaFX. Any event is a subclass of the Event class or one of its subclasses.

In JavaFX, there are numerous events, such as MouseEvent, KeyEvent, ScrollEvent, DragEvent, and so on. By inheriting the class javafx.event.Event, a user can further customize their unique event.

Different Types of Events:

In general, JavaFX events are divided into the following categories:

Foreground Events: Foreground events are mostly caused by the user's direct interaction with the application's graphical user interface. For instance, tapping a key, selecting an item from a list, scrolling the page, and so on.

Background Events: Background events do not require the user to engage with the program. These events typically occur as a result of operating system interruptions, operation completion, and other factors.

Different Classes of JavaFX Event Handling

JavaFX provides several classes for handling events, enabling developers to manage user interactions effectively. Below are the key classes involved in event handling:

• Event
  This is the base class for all events in JavaFX, representing any occurrence or action, such as a mouse click or key press.
• EventHandler
  This interface is used to handle events. Implementing this interface allows developers to define how specific events should be processed.
• ActionEvent
  Represents action-related events such as button clicks or menu item selections.
• MouseEvent
  Handles events related to mouse actions, such as clicking, dragging, or moving the mouse.
• KeyEvent
  Manages keyboard-related events, like key presses and releases.
• WindowEvent
  Deals with window-related events such as opening, closing, or minimizing a window.

JavaFX 2D Shapes

JavaFX offers a comprehensive API for creating and manipulating 2D shapes, allowing developers to draw geometric figures on the screen. These shapes can be filled with colors, stroked with outlines, and manipulated for various visual effects. Some of the commonly used shapes include lines, rectangles, circles, and polygons. The flexibility of JavaFX's 2D shape API enables the creation of detailed and intricate graphical elements, making it suitable for graphical applications, games, and more.

Types of 2D Shapes

JavaFX supports a wide range of 2D shapes, each offering different functionalities. These include:

• Line
  A simple line drawn between two points.
• Rectangle
  A four-sided shape defined by its height and width.
• Circle
  A shape defined by its radius and centered at a specific point.
• Ellipse
  Similar to a circle but with distinct width and height (major and minor axes).
• Polygon
  A multi-sided shape defined by multiple points.
• Polyline
  A series of connected lines formed by multiple points.
• Arc
  A portion of a circle defined by its radius, start angle, and length.

JavaFX Effects

JavaFX provides a rich set of built-in visual effects that can be applied to nodes, enhancing the graphical output of applications. These effects are used to create visual alterations such as lighting, shadows, blurring, and color adjustments. Some commonly used effects include:

• DropShadow
  Adds a shadow effect behind a node, enhancing its depth perception.
• GaussianBlur
  Creates a blurred appearance on the node, softening its edges and details.
• ColorAdjust
  Adjusts the brightness, contrast, saturation, and hue of a node's color.
• Bloom
  Enhances the brightness of lighter areas in a node, creating a glowing effect.
• Reflection
  Creates a mirror-like reflection of a node below itself.

Types of JavaFX Effects

JavaFX provides a variety of built-in effects that can be applied to nodes in the scene graph to enhance the visual appearance of your application. Some common types of JavaFX effects include:

1. Blur: Softens the edges of an object
2. Glow: Adds a halo-like effect around an object
3. DropShadow: Creates a shadow behind an object
4. Reflection: Adds a mirror-like reflection below an object
5. ColorAdjust: Modifies the hue, saturation, brightness, and contrast of an object
6. Lighting: Simulates a light source shining on an object
7. BoxBlur: Applies a box blur effect to an object
8. GaussianBlur: Applies a Gaussian blur effect for smoother blurring
9. InnerShadow: Adds a shadow effect inside an object
10. SepiaTone: Applies a sepia color tone to an object

These effects can be combined and customized to create unique visual styles for your JavaFX application.

JavaFX Texts

JavaFX provides robust support for working with text through its Text class. This class allows you to create, manipulate, and style text in your application. Key features of JavaFX Texts include:

1. Text rendering: High-quality text rendering with support for various fonts
2. Text styling: Apply styles like bold, italic, underline, and strikethrough
3. Text metrics: Access to font metrics for precise text layout
4. Text flow: Ability to flow text around other objects in the scene
5. Rich text support: Combine different styles within a single Text node
6. Text effects: Apply visual effects specifically designed for text
7. Bidirectional text: Support for both left-to-right and right-to-left text
8. Text alignment: Control text alignment (left, right, center, justified)
9. Text wrapping: Automatic wrapping of text to fit within a specified width

JavaFX Texts provide a powerful way to display and manipulate textual content in your application's user interface.

Properties of JavaFX Texts

Here's a table explaining some key properties of JavaFX Texts:

These properties allow for fine-grained control over the appearance and behavior of text in JavaFX applications.

JavaFX Animations

JavaFX provides a powerful animation framework that allows developers to create smooth, visually appealing transitions and effects. Key aspects of JavaFX Animations include:

1. Timeline: The core class for creating time-based animations
2. KeyFrame: Defines specific points in an animation where values change
3. Interpolation: Smooth transitions between keyframes using various interpolators
4. Transitions: Pre-built animation classes for common effects (e.g., FadeTransition, ScaleTransition)
5. ParallelTransition: Run multiple animations simultaneously
6. SequentialTransition: Run animations in sequence
7. PathTransition: Animate a node along a specified path
8. Animation properties: Control duration, rate, cycles, and auto-reverse
9. Event handlers: Trigger actions at specific points in the animation
10. Binding: Bind animation properties to other objects for dynamic effects

JavaFX Animations provide a flexible and efficient way to create dynamic, interactive user interfaces and visual effects in your application.

Different Classes of JavaFX Animations/Transitions

JavaFX provides several classes for creating animations and transitions, enabling developers to enhance the interactivity and visual appeal of applications. Below are the main classes used for animations and transitions:

• Animation
  This is the base class for all animations in JavaFX, providing methods to control timing and repetition.
• TranslateTransition
  Moves a node from one position to another over a specified duration.
• FadeTransition
  Alters the opacity of a node, creating fade-in or fade-out effects.
• RotateTransition
  Rotates a node around a pivot point, making it spin or rotate over a specific angle.
• ScaleTransition
  Changes the size of a node by scaling it up or down.
• PathTransition
  Moves a node along a specified path, such as a line or curve.
• SequentialTransition
  Plays multiple animations in sequence, one after another.
• ParallelTransition
  Plays multiple animations simultaneously.

JavaFX 3D Shapes

JavaFX extends its graphics capabilities by supporting 3D shapes, allowing developers to add depth and realism to their applications. These 3D shapes can be rotated, transformed, and lit using different lighting effects. JavaFX provides a simple and powerful API for creating and manipulating 3D objects, making it suitable for applications like simulations, games, and data visualization. The 3D objects interact with the scene and can be enhanced with textures, materials, and lighting to create a more immersive user experience.

Types of 3D Shapes in JavaFX

JavaFX offers several predefined 3D shapes that can be used to build visually rich applications. These shapes include:

• Box
  A 3D rectangular shape defined by its width, height, and depth.
• Sphere
  A 3D round object defined by its radius.
• Cylinder
  A 3D object with a circular base and a specified height, resembling a tube.
• MeshView
  Represents custom 3D shapes by allowing developers to define vertices and edges to create complex forms.

Steps to Create a 3D Shape:

To create a 3D shape in JavaFX, follow these basic steps:

Step 1: Set Up the Scene
Define the root node and initialize a Scene object.

Step 2: Create the 3D Shape
Instantiate a 3D shape such as Box, Sphere, or Cylinder with specified dimensions.

Step 3: Apply Transformations
Use rotation, scaling, and translation methods to position the shape in the scene.

Step 4: Add Lighting
Add PointLight or AmbientLight to illuminate the 3D shape for a realistic effect.

Step 5: Add Shape to Scene
Attach the 3D shape to the scene’s root node.

Different Classes of JavaFX 3D Shapes

JavaFX provides specific classes for handling 3D shapes, each with its unique properties:

• Box
  Represents a cuboid or rectangular prism, defined by its width, height, and depth.
• Sphere
  Represents a round 3D object, defined by its radius and divisions (smoothness of the surface).
• Cylinder
  A cylindrical 3D shape, defined by its height and radius, and can be used to create tubes or pillars.
• MeshView
  Allows for custom 3D shapes by defining a mesh of triangles or polygons, giving developers the flexibility to create complex 3D models.
• TriangleMesh
  A subclass of MeshView, specifically used for creating shapes out of triangles. This is useful for defining complex geometrical forms in 3D space.

JavaFX Transformations

JavaFX Transformations allow you to modify the position, orientation, and size of nodes in your scene graph. These transformations can be applied to any node, including shapes, text, and even groups of objects. Transformations in JavaFX are powerful tools for creating dynamic and interactive user interfaces, as well as for implementing animations and visual effects.

Key aspects of JavaFX Transformations include:

1. Non-destructive: Transformations don't change the original properties of the node.
2. Combinable: Multiple transformations can be applied to a single node.
3. Efficient: JavaFX optimizes transformations for performance.
4. Animatable: Transformations can be easily animated for smooth visual effects.
5. Hierarchical: Transformations applied to a parent node affect all its children.

Different classes of JavaFX Transformations

• Translate • Moves a node in 2D or 3D space • Properties: translateX, translateY, translateZ
• Scale • Resizes a node • Properties: scaleX, scaleY, scaleZ
• Rotate • Rotates a node around a specified point • Properties: angle, pivotX, pivotY, pivotZ
• Shear • Skews a node along the X and Y axes • Properties: shearX, shearY
• Affine • Combines multiple transformations into a single matrix • Allows for complex transformations

JavaFX UI Controls

JavaFX provides a rich set of UI controls that allow developers to create interactive and user-friendly interfaces. These controls range from basic elements like buttons and text fields to more complex components like tables and charts. JavaFX UI controls are highly customizable, both in terms of functionality and appearance, and they support CSS styling for consistent theming across your application.

Key features of JavaFX UI controls include:

1. Event handling for user interactions
2. Property binding for dynamic updates
3. Accessibility support
4. Internationalization and localization capabilities
5. Skinning and CSS styling for visual customization

Different classes of JavaFX UI controls

• Basic Controls • Button: Triggers an action when clicked • Label: Displays read-only text • TextField: Allows single-line text input • PasswordField: Masked text input for sensitive data
• Selection Controls • CheckBox: Allows binary choices • RadioButton: Mutually exclusive options within a group • ChoiceBox: Drop-down list for selecting a single item • ComboBox: Combination of TextField and ChoiceBox
• Complex Controls • ListView: Displays a scrollable list of items • TableView: Displays data in a tabular format • TreeView: Displays hierarchical data • TabPane: Organizes content into selectable tabs
• Date and Time Controls • DatePicker: Allows selection of a date from a calendar • Spinner: Incremental selection of values (can be used for time)
• Layout Controls • ScrollPane: Provides scrollable view of its content • SplitPane: Divides space between nodes with movable divider • Accordion: Stacks tiles vertically with one expanded at a time
• Miscellaneous Controls • ProgressBar: Shows the progress of a task • Slider: Allows selection of a value from a range • ColorPicker: Allows selection of a color • Tooltip: Displays additional information on hover

JavaFX Charts

• Line Chart • Plots data points connected by straight line segments • Useful for showing trends over time
• Area Chart • Similar to Line Chart, but with area below the line filled • Effective for comparing cumulative totals
• Bar Chart • Represents data with rectangular bars • Can be oriented vertically or horizontally
• Pie Chart • Circular chart divided into sectors • Ideal for showing proportions of a whole
• Scatter Chart • Plots individual data points on a coordinate system • Useful for showing correlation between two variables
• Bubble Chart • Extension of Scatter Chart with variable-sized data points • Can represent three dimensions of data
• Stacked Bar Chart • Shows the composition of each bar in a Bar Chart • Useful for comparing total amounts and their composition
• Candlestick Chart • Specialized chart for financial data • Shows open, close, high, and low values
• Chart Customization • Axis customization (linear, logarithmic, category) • Legend positioning and styling • Data point symbols and colors • Animation of data changes
• Interactivity • Zooming and panning • Data hovering for detailed information • Selection of data points or series

Types of Charts

JavaFX provides various types of charts that can be used to visually represent data. These include:

• Line Chart
• Bar Chart
• Pie Chart
• Scatter Chart
• Area Chart
• Bubble Chart

Different Classes of JavaFX Charts

JavaFX offers a variety of chart classes, each with unique properties and functionalities to visualize data effectively:

• LineChart
  Displays information as a series of data points connected by straight line segments. It is useful for showing trends over time.
• BarChart
  Represents categorical data with rectangular bars, where the length of the bar is proportional to the data value.
• PieChart
  Displays data as a circular chart divided into slices, representing proportions of a whole.
• ScatterChart
  Shows data points plotted on two axes, often used to observe correlations between two variables.
• AreaChart
  Similar to a line chart but with the area under the line filled, useful for representing cumulative data.
• BubbleChart
  A variation of the scatter chart that uses circles (bubbles) to represent data, with the size of the bubble proportional to the data value.

JavaFX Layouts

JavaFX provides a set of layout containers that control the positioning and sizing of nodes within a scene. Layouts are essential for arranging UI elements in a structured and flexible way. They help manage the appearance of an application across different screen sizes, ensuring that UI elements are aligned properly, whether horizontally, vertically, or in grids. Common layout classes include VBox, HBox, GridPane, and BorderPane. These layouts allow developers to arrange components dynamically based on the application's needs.

Steps to Create a JavaFX Layout

To create a layout in JavaFX, follow these steps:

Step 1: Set Up the Scene
Create a root node, such as VBox or HBox, that will hold other UI elements.

Step 2: Add UI Components
Add buttons, labels, text fields, or other controls to the layout.

Step 3: Configure the Layout Properties
Set alignment, padding, spacing, or other properties to control how the components are arranged.

Step 4: Add Layout to Scene
Add the layout to the Scene object and display it in the Stage.

Different Classes of JavaFX Layouts

JavaFX offers a variety of layout classes for organizing UI elements, each providing unique positioning behavior:

• HBox
  Arranges nodes in a horizontal row. Useful for layouts where components need to be aligned side by side.
• VBox
  Arranges nodes in a vertical column, ideal for vertically stacking UI components.
• GridPane
  Positions nodes in a grid of rows and columns, making it perfect for form-like layouts or organizing elements in a matrix.
• BorderPane
  Divides the scene into five regions (top, bottom, left, right, center), allowing for complex layouts with header, footer, and sidebar sections.
• FlowPane
  Arranges nodes in a flow, either horizontally or vertically, wrapping when space runs out. It is useful for creating dynamic layouts with flexible wrapping behavior.
• StackPane
  Lays out nodes on top of each other, stacking them in layers. This is useful for overlays or simple centered layouts.

Setting up JavaFX in IDE

To set up JavaFX in your IDE, follow these steps:

Step 1: Install JDK with JavaFX Support
Download and install the latest JDK that includes JavaFX or download the JavaFX SDK separately.

Step 2: Configure JavaFX SDK in IDE
Go to your IDE's settings and add the JavaFX SDK library to your project by setting the correct path.

Step 3: Create a JavaFX Project
Start a new JavaFX project in your IDE using the project templates provided (if available) or configure it manually.

Step 4: Add JavaFX Library in Build Configuration
Modify the build configuration (like pom.xml for Maven or build.gradle for Gradle) to include JavaFX dependencies.

Step 5: Write JavaFX Code
Create a Main class that extends Application and override the start() method to define your scene and stage.

Step 6: Run Your JavaFX Application
Compile and run the JavaFX application using the IDE’s built-in run functionality or through the command line.

JavaFX v/s Java Swing

Real-world Applications made using JavaFX

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between JavaFX and Java Swing?

Swing is the industry-standard toolkit for designing graphical user interfaces in Java. Swing can create UI components that have a traditional appearance and feel. JavaFX aids with the development of desktop applications by providing platform support. With JavaFX, you can create sophisticated internet applications with a modern user interface. With MVC, JavaFX support is really beneficial.

How long will JavaFX be supported?

JavaFX new fixes will be supported on Java SE 8 until March 2025, according to Oracle's Client Support Roadmap.

What is replacing JavaFX?

The most popular JavaFX alternatives and competitors include GWT, Vaadin, Qt, JSF, and Electron.

Conclusion

In this article, we have discussed about JavaFX. JavaFX is a powerful and versatile platform for building rich client applications in Java. With its extensive set of features, such as 2D and 3D shapes, charts, animations, and layouts, JavaFX offers developers the tools needed to create visually appealing, interactive applications. Its modern architecture, support for FXML, and seamless integration with Java make it an ideal choice for both desktop and web applications.

Recommended Readings:

Why is Java Platform Independent

Introduction to Java

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