LayoutManager (Java SE 25 & JDK 25)
Description: declaration: module: java.desktop, package: java.awt, interface: LayoutManager
Keywords: java.awt.LayoutManager interface

# Interface LayoutManager

All Known Subinterfaces:
  `LayoutManager2`

All Known Implementing Classes:
  `BasicComboBoxUI.ComboBoxLayoutManager, BasicInternalFrameTitlePane.TitlePaneLayout, BasicInternalFrameUI.InternalFrameLayout, BasicOptionPaneUI.ButtonAreaLayout, BasicScrollBarUI, BasicSplitPaneDivider.DividerLayout, BasicSplitPaneUI.BasicHorizontalLayoutManager, BasicSplitPaneUI.BasicVerticalLayoutManager, BasicTabbedPaneUI.TabbedPaneLayout, BorderLayout, BoxLayout, CardLayout, DefaultMenuLayout, FlowLayout, GridBagLayout, GridLayout, GroupLayout, JRootPane.RootLayout, JSpinner.DateEditor, JSpinner.DefaultEditor, JSpinner.ListEditor, JSpinner.NumberEditor, MetalComboBoxUI.MetalComboBoxLayoutManager, MetalScrollBarUI, MetalTabbedPaneUI.TabbedPaneLayout, OverlayLayout, ScrollPaneLayout, ScrollPaneLayout.UIResource, SpringLayout, SynthScrollBarUI, ViewportLayout`

public interface LayoutManager
Defines the interface for classes that know how to lay out `Container`s.

Swing's painting architecture assumes the children of a `JComponent` do not overlap. If a `JComponent`'s `LayoutManager` allows children to overlap, the `JComponent` must override `isOptimizedDrawingEnabled` to return false.

See Also:
  - `Container`
  - `JComponent.isOptimizedDrawingEnabled()`

- ## Method Summary

  Modifier and Type
  Method
  Description
  `void`
  `addLayoutComponent(String name, Component comp)`
  If the layout manager uses a per-component string, adds the component `comp` to the layout, associating it with the string specified by `name`.
  `void`
  `layoutContainer(Container parent)`
  Lays out the specified container.
  `Dimension`
  `minimumLayoutSize(Container parent)`
  Calculates the minimum size dimensions for the specified container, given the components it contains.
  `Dimension`
  `preferredLayoutSize(Container parent)`
  Calculates the preferred size dimensions for the specified container, given the components it contains.
  `void`
  `removeLayoutComponent(Component comp)`
  Removes the specified component from the layout.

- ## Method Details

  - ### addLayoutComponent

    void addLayoutComponent(String name, Component comp)
    If the layout manager uses a per-component string, adds the component `comp` to the layout, associating it with the string specified by `name`.
    Parameters:
      `name` - the string to be associated with the component
      `comp` - the component to be added

  - ### removeLayoutComponent

    void removeLayoutComponent(Component comp)
    Removes the specified component from the layout.
    Parameters:
      `comp` - the component to be removed

  - ### preferredLayoutSize

    Dimension preferredLayoutSize(Container parent)
    Calculates the preferred size dimensions for the specified container, given the components it contains.
    Parameters:
      `parent` - the container to be laid out
    Returns:
      the preferred dimension for the container
    See Also:
      - `minimumLayoutSize(Container)`

  - ### minimumLayoutSize

    Dimension minimumLayoutSize(Container parent)
    Calculates the minimum size dimensions for the specified container, given the components it contains.
    Parameters:
      `parent` - the component to be laid out
    Returns:
      the minimum dimension for the container
    See Also:
      - `preferredLayoutSize(Container)`

  - ### layoutContainer

    void layoutContainer(Container parent)
    Lays out the specified container.
    Parameters:
      `parent` - the container to be laid out