TableColumn (Java Platform SE 8 )
Keywords: javax.swing.table.TableColumn class
Date: 2026-01-21

javax.swing.table

## Class TableColumn

- java.lang.Object
- - javax.swing.table.TableColumn

- All Implemented Interfaces:
    Serializable

      public class TableColumn
      extends Object
      implements Serializable

  A `TableColumn` represents all the attributes of a column in a `JTable`, such as width, resizability, minimum and maximum width. In addition, the `TableColumn` provides slots for a renderer and an editor that can be used to display and edit the values in this column.

  It is also possible to specify renderers and editors on a per type basis rather than a per column basis - see the `setDefaultRenderer` method in the `JTable` class. This default mechanism is only used when the renderer (or editor) in the `TableColumn` is `null`.

  The `TableColumn` stores the link between the columns in the `JTable` and the columns in the `TableModel`. The `modelIndex` is the column in the `TableModel`, which will be queried for the data values for the cells in this column. As the column moves around in the view this `modelIndex` does not change.

  Note: Some implementations may assume that all `TableColumnModel`s are unique, therefore we would recommend that the same `TableColumn` instance not be added more than once to a `TableColumnModel`. To show `TableColumn`s with the same column of data from the model, create a new instance with the same `modelIndex`.

  Warning: Serialized objects of this class will not be compatible with future Swing releases. The current serialization support is appropriate for short term storage or RMI between applications running the same version of Swing. As of 1.4, support for long term storage of all JavaBeans™ has been added to the `java.beans` package. Please see `XMLEncoder`.

  See Also:
    `TableColumnModel`, `DefaultTableColumnModel`, `JTableHeader.getDefaultRenderer()`, `JTable.getDefaultRenderer(Class)`, `JTable.getDefaultEditor(Class)`, `JTable.getCellRenderer(int, int)`, `JTable.getCellEditor(int, int)`

- - ### Field Summary

    Fields
    Modifier and Type | Field and Description
    --- | ---
    `static String` | `CELL_RENDERER_PROPERTY` Obsolete as of Java 2 platform v1.3.
    `protected TableCellEditor` | `cellEditor` The editor used to edit the data cells of the column.
    `protected TableCellRenderer` | `cellRenderer` The renderer used to draw the data cells of the column.
    `static String` | `COLUMN_WIDTH_PROPERTY` Obsolete as of Java 2 platform v1.3.
    `static String` | `HEADER_RENDERER_PROPERTY` Obsolete as of Java 2 platform v1.3.
    `static String` | `HEADER_VALUE_PROPERTY` Obsolete as of Java 2 platform v1.3.
    `protected TableCellRenderer` | `headerRenderer` The renderer used to draw the header of the column.
    `protected Object` | `headerValue` The header value of the column.
    `protected Object` | `identifier` This object is not used internally by the drawing machinery of the `JTable`; identifiers may be set in the `TableColumn` as as an optional way to tag and locate table columns.
    `protected boolean` | `isResizable` If true, the user is allowed to resize the column; the default is true.
    `protected int` | `maxWidth` The maximum width of the column.
    `protected int` | `minWidth` The minimum width of the column.
    `protected int` | `modelIndex` The index of the column in the model which is to be displayed by this `TableColumn`.
    `protected int` | `resizedPostingDisableCount` Deprecated. as of Java 2 platform v1.3
    `protected int` | `width` The width of the column.

  - ### Constructor Summary

    Constructors
    Constructor and Description
    `TableColumn()` Cover method, using a default model index of 0, default width of 75, a `null` renderer and a `null` editor.
    `TableColumn(int modelIndex)` Cover method, using a default width of 75, a `null` renderer and a `null` editor.
    `TableColumn(int modelIndex, int width)` Cover method, using a `null` renderer and a `null` editor.
    `TableColumn(int modelIndex, int width, TableCellRenderer cellRenderer, TableCellEditor cellEditor)` Creates and initializes an instance of `TableColumn` with the specified model index, width, cell renderer, and cell editor; all `TableColumn` constructors delegate to this one.

  - ### Method Summary

    All Methods Instance Methods Concrete Methods Deprecated Methods
    Modifier and Type | Method and Description
    --- | ---
    `void` | `addPropertyChangeListener(PropertyChangeListener listener)` Adds a `PropertyChangeListener` to the listener list.
    `protected TableCellRenderer` | `createDefaultHeaderRenderer()` As of Java 2 platform v1.3, this method is not called by the `TableColumn` constructor.
    `void` | `disableResizedPosting()` Deprecated. as of Java 2 platform v1.3
    `void` | `enableResizedPosting()` Deprecated. as of Java 2 platform v1.3
    `TableCellEditor` | `getCellEditor()` Returns the `TableCellEditor` used by the `JTable` to edit values for this column.
    `TableCellRenderer` | `getCellRenderer()` Returns the `TableCellRenderer` used by the `JTable` to draw values for this column.
    `TableCellRenderer` | `getHeaderRenderer()` Returns the `TableCellRenderer` used to draw the header of the `TableColumn`.
    `Object` | `getHeaderValue()` Returns the `Object` used as the value for the header renderer.
    `Object` | `getIdentifier()` Returns the `identifier` object for this column.
    `int` | `getMaxWidth()` Returns the maximum width for the `TableColumn`.
    `int` | `getMinWidth()` Returns the minimum width for the `TableColumn`.
    `int` | `getModelIndex()` Returns the model index for this column.
    `int` | `getPreferredWidth()` Returns the preferred width of the `TableColumn`.
    `PropertyChangeListener[]` | `getPropertyChangeListeners()` Returns an array of all the `PropertyChangeListener`s added to this TableColumn with addPropertyChangeListener().
    `boolean` | `getResizable()` Returns true if the user is allowed to resize the `TableColumn`'s width, false otherwise.
    `int` | `getWidth()` Returns the width of the `TableColumn`.
    `void` | `removePropertyChangeListener(PropertyChangeListener listener)` Removes a `PropertyChangeListener` from the listener list.
    `void` | `setCellEditor(TableCellEditor cellEditor)` Sets the editor to used by when a cell in this column is edited.
    `void` | `setCellRenderer(TableCellRenderer cellRenderer)` Sets the `TableCellRenderer` used by `JTable` to draw individual values for this column.
    `void` | `setHeaderRenderer(TableCellRenderer headerRenderer)` Sets the `TableCellRenderer` used to draw the `TableColumn`'s header to `headerRenderer`.
    `void` | `setHeaderValue(Object headerValue)` Sets the `Object` whose string representation will be used as the value for the `headerRenderer`.
    `void` | `setIdentifier(Object identifier)` Sets the `TableColumn`'s identifier to `anIdentifier`.
    `void` | `setMaxWidth(int maxWidth)` Sets the `TableColumn`'s maximum width to `maxWidth` or, if `maxWidth` is less than the minimum width, to the minimum width.
    `void` | `setMinWidth(int minWidth)` Sets the `TableColumn`'s minimum width to `minWidth`, adjusting the new minimum width if necessary to ensure that 0 <= `minWidth` <= `maxWidth`.
    `void` | `setModelIndex(int modelIndex)` Sets the model index for this column.
    `void` | `setPreferredWidth(int preferredWidth)` Sets this column's preferred width to `preferredWidth`.
    `void` | `setResizable(boolean isResizable)` Sets whether this column can be resized.
    `void` | `setWidth(int width)` This method should not be used to set the widths of columns in the `JTable`, use `setPreferredWidth` instead.
    `void` | `sizeWidthToFit()` Resizes the `TableColumn` to fit the width of its header cell.

    - ### Methods inherited from class java.lang.Object

      `clone, equals, finalize, getClass, hashCode, notify, notifyAll, toString, wait, wait, wait`

- - ### Field Detail

    - #### COLUMN_WIDTH_PROPERTY

          public static final String COLUMN_WIDTH_PROPERTY

      Obsolete as of Java 2 platform v1.3. Please use string literals to identify properties.
      See Also:
        Constant Field Values

    - #### HEADER_VALUE_PROPERTY

          public static final String HEADER_VALUE_PROPERTY

      Obsolete as of Java 2 platform v1.3. Please use string literals to identify properties.
      See Also:
        Constant Field Values

    - #### HEADER_RENDERER_PROPERTY

          public static final String HEADER_RENDERER_PROPERTY

      Obsolete as of Java 2 platform v1.3. Please use string literals to identify properties.
      See Also:
        Constant Field Values

    - #### CELL_RENDERER_PROPERTY

          public static final String CELL_RENDERER_PROPERTY

      Obsolete as of Java 2 platform v1.3. Please use string literals to identify properties.
      See Also:
        Constant Field Values

    - #### modelIndex

          protected int modelIndex

      The index of the column in the model which is to be displayed by this `TableColumn`. As columns are moved around in the view `modelIndex` remains constant.

    - #### identifier

          protected Object identifier

      This object is not used internally by the drawing machinery of the `JTable`; identifiers may be set in the `TableColumn` as as an optional way to tag and locate table columns. The table package does not modify or invoke any methods in these identifier objects other than the `equals` method which is used in the `getColumnIndex()` method in the `DefaultTableColumnModel`.

    - #### width

          protected int width

      The width of the column.

    - #### minWidth

          protected int minWidth

      The minimum width of the column.

    - #### maxWidth

          protected int maxWidth

      The maximum width of the column.

    - #### headerRenderer

          protected TableCellRenderer headerRenderer

      The renderer used to draw the header of the column.

    - #### headerValue

          protected Object headerValue

      The header value of the column.

    - #### cellRenderer

          protected TableCellRenderer cellRenderer

      The renderer used to draw the data cells of the column.

    - #### cellEditor

          protected TableCellEditor cellEditor

      The editor used to edit the data cells of the column.

    - #### isResizable

          protected boolean isResizable

      If true, the user is allowed to resize the column; the default is true.

    - #### resizedPostingDisableCount

          @Deprecated
          protected transient int resizedPostingDisableCount

      Deprecated. as of Java 2 platform v1.3
      This field was not used in previous releases and there are currently no plans to support it in the future.

  - ### Constructor Detail

    - #### TableColumn

          public TableColumn()

      Cover method, using a default model index of 0, default width of 75, a `null` renderer and a `null` editor. This method is intended for serialization.
      See Also:
        `TableColumn(int, int, TableCellRenderer, TableCellEditor)`

    - #### TableColumn

          public TableColumn(int modelIndex)

      Cover method, using a default width of 75, a `null` renderer and a `null` editor.
      See Also:
        `TableColumn(int, int, TableCellRenderer, TableCellEditor)`

    - #### TableColumn

          public TableColumn(int modelIndex,
                             int width)

      Cover method, using a `null` renderer and a `null` editor.
      See Also:
        `TableColumn(int, int, TableCellRenderer, TableCellEditor)`

    - #### TableColumn

          public TableColumn(int modelIndex,
                             int width,
                             TableCellRenderer cellRenderer,
                             TableCellEditor cellEditor)

      Creates and initializes an instance of `TableColumn` with the specified model index, width, cell renderer, and cell editor; all `TableColumn` constructors delegate to this one. The value of `width` is used for both the initial and preferred width; if `width` is negative, they're set to 0. The minimum width is set to 15 unless the initial width is less, in which case the minimum width is set to the initial width.

      When the `cellRenderer` or `cellEditor` parameter is `null`, a default value provided by the `JTable` `getDefaultRenderer` or `getDefaultEditor` method, respectively, is used to provide defaults based on the type of the data in this column. This column-centric rendering strategy can be circumvented by overriding the `getCellRenderer` methods in `JTable`.

      Parameters:
        `modelIndex` - the index of the column in the model that supplies the data for this column in the table; the model index remains the same even when columns are reordered in the view
        `width` - this column's preferred width and initial width
        `cellRenderer` - the object used to render values in this column
        `cellEditor` - the object used to edit values in this column
      See Also:
        `getMinWidth()`, `JTable.getDefaultRenderer(Class)`, `JTable.getDefaultEditor(Class)`, `JTable.getCellRenderer(int, int)`, `JTable.getCellEditor(int, int)`

  - ### Method Detail

    - #### setModelIndex

          public void setModelIndex(int modelIndex)

      Sets the model index for this column. The model index is the index of the column in the model that will be displayed by this `TableColumn`. As the `TableColumn` is moved around in the view the model index remains constant.
      Parameters:
        `modelIndex` - the new modelIndex

    - #### getModelIndex

          public int getModelIndex()

      Returns the model index for this column.
      Returns:
        the `modelIndex` property

    - #### setIdentifier

          public void setIdentifier(Object identifier)

      Sets the `TableColumn`'s identifier to `anIdentifier`.

      Note: identifiers are not used by the `JTable`, they are purely a convenience for the external tagging and location of columns.

      Parameters:
        `identifier` - an identifier for this column
      See Also:
        `getIdentifier()`

    - #### getIdentifier

          public Object getIdentifier()

      Returns the `identifier` object for this column. Note identifiers are not used by `JTable`, they are purely a convenience for external use. If the `identifier` is `null`, `getIdentifier()` returns `getHeaderValue` as a default.
      Returns:
        the `identifier` property
      See Also:
        `setIdentifier(java.lang.Object)`

    - #### setHeaderValue

          public void setHeaderValue(Object headerValue)

      Sets the `Object` whose string representation will be used as the value for the `headerRenderer`. When the `TableColumn` is created, the default `headerValue` is `null`.
      Parameters:
        `headerValue` - the new headerValue
      See Also:
        `getHeaderValue()`

    - #### getHeaderValue

          public Object getHeaderValue()

      Returns the `Object` used as the value for the header renderer.
      Returns:
        the `headerValue` property
      See Also:
        `setHeaderValue(java.lang.Object)`

    - #### setHeaderRenderer

          public void setHeaderRenderer(TableCellRenderer headerRenderer)

      Sets the `TableCellRenderer` used to draw the `TableColumn`'s header to `headerRenderer`.

      It is the header renderers responsibility to render the sorting indicator. If you are using sorting and specify a renderer your renderer must render the sorting indication.

      Parameters:
        `headerRenderer` - the new headerRenderer
      See Also:
        `getHeaderRenderer()`

    - #### getHeaderRenderer

          public TableCellRenderer getHeaderRenderer()

      Returns the `TableCellRenderer` used to draw the header of the `TableColumn`. When the `headerRenderer` is `null`, the `JTableHeader` uses its `defaultRenderer`. The default value for a `headerRenderer` is `null`.
      Returns:
        the `headerRenderer` property
      See Also:
        `setHeaderRenderer(javax.swing.table.TableCellRenderer)`, `setHeaderValue(java.lang.Object)`, `JTableHeader.getDefaultRenderer()`

    - #### setCellRenderer

          public void setCellRenderer(TableCellRenderer cellRenderer)

      Sets the `TableCellRenderer` used by `JTable` to draw individual values for this column.
      Parameters:
        `cellRenderer` - the new cellRenderer
      See Also:
        `getCellRenderer()`

    - #### getCellRenderer

          public TableCellRenderer getCellRenderer()

      Returns the `TableCellRenderer` used by the `JTable` to draw values for this column. The `cellRenderer` of the column not only controls the visual look for the column, but is also used to interpret the value object supplied by the `TableModel`. When the `cellRenderer` is `null`, the `JTable` uses a default renderer based on the class of the cells in that column. The default value for a `cellRenderer` is `null`.
      Returns:
        the `cellRenderer` property
      See Also:
        `setCellRenderer(javax.swing.table.TableCellRenderer)`, `JTable.setDefaultRenderer(java.lang.Class<?>, javax.swing.table.TableCellRenderer)`

    - #### setCellEditor

          public void setCellEditor(TableCellEditor cellEditor)

      Sets the editor to used by when a cell in this column is edited.
      Parameters:
        `cellEditor` - the new cellEditor
      See Also:
        `getCellEditor()`

    - #### getCellEditor

          public TableCellEditor getCellEditor()

      Returns the `TableCellEditor` used by the `JTable` to edit values for this column. When the `cellEditor` is `null`, the `JTable` uses a default editor based on the class of the cells in that column. The default value for a `cellEditor` is `null`.
      Returns:
        the `cellEditor` property
      See Also:
        `setCellEditor(javax.swing.table.TableCellEditor)`, `JTable.setDefaultEditor(java.lang.Class<?>, javax.swing.table.TableCellEditor)`

    - #### setWidth

          public void setWidth(int width)

      This method should not be used to set the widths of columns in the `JTable`, use `setPreferredWidth` instead. Like a layout manager in the AWT, the `JTable` adjusts a column's width automatically whenever the table itself changes size, or a column's preferred width is changed. Setting widths programmatically therefore has no long term effect.

      This method sets this column's width to `width`. If `width` exceeds the minimum or maximum width, it is adjusted to the appropriate limiting value.

      Parameters:
        `width` - the new width
      See Also:
        `getWidth()`, `setMinWidth(int)`, `setMaxWidth(int)`, `setPreferredWidth(int)`, `JTable.doLayout()`

    - #### getWidth

          public int getWidth()

      Returns the width of the `TableColumn`. The default width is 75.
      Returns:
        the `width` property
      See Also:
        `setWidth(int)`

    - #### setPreferredWidth

          public void setPreferredWidth(int preferredWidth)

      Sets this column's preferred width to `preferredWidth`. If `preferredWidth` exceeds the minimum or maximum width, it is adjusted to the appropriate limiting value.

      For details on how the widths of columns in the `JTable` (and `JTableHeader`) are calculated from the `preferredWidth`, see the `doLayout` method in `JTable`.

      Parameters:
        `preferredWidth` - the new preferred width
      See Also:
        `getPreferredWidth()`, `JTable.doLayout()`

    - #### getPreferredWidth

          public int getPreferredWidth()

      Returns the preferred width of the `TableColumn`. The default preferred width is 75.
      Returns:
        the `preferredWidth` property
      See Also:
        `setPreferredWidth(int)`

    - #### setMinWidth

          public void setMinWidth(int minWidth)

      Sets the `TableColumn`'s minimum width to `minWidth`, adjusting the new minimum width if necessary to ensure that 0 <= `minWidth` <= `maxWidth`. For example, if the `minWidth` argument is negative, this method sets the `minWidth` property to 0.

      If the value of the `width` or `preferredWidth` property is less than the new minimum width, this method sets that property to the new minimum width.

      Parameters:
        `minWidth` - the new minimum width
      See Also:
        `getMinWidth()`, `setPreferredWidth(int)`, `setMaxWidth(int)`

    - #### getMinWidth

          public int getMinWidth()

      Returns the minimum width for the `TableColumn`. The `TableColumn`'s width can't be made less than this either by the user or programmatically.
      Returns:
        the `minWidth` property
      See Also:
        `setMinWidth(int)`, `TableColumn(int, int, TableCellRenderer, TableCellEditor)`

    - #### setMaxWidth

          public void setMaxWidth(int maxWidth)

      Sets the `TableColumn`'s maximum width to `maxWidth` or, if `maxWidth` is less than the minimum width, to the minimum width.

      If the value of the `width` or `preferredWidth` property is more than the new maximum width, this method sets that property to the new maximum width.

      Parameters:
        `maxWidth` - the new maximum width
      See Also:
        `getMaxWidth()`, `setPreferredWidth(int)`, `setMinWidth(int)`

    - #### getMaxWidth

          public int getMaxWidth()

      Returns the maximum width for the `TableColumn`. The `TableColumn`'s width can't be made larger than this either by the user or programmatically. The default maxWidth is Integer.MAX_VALUE.
      Returns:
        the `maxWidth` property
      See Also:
        `setMaxWidth(int)`

    - #### setResizable

          public void setResizable(boolean isResizable)

      Sets whether this column can be resized.
      Parameters:
        `isResizable` - if true, resizing is allowed; otherwise false
      See Also:
        `getResizable()`

    - #### getResizable

          public boolean getResizable()

      Returns true if the user is allowed to resize the `TableColumn`'s width, false otherwise. You can change the width programmatically regardless of this setting. The default is true.
      Returns:
        the `isResizable` property
      See Also:
        `setResizable(boolean)`

    - #### sizeWidthToFit

          public void sizeWidthToFit()

      Resizes the `TableColumn` to fit the width of its header cell. This method does nothing if the header renderer is `null` (the default case). Otherwise, it sets the minimum, maximum and preferred widths of this column to the widths of the minimum, maximum and preferred sizes of the Component delivered by the header renderer. The transient "width" property of this TableColumn is also set to the preferred width. Note this method is not used internally by the table package.
      See Also:
        `setPreferredWidth(int)`

    - #### disableResizedPosting

          @Deprecated
          public void disableResizedPosting()

      Deprecated. as of Java 2 platform v1.3
      This field was not used in previous releases and there are currently no plans to support it in the future.

    - #### enableResizedPosting

          @Deprecated
          public void enableResizedPosting()

      Deprecated. as of Java 2 platform v1.3
      This field was not used in previous releases and there are currently no plans to support it in the future.

    - #### addPropertyChangeListener

          public void addPropertyChangeListener(PropertyChangeListener listener)

      Adds a `PropertyChangeListener` to the listener list. The listener is registered for all properties.

      A `PropertyChangeEvent` will get fired in response to an explicit call to `setFont`, `setBackground`, or `setForeground` on the current component. Note that if the current component is inheriting its foreground, background, or font from its container, then no event will be fired in response to a change in the inherited property.

      Parameters:
        `listener` - the listener to be added

    - #### removePropertyChangeListener

          public void removePropertyChangeListener(PropertyChangeListener listener)

      Removes a `PropertyChangeListener` from the listener list. The `PropertyChangeListener` to be removed was registered for all properties.
      Parameters:
        `listener` - the listener to be removed

    - #### getPropertyChangeListeners

          public PropertyChangeListener[] getPropertyChangeListeners()

      Returns an array of all the `PropertyChangeListener`s added to this TableColumn with addPropertyChangeListener().
      Returns:
        all of the `PropertyChangeListener`s added or an empty array if no listeners have been added
      Since:
        1.4

    - #### createDefaultHeaderRenderer

          protected TableCellRenderer createDefaultHeaderRenderer()

      As of Java 2 platform v1.3, this method is not called by the `TableColumn` constructor. Previously this method was used by the `TableColumn` to create a default header renderer. As of Java 2 platform v1.3, the default header renderer is `null`. `JTableHeader` now provides its own shared default renderer, just as the `JTable` does for its cell renderers.
      Returns:
        the default header renderer
      See Also:
        `JTableHeader.createDefaultRenderer()`

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