How to Build a Simple Notes App in Android?

Last Updated : 20 Feb, 2025

Notes app is used for making short text notes, updating when you need them, and trashing when you are done. It can be used for various functions as you can add your to-do list in this app, some important notes for future reference, etc. The app is very useful in some cases like when you want quick access to the notes. Likewise, here let’s create an Android App to learn how to create a simple Notes App. So in this article let's build a Notes App in which the user can add any data, remove any data as well as open any data.

Note that we are going to implement this project using both Java and Kotlin language.

Resources Used in the Application

In this Application, we will be using Activities and Simple Java/Kotlin Code:

Main Activity: The Main Activity is used for Activities on the Main Page.
Detail Activity: Detail Activity is used for Details of the Notes Opened using the Open Button.
Add Note Activity: The Add Note Activity is used for Creating new Entries in the Data.
My Adapter: It is an Adapter for the list view used for Defining the Structure of Every Single List Item.

Layouts Used in this Application:

activity_main: The layout of the main page is used here.
list_item: The layout for the list item which is used in the main activity is mentioned here.
activity_detail: The layout for the window where we will be opening the Notes in Full Page in the CardView
activity_add_note: The layout for the window where we can add the new item on the main page.

Directory Structure of the Application

Steps for Creating a Notes Application on Android

Step 1: Create a New Project

To create a new project in Android Studio please refer to How to Create/Start a New Project in Android Studio.

Note: Select Java/Kotlin as the programming language.

Step 2: Working with the MainActivity and it's layout file

In the activity_main.xml file the main page we will only display the Notes with Add , Open and Delete Button.

MainActivity.java

package org.geeksforgeeks.simple_notes_application_java;  import android.content.Intent; import android.os.Bundle; import android.view.View; import android.widget.Button; import android.widget.ListView;  import androidx.appcompat.app.AppCompatActivity;  import java.util.ArrayList; import java.util.List;  public class MainActivity extends AppCompatActivity {      private static final int REQUEST_CODE_ADD_NOTE = 1;     private MyAdapter adapter;     private List<String> items;      @Override     protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {         super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);         setContentView(R.layout.activity_main);          ListView listView = findViewById(R.id.listView);         Button addNoteButton = findViewById(R.id.add_button);          // Initialize the list of items         items = new ArrayList<>();          // Add a temporary item         items.add("Temp Add Element");          // Create the adapter and set it to the ListView         adapter = new MyAdapter(this, items);         listView.setAdapter(adapter);          // Set click listener for the add note button         addNoteButton.setOnClickListener(new View.OnClickListener() {             @Override             public void onClick(View v) {                 Intent intent = new Intent(MainActivity.this, AddNoteActivity.class);                 startActivityForResult(intent, REQUEST_CODE_ADD_NOTE);             }         });     }      @Override     protected void onActivityResult(int requestCode, int resultCode, Intent data) {         super.onActivityResult(requestCode, resultCode, data);          if (requestCode == REQUEST_CODE_ADD_NOTE && resultCode == RESULT_OK) {             String newNote = data.getStringExtra("NEW_NOTE");             if (newNote != null) {                 items.add(newNote);                 adapter.notifyDataSetChanged();             }         }     } }

MainActivity.kt

package org.geeksforgeeks.notes  import android.content.Intent import android.os.Bundle import android.widget.Button import android.widget.ListView import androidx.activity.enableEdgeToEdge import androidx.appcompat.app.AppCompatActivity import androidx.core.view.ViewCompat import androidx.core.view.WindowInsetsCompat   class MainActivity : AppCompatActivity() {     private var adapter: MyAdapter? = null     private lateinit var items: ArrayList<String>      override fun onCreate(savedInstanceState: Bundle?) {         super.onCreate(savedInstanceState)         enableEdgeToEdge()         setContentView(R.layout.activity_main)         ViewCompat.setOnApplyWindowInsetsListener(findViewById(R.id.main)) { v, insets ->             val systemBars = insets.getInsets(WindowInsetsCompat.Type.systemBars())             v.setPadding(systemBars.left, systemBars.top, systemBars.right, systemBars.bottom)             insets         }          val listView = findViewById<ListView>(R.id.listView)         val addNoteButton = findViewById<Button>(R.id.add_button)           // Initialize the list of items         items = ArrayList()           // Add a temporary item         items.add("Temp Add Element")           // Create the adapter and set it to the ListView         adapter = MyAdapter(this, items)         listView.adapter = adapter           // Set click listener for the add note button         addNoteButton.setOnClickListener {             val intent = Intent(                 this@MainActivity,                 AddNoteActivity::class.java             )             startActivityForResult(intent, REQUEST_CODE_ADD_NOTE)         }     }       @Deprecated("This method has been deprecated in favor of using the Activity Result API\n      which brings increased type safety via an {@link ActivityResultContract} and the prebuilt\n      contracts for common intents available in\n      {@link androidx.activity.result.contract.ActivityResultContracts}, provides hooks for\n      testing, and allow receiving results in separate, testable classes independent from your\n      activity. Use\n      {@link #registerForActivityResult(ActivityResultContract, ActivityResultCallback)}\n      with the appropriate {@link ActivityResultContract} and handling the result in the\n      {@link ActivityResultCallback#onActivityResult(Object) callback}.")     override fun onActivityResult(requestCode: Int, resultCode: Int, data: Intent?) {         super.onActivityResult(requestCode, resultCode, data)          if (requestCode == REQUEST_CODE_ADD_NOTE && resultCode == RESULT_OK) {             val newNote = data?.getStringExtra("NEW_NOTE")             if (newNote != null) {                 items.add(newNote)                 adapter!!.notifyDataSetChanged()             }         }     }      companion object {         const val REQUEST_CODE_ADD_NOTE: Int = 1     } }

activity_main.xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?> <androidx.constraintlayout.widget.ConstraintLayout      xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"     xmlns:app="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res-auto"     xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"     android:id="@+id/main"     android:layout_width="match_parent"     android:layout_height="match_parent"     tools:context=".MainActivity">      <TextView         android:id="@+id/textView3"         android:layout_width="match_parent"         android:layout_height="wrap_content"         android:layout_margin="20dp"         android:gravity="center"         android:text="Notes"         android:textSize="20sp"         android:textStyle="bold"         app:layout_constraintTop_toTopOf="parent"         tools:layout_editor_absoluteX="0dp" />      <ListView         android:id="@+id/listView"         android:layout_width="match_parent"         android:layout_height="537dp"         android:layout_margin="20dp"         app:layout_constraintTop_toBottomOf="@+id/textView3"         tools:layout_editor_absoluteX="0dp" />      <Button         android:id="@+id/add_button"         android:layout_width="wrap_content"         android:layout_height="wrap_content"         android:text="Add Note"         app:layout_constraintBottom_toBottomOf="parent"         app:layout_constraintEnd_toEndOf="parent"         app:layout_constraintStart_toStartOf="parent"         app:layout_constraintTop_toBottomOf="@+id/listView"         app:layout_constraintVertical_bias="0.722" />  </androidx.constraintlayout.widget.ConstraintLayout>

Design UI:

Step 3: Create an Adapter and it's Layout file

Apart from this we will need a Layout template for every List Item. So, we will be creating a new Layout File. Also, we need a Program to Support the MainAcitivity for adding the functionalities to ListView Items i.e. Add Button and Delete Button. Create MyAdapter Class containing the Functionalities. Create New Java/Kotlin Class MyAdapter file in the main src project in the same repo as MainActivity file:

File Name: list_item.xml and MyAdapter.kt/.java

MyAdapter.java

package org.geeksforgeeks.simple_notes_application_java;  import android.content.Context; import android.content.Intent; import android.view.LayoutInflater; import android.view.View; import android.view.ViewGroup; import android.widget.ArrayAdapter; import android.widget.Button; import android.widget.TextView; import android.widget.Toast;  import java.util.List;  public class MyAdapter extends ArrayAdapter<String> {     private final Context context;     private final List<String> values;      public MyAdapter(Context context, List<String> values) {         super(context, R.layout.list_item, values);         this.context = context;         this.values = values;     }      @Override     public View getView(final int position, View convertView, ViewGroup parent) {         LayoutInflater inflater = (LayoutInflater) context.getSystemService(Context.LAYOUT_INFLATER_SERVICE);         View rowView = inflater.inflate(R.layout.list_item, parent, false);          TextView textView = rowView.findViewById(R.id.textView);         Button openButton = rowView.findViewById(R.id.button);         Button deleteButton = rowView.findViewById(R.id.delete_button);          textView.setText(values.get(position));          openButton.setOnClickListener(new View.OnClickListener() {             @Override             public void onClick(View v) {                 // Start DetailActivity and pass the item data                 Intent intent = new Intent(context, DetailActivity.class);                 intent.putExtra("ITEM", values.get(position));                 context.startActivity(intent);             }         });          deleteButton.setOnClickListener(new View.OnClickListener() {             @Override             public void onClick(View v) {                 Toast.makeText(context, "Delete button clicked for item " + values.get(position), Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();                 // Remove the item from the list                 values.remove(position);                 // Notify the adapter to refresh the list view                 notifyDataSetChanged();             }         });          return rowView;     } }

MyAdapter.kt

package org.geeksforgeeks.notes  import android.content.Context import android.content.Intent import android.view.LayoutInflater import android.view.View import android.view.ViewGroup import android.widget.ArrayAdapter import android.widget.Button import android.widget.TextView import android.widget.Toast  class MyAdapter(private val context: Context, private val values: MutableList<String>) :     ArrayAdapter<String?>(context, R.layout.list_item, values as List<String?>) {     override fun getView(position: Int, convertView: View?, parent: ViewGroup): View {         val inflater = context.getSystemService(Context.LAYOUT_INFLATER_SERVICE) as LayoutInflater         val rowView: View = inflater.inflate(R.layout.list_item, parent, false)          val textView = rowView.findViewById<TextView>(R.id.textView)         val openButton = rowView.findViewById<Button>(R.id.button)         val deleteButton = rowView.findViewById<Button>(R.id.delete_button)          textView.text = values[position]          openButton.setOnClickListener { // Start DetailActivity and pass the item data             val intent = Intent(context, DetailActivity::class.java)             intent.putExtra("ITEM", values[position])             context.startActivity(intent)         }          deleteButton.setOnClickListener {             Toast.makeText(                 context,                 "Delete button clicked for item " + values[position],                 Toast.LENGTH_SHORT             ).show()             // Remove the item from the list             values.removeAt(position)             // Notify the adapter to refresh the list view             notifyDataSetChanged()         }          return rowView     } }

list_item.xml

<!-- res/layout/list_item.xml --> <LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"     android:layout_width="match_parent"     android:layout_height="wrap_content"     android:orientation="horizontal"     android:padding="10dp">      <TextView         android:id="@+id/textView"         android:layout_width="0dp"         android:layout_height="wrap_content"         android:layout_weight="1"         android:hint="Empty Element" />      <Button         android:id="@+id/button"         android:layout_width="wrap_content"         android:layout_height="wrap_content"         android:layout_marginStart="10dp"         android:text="Open" />      <Button         android:id="@+id/delete_button"         android:layout_width="wrap_content"         android:layout_height="wrap_content"         android:layout_marginStart="10dp"         android:text="Delete" /> </LinearLayout>

Design UI:

Step 4: Creating New Layouts for Opening the Details and Adding the Items.

Go to app > java/kotlin > right-click > New > Activity > Empty Activity and name it as AddNoteActivity.

Note: Similarly Create DetailActivity.

Resource File Created :

AddNoteActivity.java/.kt and activity_add_note.xml
DetailActivity.java/.kt and activity_detail_activity.xml

Below is the code for AddNoteActivity:

AddNoteActivity.java

package org.geeksforgeeks.simple_notes_application_java;  import android.content.Intent; import android.os.Bundle; import android.view.View; import android.widget.Button; import android.widget.EditText;  import androidx.appcompat.app.AppCompatActivity;  public class AddNoteActivity extends AppCompatActivity {      @Override     protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {         super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);         setContentView(R.layout.activity_add_note);          EditText editText = findViewById(R.id.editTextNote);         Button buttonAdd = findViewById(R.id.buttonAddNote);          buttonAdd.setOnClickListener(new View.OnClickListener() {             @Override             public void onClick(View v) {                 String newNote = editText.getText().toString().trim();                 if (!newNote.isEmpty()) {                     Intent resultIntent = new Intent();                     resultIntent.putExtra("NEW_NOTE", newNote);                     setResult(RESULT_OK, resultIntent);                     finish();                 }             }         });     } }

AddNoteActivity.kt

package org.geeksforgeeks.notes  import android.content.Intent import android.os.Bundle import android.widget.Button import android.widget.EditText import androidx.activity.enableEdgeToEdge import androidx.appcompat.app.AppCompatActivity import androidx.core.view.ViewCompat import androidx.core.view.WindowInsetsCompat   class AddNoteActivity : AppCompatActivity() {     override fun onCreate(savedInstanceState: Bundle?) {         super.onCreate(savedInstanceState)         enableEdgeToEdge()         setContentView(R.layout.activity_add_note)         ViewCompat.setOnApplyWindowInsetsListener(findViewById(R.id.main)) { v, insets ->             val systemBars = insets.getInsets(WindowInsetsCompat.Type.systemBars())             v.setPadding(systemBars.left, systemBars.top, systemBars.right, systemBars.bottom)             insets         }          val editText = findViewById<EditText>(R.id.editTextNote)         val buttonAdd = findViewById<Button>(R.id.buttonAddNote)          buttonAdd.setOnClickListener {             val newNote = editText.text.toString().trim { it <= ' ' }             if (newNote.isNotEmpty()) {                 val resultIntent = Intent()                 resultIntent.putExtra("NEW_NOTE", newNote)                 setResult(RESULT_OK, resultIntent)                 finish()             }         }     } }

activity_add_note.xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?> <LinearLayout      xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"     xmlns:app="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res-auto"     xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"     android:id="@+id/main"     android:layout_width="match_parent"     android:layout_height="match_parent"     android:orientation="vertical"     android:padding="16dp"     tools:context=".AddNoteActivity">      <EditText         android:id="@+id/editTextNote"         android:layout_width="match_parent"         android:layout_height="wrap_content"         android:hint="Enter your note here"         android:inputType="text"         android:textSize="20sp" />      <Button         android:id="@+id/buttonAddNote"         android:layout_width="wrap_content"         android:layout_height="wrap_content"         android:text="Add Note" />  </LinearLayout>

Design UI:

And the code for DetailActivity:

DetailActivity.java

package org.geeksforgeeks.simple_notes_application_java;  import android.os.Bundle; import android.widget.TextView;  import androidx.appcompat.app.AppCompatActivity;  public class DetailActivity extends AppCompatActivity {      @Override     protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {         super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);         setContentView(R.layout.activity_detail);          TextView detailTextView = findViewById(R.id.detailTextView);         TextView dataNotesTextView = findViewById(R.id.Data_Notes);          // Get the data passed from MainActivity         String item = getIntent().getStringExtra("ITEM");          // Set the data to the TextViews         detailTextView.setText("Notes Content");         dataNotesTextView.setText(item);     } }

DetailActivity.kt

package org.geeksforgeeks.notes  import android.os.Bundle import android.widget.TextView import androidx.activity.enableEdgeToEdge import androidx.appcompat.app.AppCompatActivity import androidx.core.view.ViewCompat import androidx.core.view.WindowInsetsCompat  class DetailActivity : AppCompatActivity() {     override fun onCreate(savedInstanceState: Bundle?) {         super.onCreate(savedInstanceState)         enableEdgeToEdge()         setContentView(R.layout.activity_detail)         ViewCompat.setOnApplyWindowInsetsListener(findViewById(R.id.main)) { v, insets ->             val systemBars = insets.getInsets(WindowInsetsCompat.Type.systemBars())             v.setPadding(systemBars.left, systemBars.top, systemBars.right, systemBars.bottom)             insets         }          val detailTextView = findViewById<TextView>(R.id.detailTextView)         val dataNotesTextView = findViewById<TextView>(R.id.Data_Notes)          // Get the data passed from MainActivity         val item = intent.getStringExtra("ITEM")          // Set the data to the TextViews         detailTextView.text = "Notes Content"         dataNotesTextView.text = item     } }

activity_detail.xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?> <LinearLayout      xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"     xmlns:app="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res-auto"     xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"     android:id="@+id/main"     android:layout_width="match_parent"     android:layout_height="match_parent"     android:orientation="vertical"     android:padding="16dp"     tools:context=".DetailActivity">      <TextView         android:id="@+id/detailTextView"         android:layout_width="match_parent"         android:layout_height="wrap_content"         android:layout_gravity="center"         android:layout_margin="15dp"         android:textSize="20dp" />      <androidx.cardview.widget.CardView         android:layout_width="match_parent"         android:layout_height="match_parent"         android:id="@+id/Card_View_Data">          <TextView             android:id="@+id/Data_Notes"             android:layout_width="wrap_content"             android:layout_height="wrap_content"             android:textSize="20dp"/>     </androidx.cardview.widget.CardView>  </LinearLayout>

Design UI:

Output:

Final Application to Build a Simple Notes App

Note: The Application we have created is like a template for your Notes Application you can make changes in it as you want.
The GitHub Link for the Application is : Click Here to access the Complete Code to create a Simple Notes Application

How to build a simple Calculator app using Android Studio?

kartiksrivastava6

Improve

Article Tags :

Practice Tags :

Java

How to Build a Simple Notes App in Android?

Resources Used in the Application

Directory Structure of the Application

Steps for Creating a Notes Application on Android

Step 1: Create a New Project

Step 2: Working with the MainActivity and it's layout file

Step 3: Create an Adapter and it's Layout file

Design UI:

Step 4: Creating New Layouts for Opening the Details and Adding the Items.

Below is the code for AddNoteActivity:

Design UI:

And the code for DetailActivity:

Design UI:

Output:

Final Application to Build a Simple Notes App

Similar Reads

Basics

File Structure

Important Tips and Tricks in Android Studio

Frequently Occurring Errors and Solutions

Integrating Plugins

Building Sample Android UI using Android Studio

Building Some Cool Android Apps Using Android Studio

Miscellaneous