Java JComponent

Last Updated : 24 Apr, 2025

In Java Swing, JComponent is an abstract class that programmers can use to modify to build unique components that are suited to the particular requirements of their applications. JComponent and other Swing components are lighter than their AWT equivalents. The Java runtime renders lightweight components directly, independent of the host operating system.

All Swing components, with the exception of top-level containers, are included in this core class. With the exception of JFrame and JDialog, which are top-level containers by definition and cannot be put under JComponent, all swing components with the letter "J" in their names are classified as JComponent.
JComponent offers event handling, helping developers respond to user events like mouse clicks, key presses, and other inputs.

Syntax of JComponent

public abstract class JComponent extends 
                      Container implements Serializable

In the syntax given above, the JComponent is declared as an abstract class, extending the Container class and implementing the Serializable interface. This format indicates that JComponent supports serialization for object persistence and provides a foundation for building GUI components that are customizable. It also inherits container capability.

Nested Class of JComponent

The nested class of JComponent is given below which provides its internal class hierarchy.

Name	Type	Description
JComponent.AccessibleJComponent	Class	By default, the JComponent's inner class is used to offer accessibility.

The nested classes of Java JComponent are inherited from the classes given below:

java.awt.Container
java.awt.Component

Constructor of JComponent

Constructor	Description
JComponent()	It is a default constructor initializes an empty JComponent.

JComponent Fields

Given below are the fields of JComponent that collects key information and attributes which affects the behavior of the component.

Field	Modifier Type	Description
listenerList	protected EventListenerList	A record of this component's event listeners
TOOL_TIP_TEXT_KEY	static String	The label that appears when the cursor is over an element. It is referred to as a 'value tip', 'flyover help', or 'flyover label'
ui	protected ComponentUI	This component's appearance and texture are assigned.
UNDEFINED_CONDITION	static int	Some APIs utilize this constant to indicate the absence of a specific condition.
WHEN_ANCESTOR_OF_FOCUSED_COMPONENT	static int	Always utilized for registerKeyboardAction. It indicates that the command must be executed when either the receiving component is the focused component or it is the focused component's ancestor.
WHEN_FOCUSED	static int	It is the registerKeyboardAction constant that indicates the command should be executed when the component is the center of attention.
WHEN_IN_FOCUSED_WINDOW	static int	The constant used for registerKeyboardAction indicates that the command should be executed when the receiving component is in the window with the focus or is the focused component itself.

The fields supported by the JComponent are inherited from:

Class - java.awt.Component
Interface - java.awt.image.ImageObserver

JComponent Methods

The JComponent class offers various methods. Following are some of the commonly used methods:

Method	Modifier Type	Description
addNotify()	void	Alerts the component to the presence of a parent component.
contains(int x, int y)	boolean	Allows the UI delegate to specify this component's exact form for mouse processing purposes.
getAlignmentX()	float	Overrides Container.getAlignmentX to return the horizontal alignment.
getAlignmentY()	float	Overrides Container.getAlignmentY to return the vertical alignment.
getAncestorListeners()	AncestorListener[]	Provides an array containing all of the registered ancestor listeners on this component.
getAutoscrolls()	boolean	Gets the autoscrolls property.
getBorder()	Border	Returns this component's boundary or null if none is set at this time.
getBounds(Rectangle rv)	Rectangle	Returns rv after storing the component's boundaries in "return value" rv.
getGraphics()	Graphics	Specifies the visual context for this component, allowing you to draw on it.
getHeight()	int	Returns the current height of the component.
getSize(Dimension rv)	Dimension	Returns rv after storing the width and height of this component in the "return value" field.
getUI()	ComponentUI	Returns the delegate's appearance and feel used to render this component.
getX()	int	Returns the x coordinate of the component's origin.
getY()	int	Returns the y coordinate of the component's origin.
isOpaque()	boolean	If this component is fully opaque, returns true.
paint(Graphics g)	void	Called by Swing to draw components.
paintBorder(Graphics g)	protected void	Paints the border of the component.
paintChildren(Graphics g)	protected void	Paints the children of the component.
print(Graphics g)	void	To print the component to the designated Graphics, use this technique.
printAll(Graphics g)	void	Use this method to print the component.
setBackground(Color bg)	void	Defines the color of this component's background.
setBorder(Border border)	void	Sets the border of this component.
setFont(Font font)	void	Determines the font for this element.
setForeground(Color fg)	void	Fix the foreground color of this component.
setVisible(boolean aFlag)	void	It points whether the component is visible or not visible.
setActionMap(ActionMap am)	void	The ActionMap is set to am.
setMaximumSize(Dimension maximumSize)	void	It sets this component's maximum size to a fixed number.
setMinimumSize(Dimension maximumSize)	void	It sets this component's minimum size to a constant value.

The methods supported my JComponent are inherited from the classes:

java.awt.Component
java.awt.Container
java.lang.Object

Example of Java JComponent

Let us have a look at a simple example to demonstrate the use of JComponent easily.

Below is the Example of Java JComponent:

Java

// Java code to implement the basic use of JComponent class import java.awt.*; import javax.swing.*; import javax.swing.JComponent; public class Component extends JComponent {     // Override the paintComponent method     protected void paintComponent(Graphics g)     {         // Call paintComponent from parent class         super.paintComponent(g);          // Draw a square         g.setColor(Color.BLUE);         g.fillRect(20, 20, 50, 50);         g.setColor(Color.BLACK);         g.drawString("Square", 30, 100);          // Draw a circle         g.setColor(Color.RED);         g.fillOval(90, 20, 50, 50);         g.setColor(Color.BLACK);         g.drawString("Circle", 100, 100);          // Draw a triangle         int xPoints[] = { 150, 200, 250 };         int yPoints[] = { 20, 70, 20 };         g.setColor(Color.GREEN);         g.fillPolygon(xPoints, yPoints, 3);         g.setColor(Color.BLACK);         g.drawString("Triangle", 170, 100);     }      // Main Method     public static void main(String[] args)     {          // Create a frame         JFrame f = new JFrame("JComponent Example");         f.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);          // Create object of component class         Component customComponent = new Component();         f.add(customComponent);          // Set properties of frame         f.setSize(300, 200);         f.setVisible(true);     } }

Output of JComponent Example:

JComponent Example

Explanation of the above Program:

In the above code, we have created a class named Component which extends the JComponent class. The paintComponent() method is overridden in the class. Swing calls this method automatically in order to render custom visuals. This method's creates a green triangle, a red circle, and a blue square on the component. The main method instantiates an object of the Component class, adds it to the frame, and creates a JFrame. It also sets its properties, including the title and closing operation.

Demo GIF showing the Execution of the above Program:

Java JCheckBoxMenuItem

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