Handling Keyboard Input

The Android system shows an on-screen keyboard—known as a soft input method—when a text field in your UI receives focus. To provide the best user experience, you can specify characteristics about the type of input you expect (such as whether it's a phone number or email address) and how the input method should behave (such as whether it performs auto-correct for spelling mistakes).

In addition to the on-screen input methods, Android also supports hardware keyboards, so it's important that your app optimize its user experience for interaction that might occur through an attached keyboard.

These topics and more are discussed in the following lessons.

Lessons

Specifying the Input Method Type

Learn how to show certain soft input methods, such as those designed for phone numbers, web addresses, or other formats. Also learn how to specify characteristics such as spelling suggestion behavior and action buttons such as Done or Next.

Handling Input Method Visibility

Learn how to specify when to show the soft input method and how your layout should adjust to the reduced screen space.

Supporting Keyboard Navigation

Learn how to verify that users can navigate your app using a keyboard and how to make any necessary changes to the navigation order.

Handling Keyboard Actions

Learn how to respond directly to keyboard input for user actions.