ScrollPaneLayout (Java Platform SE 8 )
Keywords: javax.swing.ScrollPaneLayout class
Date: 2026-08-19

javax.swing

## Class ScrollPaneLayout

- java.lang.Object
- - javax.swing.ScrollPaneLayout

- All Implemented Interfaces:
    LayoutManager, Serializable, ScrollPaneConstants
  Direct Known Subclasses:
    ScrollPaneLayout.UIResource

      public class ScrollPaneLayout
      extends Object
      implements LayoutManager, ScrollPaneConstants, Serializable

  The layout manager used by `JScrollPane`. `JScrollPaneLayout` is responsible for nine components: a viewport, two scrollbars, a row header, a column header, and four "corner" components.

  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:
    `JScrollPane`, `JViewport`

- - ### Nested Class Summary

    Nested Classes
    Modifier and Type | Class and Description
    --- | ---
    `static class` | `ScrollPaneLayout.UIResource` The UI resource version of `ScrollPaneLayout`.

  - ### Field Summary

    Fields
    Modifier and Type | Field and Description
    --- | ---
    `protected JViewport` | `colHead` The column header child.
    `protected JScrollBar` | `hsb` The scrollpane's horizontal scrollbar child.
    `protected int` | `hsbPolicy` The display policy for the horizontal scrollbar.
    `protected Component` | `lowerLeft` The component to display in the lower left corner.
    `protected Component` | `lowerRight` The component to display in the lower right corner.
    `protected JViewport` | `rowHead` The row header child.
    `protected Component` | `upperLeft` The component to display in the upper left corner.
    `protected Component` | `upperRight` The component to display in the upper right corner.
    `protected JViewport` | `viewport` The scrollpane's viewport child.
    `protected JScrollBar` | `vsb` The scrollpane's vertical scrollbar child.
    `protected int` | `vsbPolicy` The display policy for the vertical scrollbar.

    - ### Fields inherited from interface javax.swing.ScrollPaneConstants

      `COLUMN_HEADER, HORIZONTAL_SCROLLBAR, HORIZONTAL_SCROLLBAR_ALWAYS, HORIZONTAL_SCROLLBAR_AS_NEEDED, HORIZONTAL_SCROLLBAR_NEVER, HORIZONTAL_SCROLLBAR_POLICY, LOWER_LEADING_CORNER, LOWER_LEFT_CORNER, LOWER_RIGHT_CORNER, LOWER_TRAILING_CORNER, ROW_HEADER, UPPER_LEADING_CORNER, UPPER_LEFT_CORNER, UPPER_RIGHT_CORNER, UPPER_TRAILING_CORNER, VERTICAL_SCROLLBAR, VERTICAL_SCROLLBAR_ALWAYS, VERTICAL_SCROLLBAR_AS_NEEDED, VERTICAL_SCROLLBAR_NEVER, VERTICAL_SCROLLBAR_POLICY, VIEWPORT`

  - ### Constructor Summary

    Constructors
    Constructor and Description
    `ScrollPaneLayout()`

  - ### Method Summary

    All Methods Instance Methods Concrete Methods Deprecated Methods
    Modifier and Type | Method and Description
    --- | ---
    `void` | `addLayoutComponent(String s, Component c)` Adds the specified component to the layout.
    `protected Component` | `addSingletonComponent(Component oldC, Component newC)` Removes an existing component.
    `JViewport` | `getColumnHeader()` Returns the `JViewport` object that is the column header.
    `Component` | `getCorner(String key)` Returns the `Component` at the specified corner.
    `JScrollBar` | `getHorizontalScrollBar()` Returns the `JScrollBar` object that handles horizontal scrolling.
    `int` | `getHorizontalScrollBarPolicy()` Returns the horizontal scrollbar-display policy.
    `JViewport` | `getRowHeader()` Returns the `JViewport` object that is the row header.
    `JScrollBar` | `getVerticalScrollBar()` Returns the `JScrollBar` object that handles vertical scrolling.
    `int` | `getVerticalScrollBarPolicy()` Returns the vertical scrollbar-display policy.
    `JViewport` | `getViewport()` Returns the `JViewport` object that displays the scrollable contents.
    `Rectangle` | `getViewportBorderBounds(JScrollPane scrollpane)` Deprecated. As of JDK version Swing1.1 replaced by `JScrollPane.getViewportBorderBounds()`.
    `void` | `layoutContainer(Container parent)` Lays out the scrollpane.
    `Dimension` | `minimumLayoutSize(Container parent)` The minimum size of a `ScrollPane` is the size of the insets plus minimum size of the viewport, plus the scrollpane's viewportBorder insets, plus the minimum size of the visible headers, plus the minimum size of the scrollbars whose displayPolicy isn't NEVER.
    `Dimension` | `preferredLayoutSize(Container parent)` The preferred size of a `ScrollPane` is the size of the insets, plus the preferred size of the viewport, plus the preferred size of the visible headers, plus the preferred size of the scrollbars that will appear given the current view and the current scrollbar displayPolicies.
    `void` | `removeLayoutComponent(Component c)` Removes the specified component from the layout.
    `void` | `setHorizontalScrollBarPolicy(int x)` Sets the horizontal scrollbar-display policy.
    `void` | `setVerticalScrollBarPolicy(int x)` Sets the vertical scrollbar-display policy.
    `void` | `syncWithScrollPane(JScrollPane sp)` This method is invoked after the ScrollPaneLayout is set as the LayoutManager of a `JScrollPane`.

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

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

- - ### Field Detail

    - #### viewport

          protected JViewport viewport

      The scrollpane's viewport child. Default is an empty `JViewport`.
      See Also:
        `JScrollPane.setViewport(javax.swing.JViewport)`

    - #### vsb

          protected JScrollBar vsb

      The scrollpane's vertical scrollbar child. Default is a `JScrollBar`.
      See Also:
        `JScrollPane.setVerticalScrollBar(javax.swing.JScrollBar)`

    - #### hsb

          protected JScrollBar hsb

      The scrollpane's horizontal scrollbar child. Default is a `JScrollBar`.
      See Also:
        `JScrollPane.setHorizontalScrollBar(javax.swing.JScrollBar)`

    - #### rowHead

          protected JViewport rowHead

      The row header child. Default is `null`.
      See Also:
        `JScrollPane.setRowHeader(javax.swing.JViewport)`

    - #### colHead

          protected JViewport colHead

      The column header child. Default is `null`.
      See Also:
        `JScrollPane.setColumnHeader(javax.swing.JViewport)`

    - #### lowerLeft

          protected Component lowerLeft

      The component to display in the lower left corner. Default is `null`.
      See Also:
        `JScrollPane.setCorner(java.lang.String, java.awt.Component)`

    - #### lowerRight

          protected Component lowerRight

      The component to display in the lower right corner. Default is `null`.
      See Also:
        `JScrollPane.setCorner(java.lang.String, java.awt.Component)`

    - #### upperLeft

          protected Component upperLeft

      The component to display in the upper left corner. Default is `null`.
      See Also:
        `JScrollPane.setCorner(java.lang.String, java.awt.Component)`

    - #### upperRight

          protected Component upperRight

      The component to display in the upper right corner. Default is `null`.
      See Also:
        `JScrollPane.setCorner(java.lang.String, java.awt.Component)`

    - #### vsbPolicy

          protected int vsbPolicy

      The display policy for the vertical scrollbar. The default is `ScrollPaneConstants.VERTICAL_SCROLLBAR_AS_NEEDED`.

      This field is obsolete, please use the `JScrollPane` field instead.

      See Also:
        `JScrollPane.setVerticalScrollBarPolicy(int)`

    - #### hsbPolicy

          protected int hsbPolicy

      The display policy for the horizontal scrollbar. The default is `ScrollPaneConstants.HORIZONTAL_SCROLLBAR_AS_NEEDED`.

      This field is obsolete, please use the `JScrollPane` field instead.

      See Also:
        `JScrollPane.setHorizontalScrollBarPolicy(int)`

  - ### Constructor Detail

    - #### ScrollPaneLayout

          public ScrollPaneLayout()

  - ### Method Detail

    - #### syncWithScrollPane

          public void syncWithScrollPane(JScrollPane sp)

      This method is invoked after the ScrollPaneLayout is set as the LayoutManager of a `JScrollPane`. It initializes all of the internal fields that are ordinarily set by `addLayoutComponent`. For example:

           ScrollPaneLayout mySPLayout = new ScrollPanelLayout() {
               public void layoutContainer(Container p) {
                   super.layoutContainer(p);
                   // do some extra work here ...
               }
           };
           scrollpane.setLayout(mySPLayout):

    - #### addSingletonComponent

          protected Component addSingletonComponent(Component oldC,
                                                    Component newC)

      Removes an existing component. When a new component, such as the left corner, or vertical scrollbar, is added, the old one, if it exists, must be removed.

      This method returns `newC`. If `oldC` is not equal to `newC` and is non-`null`, it will be removed from its parent.

      Parameters:
        `oldC` - the `Component` to replace
        `newC` - the `Component` to add
      Returns:
        the `newC`

    - #### addLayoutComponent

          public void addLayoutComponent(String s,
                                         Component c)

      Adds the specified component to the layout. The layout is identified using one of:
      - ScrollPaneConstants.VIEWPORT
      - ScrollPaneConstants.VERTICAL_SCROLLBAR
      - ScrollPaneConstants.HORIZONTAL_SCROLLBAR
      - ScrollPaneConstants.ROW_HEADER
      - ScrollPaneConstants.COLUMN_HEADER
      - ScrollPaneConstants.LOWER_LEFT_CORNER
      - ScrollPaneConstants.LOWER_RIGHT_CORNER
      - ScrollPaneConstants.UPPER_LEFT_CORNER
      - ScrollPaneConstants.UPPER_RIGHT_CORNER
      Specified by:
        `addLayoutComponent` in interface `LayoutManager`
      Parameters:
        `s` - the component identifier
        `c` - the the component to be added
      Throws:
        `IllegalArgumentException` - if `s` is an invalid key

    - #### removeLayoutComponent

          public void removeLayoutComponent(Component c)

      Removes the specified component from the layout.
      Specified by:
        `removeLayoutComponent` in interface `LayoutManager`
      Parameters:
        `c` - the component to remove

    - #### getVerticalScrollBarPolicy

          public int getVerticalScrollBarPolicy()

      Returns the vertical scrollbar-display policy.
      Returns:
        an integer giving the display policy
      See Also:
        `setVerticalScrollBarPolicy(int)`

    - #### setVerticalScrollBarPolicy

          public void setVerticalScrollBarPolicy(int x)

      Sets the vertical scrollbar-display policy. The options are:
      - ScrollPaneConstants.VERTICAL_SCROLLBAR_AS_NEEDED
      - ScrollPaneConstants.VERTICAL_SCROLLBAR_NEVER
      - ScrollPaneConstants.VERTICAL_SCROLLBAR_ALWAYS
      Note: Applications should use the `JScrollPane` version of this method. It only exists for backwards compatibility with the Swing 1.0.2 (and earlier) versions of this class.
      Parameters:
        `x` - an integer giving the display policy
      Throws:
        `IllegalArgumentException` - if `x` is an invalid vertical scroll bar policy, as listed above

    - #### getHorizontalScrollBarPolicy

          public int getHorizontalScrollBarPolicy()

      Returns the horizontal scrollbar-display policy.
      Returns:
        an integer giving the display policy
      See Also:
        `setHorizontalScrollBarPolicy(int)`

    - #### setHorizontalScrollBarPolicy

          public void setHorizontalScrollBarPolicy(int x)

      Sets the horizontal scrollbar-display policy. The options are:
      - ScrollPaneConstants.HORIZONTAL_SCROLLBAR_AS_NEEDED
      - ScrollPaneConstants.HORIZONTAL_SCROLLBAR_NEVER
      - ScrollPaneConstants.HORIZONTAL_SCROLLBAR_ALWAYS
      Note: Applications should use the `JScrollPane` version of this method. It only exists for backwards compatibility with the Swing 1.0.2 (and earlier) versions of this class.
      Parameters:
        `x` - an int giving the display policy
      Throws:
        `IllegalArgumentException` - if `x` is not a valid horizontal scrollbar policy, as listed above

    - #### getViewport

          public JViewport getViewport()

      Returns the `JViewport` object that displays the scrollable contents.
      Returns:
        the `JViewport` object that displays the scrollable contents
      See Also:
        `JScrollPane.getViewport()`

    - #### getHorizontalScrollBar

          public JScrollBar getHorizontalScrollBar()

      Returns the `JScrollBar` object that handles horizontal scrolling.
      Returns:
        the `JScrollBar` object that handles horizontal scrolling
      See Also:
        `JScrollPane.getHorizontalScrollBar()`

    - #### getVerticalScrollBar

          public JScrollBar getVerticalScrollBar()

      Returns the `JScrollBar` object that handles vertical scrolling.
      Returns:
        the `JScrollBar` object that handles vertical scrolling
      See Also:
        `JScrollPane.getVerticalScrollBar()`

    - #### getRowHeader

          public JViewport getRowHeader()

      Returns the `JViewport` object that is the row header.
      Returns:
        the `JViewport` object that is the row header
      See Also:
        `JScrollPane.getRowHeader()`

    - #### getColumnHeader

          public JViewport getColumnHeader()

      Returns the `JViewport` object that is the column header.
      Returns:
        the `JViewport` object that is the column header
      See Also:
        `JScrollPane.getColumnHeader()`

    - #### getCorner

          public Component getCorner(String key)

      Returns the `Component` at the specified corner.
      Parameters:
        `key` - the `String` specifying the corner
      Returns:
        the `Component` at the specified corner, as defined in `ScrollPaneConstants`; if `key` is not one of the four corners, `null` is returned
      See Also:
        `JScrollPane.getCorner(java.lang.String)`

    - #### preferredLayoutSize

          public Dimension preferredLayoutSize(Container parent)

      The preferred size of a `ScrollPane` is the size of the insets, plus the preferred size of the viewport, plus the preferred size of the visible headers, plus the preferred size of the scrollbars that will appear given the current view and the current scrollbar displayPolicies.

      Note that the rowHeader is calculated as part of the preferred width and the colHeader is calculated as part of the preferred size.

      Specified by:
        `preferredLayoutSize` in interface `LayoutManager`
      Parameters:
        `parent` - the `Container` that will be laid out
      Returns:
        a `Dimension` object specifying the preferred size of the viewport and any scrollbars
      See Also:
        `ViewportLayout`, `LayoutManager`

    - #### minimumLayoutSize

          public Dimension minimumLayoutSize(Container parent)

      The minimum size of a `ScrollPane` is the size of the insets plus minimum size of the viewport, plus the scrollpane's viewportBorder insets, plus the minimum size of the visible headers, plus the minimum size of the scrollbars whose displayPolicy isn't NEVER.
      Specified by:
        `minimumLayoutSize` in interface `LayoutManager`
      Parameters:
        `parent` - the `Container` that will be laid out
      Returns:
        a `Dimension` object specifying the minimum size
      See Also:
        `LayoutManager.preferredLayoutSize(java.awt.Container)`

    - #### layoutContainer

          public void layoutContainer(Container parent)

      Lays out the scrollpane. The positioning of components depends on the following constraints:
      - The row header, if present and visible, gets its preferred width and the viewport's height.
      - The column header, if present and visible, gets its preferred height and the viewport's width.
      - If a vertical scrollbar is needed, i.e. if the viewport's extent height is smaller than its view height or if the `displayPolicy` is ALWAYS, it's treated like the row header with respect to its dimensions and is made visible.
      - If a horizontal scrollbar is needed, it is treated like the column header (see the paragraph above regarding the vertical scrollbar).
      - If the scrollpane has a non-`null` `viewportBorder`, then space is allocated for that.
      - The viewport gets the space available after accounting for the previous constraints.
      - The corner components, if provided, are aligned with the ends of the scrollbars and headers. If there is a vertical scrollbar, the right corners appear; if there is a horizontal scrollbar, the lower corners appear; a row header gets left corners, and a column header gets upper corners.
      Specified by:
        `layoutContainer` in interface `LayoutManager`
      Parameters:
        `parent` - the `Container` to lay out

    - #### getViewportBorderBounds

          @Deprecated
          public Rectangle getViewportBorderBounds(JScrollPane scrollpane)

      Deprecated. As of JDK version Swing1.1 replaced by `JScrollPane.getViewportBorderBounds()`.
      Returns the bounds of the border around the specified scroll pane's viewport.
      Returns:
        the size and position of the viewport border

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