Create Custom Images on Android with JSON API

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Designing the UI
3. Removing the Toolbar
4. Adding the CardView and ImageView
5. Adding the Buttons
6. Handling Events on the Buttons
7. Retrieving Data from the API
8. Displaying the Image in the ImageView
9. Conclusion

Introduction

In this video tutorial, we will be creating a simple user interface for an Android application. We will discuss the components and functionalities of the UI that we will be using. Additionally, we will walk through the process of designing and implementing the UI step by step.

Designing the UI

To start off, we will remove the toolbar from our application. We will create a custom theme and apply it to our main activity to hide the toolbar. We will then add a CardView and ImageView to our layout. The CardView will contain the ImageView, which will display an image.

Removing the Toolbar

To remove the toolbar, we will create a custom theme that does not include the toolbar. We will modify the theme in the style section, removing the action bar. Then, we will apply this theme to our main activity in the Android manifest.

Adding the CardView and ImageView

Next, we will add a CardView to our layout. The CardView will serve as a container for our UI components. Inside the CardView, we will add a ConstraintLayout, which will contain the ImageView. We will select an image and set it as the source for the ImageView. Additionally, we will set the corner radius and card elevation properties for the CardView and ImageView.

Adding the Buttons

After setting up the CardView and ImageView, we will proceed to add four buttons to our layout. We will use icons for these buttons, and we will import the necessary icons into our project. We will add a LinearLayout to store the buttons and align them at the center. Each button will have its own properties, such as background color, size, and margin.

Handling Events on the Buttons

In this step, we will implement the functionality of the buttons. We will add the necessary code to handle events when a button is clicked. We will define the actions to be performed when each button is pressed. This will involve writing code to perform actions such as downloading an image, refreshing the UI, and displaying additional information.

Retrieving Data from the API

To retrieve data from an API, we will make use of a free API that provides information about cats. We will write code to retrieve data from the API and extract the necessary information, such as the image URL. We will make use of network requests and JSON parsing to achieve this.

Displaying the Image in the ImageView

Finally, we will display the image retrieved from the API in the ImageView. We will use a library or built-in functions to load the image asynchronously to avoid freezing the UI. We will also handle any errors that may occur during the image loading process.

Conclusion

In this video tutorial, we have designed and implemented a simple user interface for an Android application. We discussed the steps involved in creating the UI and explained the functionalities of each component. We also covered handling events on buttons and retrieving data from an API. By following this tutorial, you will be able to create your own UI and incorporate various functionalities into your Android applications.