- Difference Between JPanel and JFrame
- JPanel vs JFrame
- Head to Head Comparison between JPanel vs JFrame (Infographics)
- Key differences between JPanel vs JFrame
- Comparison Table of Jpanel vs JFrame
- Conclusion
- Recommended Articles
- JPanel vs JFrame: Difference and Comparison
- Key Takeaways
- JPanel vs JFrame
- Comparison Table
- What is JPanel?
- What is JFrame?
- Main Differences Between JPanel and JFrame
Difference Between JPanel and JFrame
JPanel and JFrame are both classes in the Java Programming Language. They both look like windows when ‘ran’, but have different uses or purposes.
JPanel actually serves as a general purpose container. It is where more complex, or bigger operations, are usually put. You can put many operations inside one panel. JPanel is a subclass of JComponent, and JComponent is a subclass of Container, therefore, JPanel is also a container. There are so many methods that can be used for JPanel, which it inherited from its super classes. The accessibility, alignments, and image observer, are some of its examples. In JPanel, you can also put fields, labels, buttons, check boxes, and even images, and many other functions. It simply represents an area where you can put visuals and controls.
In Java Programming, in order to create a panel, you need to invoke a constructor JPanel() (this creates a blank panel). It is opaque by default, but you can change its background color. You can also customize its components using the Layout Managers. The Layout Managers such as Flow Layout, Grid Layout, Border Layout, etc., helps you to control the sizes, positions, and alignment of your components in JPanel. Component colors can also be customized using setColor(color_obj), setForeGround(color_obj), and setBackgroundColor(color_obj) constructors.
JFrame, just like JPanel, is also a subclass of JComponent and JContainer. It is a window with characteristics of its own. It has a border, title bar, and button components. Its physical attributes, like size, color, fonts, etc., can all be customized. There are proper syntax’s derived for each attribute you want to change. JFrame has basically two sub-areas, the content pane and the menu bar, but most of the controls are found in the content pane area. In JFrame, you can also put buttons, labels, and check boxes.
JFrame is a window commonly used for stand-alone applications, like a warning window, or a notification window, that you would usually see pop out on your screen. It uses a method of windows listener that executes whenever you close, open, maximize, minimize or activate a window. There’s also a mouse listener method that is used to make your frame react to mouse actions. Frames can also have inner frames, but they are totally dependent on the main frame. There are so many actions you can make for your frame, not only using the listeners, but moreover, using the add, get, and set methods.
1. JPanel serves as a general purpose container, while JFrame is a window commonly used for stand-alone applications, like a warning window, or a notification window.
2. JPanel represents an area used for more complex operations or applications.
3. In JPanel, one panel can hold many operations, while in JFrame, it can have inner frames for a different purpose.
JPanel vs JFrame
JPanel vs JFrame both are commonly used classes available in java; JPanel can be considered as a general container, which is used in case of complex or bigger functions which require grouping of different components together; on the other hand, JFrame is generally used to host simple elements used in a window like a border, title bar, controls, event handlers, etc.
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JPanel: JPanel is a simple container class whose parent is a JComponent class and provides sufficient space that can accommodate any other component. In JPanel, we can accommodate many operations inside a single panel. JPanel is a subclass of the JComponent, which is a child of the Container; therefore, JPanel is also considered a container. There are many methods used by JPanel, which it inherits from its parent classes. Some of the examples of operations include image observer, accessibility, and alignments. JPanel allows us to put labels, checkboxes, buttons, fields, images, and other functions into it. To conclude things, JPanel is an area where you can put visuals and controls. Now, to use a JPanel in our java source code, we need to create an object of JPanel by calling its constructor JPanel (); after a call to this constructor, a blank panel is created. We can change the colour of the panel by calling the suitable method of JPanel class. Layout Managers can be used in order to provide further customizations to JPanel. Some of the examples of Layout Managers include Grid Layout, Border Layout, Flow Layout, etc. JPanel can be considered as a generic class that groups different components together. With Layout Managers’ help, we can control the alignments, size, and position of the components residing inside a JPanel. In order to provide color customizations methods like setColor (obj_color), setForeGround (obj_color) and setBackGround (obj_color) can be used.
JFrame: JFrame is available in javax.swing package and is a container whose parent is java.awt.Frame class. JFrame generally servers as a window where important components like buttons, text fields and labels are added. JFrame are is basically divided into two different sub-parts, which are the content pane and the menu bar. JFrame is basically a window used for stand-alone applications, examples of which include an alert window, or a notification window, that generally appears as pop out on our screen. JFrame make use of a windows listener that starts execution whenever you perform different operations on a window. Another listener called mouse listener is used to make your framework in accordance with mouse actions. JFrame can have multiple inner frames, but they are completely dependent on the parent frame.
Head to Head Comparison between JPanel vs JFrame (Infographics)
Below are the top 5 comparisons between JPanel vs JFrame:
Key differences between JPanel vs JFrame
Let us discuss some key differences between JPanel vs JFrame in the following points:
- The title bar is present in JFrame; on the other hand, JPanel does not contain a title bar.
- JFrame inherits java.awt.Frame class, whereas JComponent class, is the parent of JPanel.
- JFrame is generally used as a window for hosting stand-alone applications, like an alert window or notification window, whereas JPanel class works as a container to host components.
- In the case of JPanel, one pane can hold multiple operations, whereas a JFrame has different inner frames for performing different purposes, in which all inner frames are completely dependent on the parent frame.
- JFrame is a heavyweight container used as the top-level window, whereas JPanel is a lightweight container generally used to organize Graphic user interface components.
- JPanels are added on top of JFrame, whereas graphical user interface components are added on one or more JPanels.
Comparison Table of Jpanel vs JFrame
The table below summarizes the comparisons between Jpanel vs JFrame:
Conclusion
The above article covers two important components of the Java Swing package in detail. Both JFrame and JPanel are important as a swing GUI cannot exist without these top-level containers. JFrame and JPanel both provide different methods to perform different GUI related functions.
Recommended Articles
This is a guide to JPanel vs JFrame. Here we discuss the JPanel vs JFrame key differences, the important components with infographics and a comparison table. You may also have a look at the following articles to learn more –
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JPanel vs JFrame: Difference and Comparison
Both JFrame and JPanel are classes used in Java. The latter is a programming language that is object-oriented and class-based.
Key Takeaways
- JPanel is a lightweight container in the Java Swing GUI toolkit for organizing and grouping components within a window.
- JFrame is a top-level container in the Java Swing GUI toolkit, providing a window with a title bar, borders, and buttons for closing, minimizing, and maximizing the window.
- JPanels are typically used within JFrames to create complex, organized user interfaces.
JPanel vs JFrame
JPanel is a general container class that is found in the javax.swing package, and is used to assemble a group of synched components. It does not contain a graphical user interface. JFrame is a base container found in Java.awt.frame used to create independent graphical user interface applications.
JPanel is a broad-purpose container used to put in a set of more complex components or operations. It represents a space where one can see various controls such as check-boxes, buttons and text fields, and visuals like pictures and texts.
On the other hand, JFrame is the primary container used for storing components like buttons, labels and text fields. However, unlike a JPanel, a JFrame also contains a title bar.
Comparison Table
What is JPanel?
It refers to a general container used to assemble components in synchronization. It is quite an uncomplicated component which usually does not possess a graphical user interface (GUI).
The JPanel container class is found in the javax.swing package. The swing is an extension of the Abstract Window Toolkit (AWT), the first generation of Java Application Programming Interface (API).
The JPanel is a straightforward and lightweight container, a subclass of the java.swing.JComponent class. The JComponent, in turn, is a subclass of the container.
The JPanel allows one to place checkboxes, buttons, images, fields, labels and even texts. It s mainly defined as an area where controls and visuals can be identified.
To use a JPanel, one must first create its object by calling for a constructor JPanel (). Following this invocation, a blank panel is generated. It looks grim by default, but its background colour can be changed by invoking the appropriate methods of JPanel class.
For that, one needs to use the Layout managers. There are a variety of Layout managers, such as Border Layout, Grid Layout, Flow Layout and so on.
What is JFrame?
It is the base or foundation container used for creating independent GUI applications. It appears and runs like a window, such as a notification or warning window that usually pops up on computer screens.
Like JPanel, it is also part of the swing toolkit, but its parent class is Java. awt.Frame. That is to say; it is an extended version of the Frame found in Java Abstract Window Toolkit (AWT), the oldest generation of Java API.
Its constructors and methods are used to place components like text fields, buttons, borders, title bar, etc., inside it and customise its physical features like fonts, size, colours and alignments.
It has two sub-divisions, namely the menu bar and the content pane. The components of JFrame are known as contents, and most are found in the content pane.
JFrame employs a method of windows listener that starts working whenever a person carries out operations like activating, closing, opening, minimizing or maximizing a window. It also employs a mouse listener so the frame can react to the mouse’s actions.
A JFrame can place inside itself multiple frames and JPanels, but all of them depend on the mainframe for their existence. Many functions can be created for the JFrame by using the methods of Listeners and the methods of get, set and add methods.
Main Differences Between JPanel and JFrame
- Both JPanel and JFrame are container classes. But the parent of the former is javax.swing.JComponent class. At the same time, the latter is the child of java.awt.Frame class.
- Regarding weight, JFrame is heavy and employed as a top-level window. While JPanel is light and is used for organising Graphical User Interface (GUI) components.
- JFrame is a window used for creating independent GUI applications. In contrast, Jpanel is a space where one can assemble complex components or operations.
- Being a window, JFrame contains a title bar. In comparison, Jpanel does not contain a title bar.
- JFrame can contain within itself multiple frames and JPanels. But JPanel cannot contain within itself JFrames. However, it can place within itself multiple operations.
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