Dynamic Fragment in Android

Last Updated : 24 Apr, 2025

Dynamic Fragment is a type of fragment that is defined in an XML layout file and called using FragmentManager class. The FragmentManager class is responsible for managing fragments. It is a part of the Activity and its lifecycle depends on the lifecycle of its container activity. Dynamic Fragments are more responsive and flexible than Static Fragments.

Properties of Dynamic Fragment:

Defined in Java class by extending FragmentManager class.
Having a fixed position in the Activity's layout but its content can be changed.
Can be added, removed, or replaced at runtime.
Created when the Activity is created and destroyed when the activity is destroyed.

Step by Step Implementation

Step 1: Create a New Project in Android Studio

To create a new project in Android Studio please refer to How to Create/Start a New Project in Android Studio. Note that select Java as the programming language.

Step 2: Working with the activity_main.xml file

Navigate to the app > res > layout > activity_main.xml and add the below code to that file. Below is the code for the activity_main.xml file. Comments are added inside the code to understand the code in more detail.

XML

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<LinearLayout 
   xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
   xmlns:app="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res-auto"
   xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"
   android:layout_width="match_parent"
   android:layout_height="match_parent"
   android:orientation="vertical"
   tools:context=".MainActivity">

   <LinearLayout
       android:layout_width="match_parent"
       android:layout_height="wrap_content"
       android:background="#BDBDBD"
       android:padding="15dp"
       android:weightSum="3">

       <Button
           android:id="@+id/btnMessages"
           android:layout_width="wrap_content"
           android:layout_height="wrap_content"
           android:layout_weight="1"
           android:text="Messages"
           android:layout_marginRight="5dp"/>

       <Button
           android:id="@+id/btnStatus"
           android:layout_width="wrap_content"
           android:layout_height="wrap_content"
           android:layout_weight="1"
           android:layout_marginRight="5dp"
           android:text="Status" />

       <Button
           android:id="@+id/btnCalls"
           android:layout_width="wrap_content"
           android:layout_height="wrap_content"
           android:layout_weight="1"
           android:text="Calls" />

   </LinearLayout>

   <FrameLayout
       android:id="@+id/FL"
       android:layout_width="match_parent"
       android:layout_height="match_parent" />

</LinearLayout>

Step 3: Working with Activity file (e.g. MainActivity.java)

Here we call fragments using FragmentManager class in Frame Layout.

Java

package com.anas.dynamicfragment;

import androidx.appcompat.app.AppCompatActivity;
import androidx.fragment.app.Fragment;
import androidx.fragment.app.FragmentManager;
import androidx.fragment.app.FragmentTransaction;

import android.annotation.SuppressLint;
import android.os.Bundle;
import android.util.Log;
import android.view.View;
import android.widget.Button;
import android.widget.TextView;

// contains dynamic frag + backstack
// of frags + data passing in frags
public class MainActivity extends AppCompatActivity {

    String Root_Frag = "root_fagment";
    @Override
    protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState)
    {
        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
        setContentView(R.layout.activity_main);

        Button btnMessages, btnStatus, btnCalls;

        btnMessages = findViewById(R.id.btnMessages);
        btnStatus = findViewById(R.id.btnStatus);
        btnCalls = findViewById(R.id.btnCalls);

        // default frag
        loadFrag(new MessagesFragment(), 0);

        btnMessages.setOnClickListener(new View.OnClickListener() {
            @Override
            public void onClick(View view)
            {

                loadFrag(new MessagesFragment(), 0);
            }
        });

        btnStatus.setOnClickListener(new View.OnClickListener() {
            @Override
            public void onClick(View view)
            {

                loadFrag(new StatusFragment(), 1);
            }
        });

        btnCalls.setOnClickListener(new View.OnClickListener() {
            @Override
            public void onClick(View view)
            {

                loadFrag(new CallsFragment(), 1);
            }
        });
    }

    // flag 0 for add, 1 for replace
    public void loadFrag(Fragment fragment_name, int flag)
    {
        FragmentManager fm = getSupportFragmentManager();
        FragmentTransaction ft = fm.beginTransaction();

        if (flag == 0) {
            ft.add(R.id.FL, fragment_name);

            fm.popBackStack(Root_Frag, FragmentManager.POP_BACK_STACK_INCLUSIVE);
            ft.addToBackStack(Root_Frag);
        }
        else {
            ft.replace(R.id.FL, fragment_name);
            ft.addToBackStack(null);
        }

        ft.commit();
    }
}

Step 4: Working with Fragment layout (e.g. fragment_messages.xml)

XML

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<LinearLayout 
   xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
   xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"
   android:layout_width="match_parent"
   android:layout_height="match_parent"
   android:background="#f0f4c3"
   android:gravity="center"
   tools:context=".MessagesFragment">

   <TextView
       android:id="@+id/txtMessagesFrag"
       android:layout_width="wrap_content"
       android:layout_height="wrap_content"
       android:text="Messages Fragment"
       android:textSize="22sp"
       android:textColor="#cddc39"
       android:textStyle="italic|bold"/>

</LinearLayout>

Step 5: Working with Fragment layout (e.g. fragment_status.xml)

XML

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<LinearLayout
   xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
   xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"
   android:layout_width="match_parent"
   android:layout_height="match_parent"
   android:background="#b2ebf2"
   android:gravity="center"
   tools:context=".StatusFragment">

   <TextView
       android:id="@+id/txtUpperFrag"
       android:layout_width="wrap_content"
       android:layout_height="wrap_content"
       android:text="Status Fragment"
       android:textSize="22sp"
       android:textColor="#00bcd4"
       android:textStyle="italic|bold"/>

</LinearLayout>

Step 6: Working with Fragment layout (e.g. fragment_calls.xml)

XML

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<LinearLayout 
   xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
   xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"
   android:layout_width="match_parent"
   android:layout_height="match_parent"
   android:background="#f8bbd0"
   android:gravity="center"
   tools:context=".CallsFragment">

   <TextView
       android:id="@+id/txtUpperFrag"
       android:layout_width="wrap_content"
       android:layout_height="wrap_content"
       android:text="Calls Fragment"
       android:textSize="22sp"
       android:textColor="#e91e63"
       android:textStyle="italic|bold"/>

</LinearLayout>

Step 7: Working with Fragment (e.g. MessagesFragment.java)

Java

package com.anas.dynamicfragment;

import android.annotation.SuppressLint;
import android.os.Bundle;

import androidx.fragment.app.Fragment;

import android.util.Log;
import android.view.LayoutInflater;
import android.view.View;
import android.view.ViewGroup;
import android.widget.TextView;

public class MessagesFragment extends Fragment {

    public MessagesFragment()
    {
        // Required empty public constructor
    }

    @SuppressLint("LongLogTag")
    @Override
    public View onCreateView(LayoutInflater inflater, ViewGroup container,
                             Bundle savedInstanceState)
    {

        View view = inflater.inflate(R.layout.fragment_messages, container, false);
        return view;
    }
}

Step 8: Working with Fragment (e.g. StatusFragment.java)

Java

package com.anas.dynamicfragment;

import android.os.Bundle;

import androidx.fragment.app.Fragment;

import android.view.LayoutInflater;
import android.view.View;
import android.view.ViewGroup;

public class StatusFragment extends Fragment {

    public StatusFragment()
    {
        // Required empty public constructor
    }

    @Override
    public View onCreateView(LayoutInflater inflater, ViewGroup container,
                             Bundle savedInstanceState)
    {
        // Inflate the layout for this fragment
        View view = inflater.inflate(R.layout.fragment_status, container, false);

        return view;
    }
}

Step 9: Working with Fragment (e.g. CallsFragment.java)

Java

package com.anas.dynamicfragment;

import android.os.Bundle;

import androidx.fragment.app.Fragment;

import android.view.LayoutInflater;
import android.view.View;
import android.view.ViewGroup;

public class CallsFragment extends Fragment {

    public CallsFragment()
    {
        // Required empty public constructor
    }

    @Override
    public View onCreateView(LayoutInflater inflater, ViewGroup container,
                             Bundle savedInstanceState)
    {
        // Inflate the layout for this fragment
        View view = inflater.inflate(R.layout.fragment_calls, container, false);

        return view;
    }
}