AWT Canvas Class

Introduction

Canvas control represents a rectangular area where application can draw something or can receive inputs created by user.

Class declaration

Following is the declaration for java.awt.Canvas class:

public class Canvas
   extends Component
      implements Accessible

Class constructors

S.N.	Constructor & Description
1	Canvas() Constructs a new Canvas.
2	Canvas(GraphicsConfiguration config) Constructs a new Canvas given a GraphicsConfiguration object.

S.N.

Constructor & Description

Canvas()

Constructs a new Canvas.

Canvas(GraphicsConfiguration config)

Constructs a new Canvas given a GraphicsConfiguration object.

Class methods

S.N.	Method & Description
1	void addNotify() Creates the peer of the canvas.
2	void createBufferStrategy(int numBuffers) Creates a new strategy for multi-buffering on this component.
3	void createBufferStrategy(int numBuffers, BufferCapabilities caps) Creates a new strategy for multi-buffering on this component with the required buffer capabilities.
4	AccessibleContext getAccessibleContext() Gets the AccessibleContext associated with this Canvas.
5	BufferStrategy getBufferStrategy() Returns the BufferStrategy used by this component.
6	void paint(Graphics g) Paints this canvas.
7	void pdate(Graphics g) Updates this canvas.

Methods inherited

This class inherits methods from the following classes:

java.awt.Component
java.lang.Object

Canvas Example

Create the following java program using any editor of your choice in say D:/ > AWT > com > tutorialspoint > gui >

AwtControlDemo.java

package com.tutorialspoint.gui;

import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.event.*;

public class AwtControlDemo {

   private Frame mainFrame;
   private Label headerLabel;
   private Label statusLabel;
   private Panel controlPanel;

   public AwtControlDemo(){
      prepareGUI();
   }

   public static void main(String[] args){
      AwtControlDemo  awtControlDemo = new AwtControlDemo();
      awtControlDemo.showCanvasDemo();
   }

   private void prepareGUI(){
      mainFrame = new Frame("Java AWT Examples");
      mainFrame.setSize(400,400);
      mainFrame.setLayout(new GridLayout(3, 1));
      mainFrame.addWindowListener(new WindowAdapter() {
         public void windowClosing(WindowEvent windowEvent){
            System.exit(0);
         }        
      });    
      headerLabel = new Label();
      headerLabel.setAlignment(Label.CENTER);
      statusLabel = new Label();        
      statusLabel.setAlignment(Label.CENTER);
      statusLabel.setSize(350,100);

      controlPanel = new Panel();
      controlPanel.setLayout(new FlowLayout());

      mainFrame.add(headerLabel);
      mainFrame.add(controlPanel);
      mainFrame.add(statusLabel);
      mainFrame.setVisible(true);  
   }

   private void showCanvasDemo(){
      headerLabel.setText("Control in action: Canvas"); 

      controlPanel.add(new MyCanvas());
      mainFrame.setVisible(true);  
   } 

   class MyCanvas extends Canvas {

      public MyCanvas () {
         setBackground (Color.GRAY);
         setSize(300, 300);
      }

      public void paint (Graphics g) {
         Graphics2D g2;
         g2 = (Graphics2D) g;
         g2.drawString ("It is a custom canvas area", 70, 70);
      }
   }
}

Compile the program using command prompt. Go to D:/ > AWT and type the following command.

D:\AWT>javac com\tutorialspoint\gui\AwtControlDemo.java

If no error comes that means compilation is successful. Run the program using following command.

D:\AWT>java com.tutorialspoint.gui.AwtControlDemo

Verify the following output

awt_controls.htm