How to develop a soft keyboard for Android?

Android Apps/Applications Mobile Development

This example demonstrates how do I develop a soft keyboard for android.

Step 1 − Create a new project in Android Studio, go to File ⇒ New Project and fill all required details to create a new project.

Step 2 − Add the following code to res/layout/activity_main.xml.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<RelativeLayout 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"
   tools:context=".MainActivity">
   <EditText
      android:id="@+id/editText"
      android:layout_width="match_parent"
      android:layout_height="wrap_content"
      android:layout_centerHorizontal="true"
      android:layout_marginTop="50dp"/>
   <Button
      android:layout_centerInParent="true"
      android:text="SHOW TEXT"
      android:layout_below="@id/editText"
      android:layout_marginTop="5dp"
      android:layout_width="wrap_content"
      android:layout_height="wrap_content"
      android:id="@+id/btnShow"
      android:onClick="ShowText"/>
   <TextView
      android:id="@+id/textView"
      android:textSize="16sp"
      android:textStyle="bold"
      android:layout_width="wrap_content"
      android:layout_height="wrap_content"
      android:layout_centerInParent="true"
      android:layout_below="@id/btnShow"
      android:layout_marginTop="10dp"/>
   <TextView
      android:layout_width="wrap_content"
      android:layout_height="wrap_content"
      android:layout_centerInParent="true"
      android:text="Soft KeyBoard"
      android:textSize="24sp"
      android:textStyle="bold" />
</RelativeLayout>

Step 3 − Add the following code to src/MainActivity.java

import androidx.appcompat.app.AppCompatActivity;
import android.os.Bundle;
import android.view.View;
import android.widget.EditText;
import android.widget.TextView;
public class MainActivity extends AppCompatActivity {
   EditText editText;
   TextView textView;
   @Override
   protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
      super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
      setContentView(R.layout.activity_main);
      editText = findViewById(R.id.editText);
      textView = findViewById(R.id.textView);
   }
   public void ShowText(View view) {
      String newText = editText.getText().toString();
      textView.setText(newText);
   }
}

Step 4 − Add the following code to androidManifest.xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<manifest xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android" package="app.com.sample">
   <application
      android:allowBackup="true"
      android:icon="@mipmap/ic_launcher"
      android:label="@string/app_name"
      android:roundIcon="@mipmap/ic_launcher_round"
      android:supportsRtl="true"
      android:theme="@style/AppTheme">
      <activity android:name=".MainActivity">
         <intent-filter>
            <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
            <category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
         </intent-filter>
      </activity>
   </application>
</manifest>

Let's try to run your application. I assume you have connected your actual Android Mobile device with your computer. To run the app from android studio, open one of your project's activity files and click Run icon from the toolbar. Select your mobile device as an option and then check your mobile device which will display your default screen −