How to make an Android Spinner with initial default text using Kotlin?

This example demonstrates how to make an Android Spinner with initial default text using Kotlin.

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"?>
<LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
   xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"
   android:id="@+id/linearLayout"
   android:layout_width="match_parent"
   android:layout_height="match_parent"
   android:orientation="vertical"
   tools:context=".MainActivity">
   <TextView
      android:id="@+id/textView"
      android:layout_width="wrap_content"
      android:layout_height="wrap_content"
      android:layout_gravity="center"
      android:layout_marginTop="30dp"
      android:text="Spinner Sample Program"
      android:textColor="@android:color/background_dark"
      android:textSize="16sp" />
   <Spinner
      android:id="@+id/spinner"
      android:layout_width="wrap_content"
      android:layout_height="wrap_content"
      android:layout_gravity="center"
      android:layout_marginTop="10dp">
   </Spinner>
</LinearLayout>

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

import android.os.Bundle
import android.view.View
import android.widget.AdapterView
import android.widget.AdapterView.OnItemSelectedListener
import android.widget.ArrayAdapter
import android.widget.Spinner
import android.widget.Toast
import androidx.appcompat.app.AppCompatActivity
class MainActivity : AppCompatActivity() {
   lateinit var spinner: Spinner
   override fun onCreate(savedInstanceState: Bundle?) {
      super.onCreate(savedInstanceState)
      setContentView(R.layout.activity_main)
      title = "KotlinApp"
      spinner = findViewById(R.id.spinner)
      val footballPlayers: MutableList<String?> = ArrayList()
      footballPlayers.add(0, "Select a player from the list")
      footballPlayers.add("Cristian Ronaldo")
      footballPlayers.add("Lionel Messi")
      footballPlayers.add("Neymar Jr")
      footballPlayers.add("Isco")
      footballPlayers.add("Gareth Bale")
      footballPlayers.add("Luis Suarez")
      val arrayAdapter: ArrayAdapter<String?> = ArrayAdapter<String?>(this, android.R.layout.simple_list_item_1, footballPlayers)
      arrayAdapter.setDropDownViewResource(android.R.layout.simple_spinner_dropdown_item)
      spinner.adapter = arrayAdapter
      spinner.onItemSelectedListener = object : OnItemSelectedListener {
         override fun onItemSelected(parent: AdapterView<*>, view: View?, position: Int, id: Long) {
            if (parent.getItemAtPosition(position) == "Choose Football players from lis") {
            }
            else {
               val item = parent.getItemAtPosition(position).toString()
               Toast.makeText(parent.context, "Selected: $item", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show()
            }
         }
         override fun onNothingSelected(parent: AdapterView<*>?) {}
      }
   }
}

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="com.example.q11">
   <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 the Run icon from the toolbar. Select your mobile device as an option and then check your mobile device which will display your default screen.

Click here to download the project code.