How to Code the Front End of an Android App?
Creating the front end of an Android app involves designing the user interface (UI) and making it interactive for users. This article will guide you through the basic files you need and how to edit or create them to build a simple, functional front end for your Android application.
We’ll walk through how to design what users will see and interact with—the front end—without assuming you already know how to code.
🧐 What Is the Front End of an Android App?
The front end is everything your user sees:
✅ Buttons ✅ Text boxes ✅ Images ✅ Menus
If you’ve ever tapped a button or typed into a search box inside an app—you were using the front end!
🛠 Tools You Need
First, install Android Studio (it’s free!). This is where you’ll design and build your app. When you open Android Studio, create a new project and choose the Empty Activity template.
Android Studio will automatically create the basic files for you. Don’t worry—you don’t have to understand all of them right now!
🔍 Quick Look: Project Structure
Here’s what your project will look like:
Html
Don’t worry if this looks big. Most of the time, you’ll only edit:
activity_main.xmlMainActivity.ktstrings.xmlstyles.xml
📁 The 4 Files You’ll Work With
| File | Purpose |
|---|---|
activity_main.xml | Controls what the screen looks like |
MainActivity.kt | Controls what happens when users tap or swipe |
strings.xml | Stores text like button labels |
styles.xml | Controls the app’s look and feel (fonts, colors) |
1. Layout File (activity_main.xml) — What the User Sees
This file controls how your app looks. It’s written in XML (don’t worry, it’s easier than it sounds).
Find it in this folder:
app > res > layout > activity_main.xml
Here’s a simple example:
Xml
What this does:
- Puts a welcome message at the top.
- Puts a “Get Started” button below it.
✅ Pro tip: You can also use Android Studio’s Design view to drag and drop buttons and text instead of writing XML by hand.
2. Kotlin File (MainActivity.kt) — What Happens When Users Click
This file tells your app what to do when someone taps a button or interacts with the UI.
Find it in:
app > java > [your package name] > MainActivity.kt
Example:
Kotlin
What this does: When the user clicks the Get Started button, a message will appear in the debug console.
✅ Pro tip: Later, you can make it do things like open a new screen or display a message!
3. Resource File (strings.xml) — Text That Can Change Easily
Instead of writing text directly into your layout, it’s better to store it in strings.xml. This way, it’s easier to update or translate later.
Find it in:
app > res > values > strings.xml
Example:
Xml
Now update your activity_main.xml like this:
Xml
✅ Pro tip: This makes it super easy to change button labels without digging into your layout code.
4. Styles File (styles.xml) — The Look and Feel
This file controls things like colors, font sizes, and overall app theme.
Find it in:
app > res > values > styles.xml
A simple example:
Xml
✅ Pro tip: You can customize your app’s colors and fonts here to make it unique!
🧪 Testing Your App
In Android Studio:
- Click the green Play button to run the app.
- Use the emulator or connect a real Android phone.
- Tap the “Get Started” button and see your code in action!
✅ Pro tip: If you change something and don’t see the update, try Clean Project from the “Build” menu.
🎯 What You’ve Learned
By now, you know how to:
- ✔ Design a simple app screen
- ✔ Add text and buttons
- ✔ Make the button do something
- ✔ Customize the look and feel
- ✔ Test your app
Android development can seem complex at first—but taking small steps like these will give you the confidence to keep building.
