In the ever-evolving world of Android app development, seamless integration of compelling animations is key to a polished user experience. MotionLayout, a robust tool in the Android toolkit, has an effortless and elegant ability to embed animations directly into the UI. Join us as we navigate through its features and master the skill of effortlessly designing stunning visuals.

1. Introduction to MotionLayout

MotionLayout transcends conventional layouts, standing as a specialized tool to seamlessly synchronize a myriad of animations with screen updates in your Android application.

1.1 Advantages of MotionLayout

Animation Separation:

MotionLayout distinguishes itself with the ability to compartmentalize animation logic into a separate XML file. This not only optimizes Java or Kotlin code but also enhances its overall manageability.

No Dependence on Manager or Controller:

An exceptional feature of MotionLayout is its user-friendly approach, enabling developers to attach intricate animations to screen changes without requiring a dedicated animation manager or controller.

Backward Compatibility:

Of paramount importance, MotionLayout maintains backward compatibility, ensuring its applicability across Android systems starting from API level 14.

Android Studio Integration:

Empowering developers further is the seamless integration with Android Studio. The graphical tooling provided by the visual editor facilitates the design and fine-tuning of MotionLayout animations, offering an intuitive workflow.

Derivation from ConstraintLayout:

MotionLayout, being a subclass of ConstraintLayout, serves as an extension specifically designed to facilitate the implementation of complex motion and animation design within a ConstraintLayout.

1.2 Important Tags

As elucidated earlier, Animation XML is separated into the following important tags and attributes:

<MotionScene>: The topmost tag in XML, wrapping all subsequent tags.

<ConstraintSet>: Describes one screen state, with two sets required for animations between states. For example, if we desire an animation where the screen transitions from state A to state B, we necessitate the definition of two ConstraintSets.

<Transition>: Attaches to two ConstraintSets, triggering animation between them.

<ViewTransition>: Utilized for changes within a single ConstraintSet.

As explained before, animation XML is separate following are important tags and attributes that we should know

1.3 Why It’s Better Than Its Alternatives

It's important to note that MotionLayout is not the sole solution for every animation scenario. Similar to the saying that a sword cannot replace a needle, MotionLayout can be a better solution when planning for complex animations. MotionLayout can replace animation created using threads and runnables. Apart from MotionLayout, several common alternatives for creating animations include:

• Animated Vector Drawable
• Property animation frameworks
• LayoutTransition animation
• Layout Transitions with TransitionManager
• CoordinatorLayout

Each alternative has unique advantages and disadvantages compared to MotionLayout. For smaller animations like icon changes, Animated Vector Drawable might be preferred. The choice between alternatives depends on the specific requirements of the animation task at hand.

MotionLayout is a comprehensive solution, bridging the gap between layout transitions and complex motion handling. It seamlessly integrates features from the property animation framework, TransitionManager, and CoordinatorLayout. Developers can describe transitions between layouts, animate any property, handle touch interactions, and achieve a fully declarative implementation, all through the expressive power of XML.

2. Configuration

2.1 System setup

For optimal development and utilization of the Motion Editor, Android Studio is a prerequisite. Kindly follow this link for the Android Studio installation guide.

2.2 Project Implementation

1. Initiate a new Android project and opt for the "Empty View Activity" template.

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2. Since MotionLayout is an extension of ConstraintLayout, it's essential to include ConstraintLayout in the build.gradle file.

implementation 'androidx.constraintlayout:constraintlayout:x.x.x'

Substitute "x.x.x" with the most recent version of ConstraintLayout.

3. Replace "ConstraintLayout" with "MotionLayout." Opting for the right-click method is recommended, as it facilitates automatically creating the necessary animation XML.

When converting our existing layout to MotionLayout by right-clicking, a new XML file named "activity_main_scene.xml" is generated in the XML directory. This file is dedicated to storing animation details for MotionLayout.

4. Execute the following steps:

1. Click on the "start" ConstraintSet.
2. Move the Text View by dragging it to a desired position on your screen.
3. Click on the "end" ConstraintSet.
4. Move the Text View to another position on your screen.
5. Click on the arrow above "start" and "end" ConstraintSet.
6. Click on the "+" symbol in the "Attributes" tab.
7. Add the attribute "autoTransition" with the value "jumpToEnd."
8. Click the play button on the "Transition" tab.

Preview the animation in real time by running the application. The animation will initiate when called from the associated Java class.

Note: You can also manually edit the activity_main_scene.xml file to make these changes.

3. Sample Project and Result

Until now, we've navigated through the complexities of MotionLayout and laid the groundwork for an Android project. Now, let's transition from theory to practical application by crafting a sample project. In this endeavor, we'll keep the animation simple and accessible for a clearer understanding.

3.1 Adding Dependencies

Include the following lines of code in your gradle.build file (Module: app), and then click on "Sync Now" to ensure synchronization with the project:

CODE: https://gist.github.com/velotiotech/b37e9cb044168071e5d2d515beacd551.js

3.2 Adding code

Include the following code snippets in their corresponding classes:

CODE: https://gist.github.com/velotiotech/a236bce8c2f5470335786a2659dc32f1.js

CODE: https://gist.github.com/velotiotech/c9b7d98b372422c57d37c8809d75ddb0.js

CODE: https://gist.github.com/velotiotech/ee94f2206c3c76462bcf0f32563fb083.js

3.3 Result

For a thorough comprehension of the implementation specifics and complete access to the source code, allowing you to delve into the intricacies of the project and harness its functionalities adeptly, please refer to this repository.

4. Assignment

Expanding the animation's complexity becomes seamless by incorporating additional elements with meticulous handling. Here's an assignment for you: endeavor to create the specified output below.

4.1 Assignment 1

4.2 Assignment 2

5. Conclusion

In conclusion, this guide has explored the essentials of using MotionLayout in Android development, highlighting its superiority over other animation methods. While we've touched on its basic capabilities here, future installments will explore more advanced features and uses. We hope this piece has ignited your interest in MotionLayout's potential to enhance your Android apps.

Thank you for dedicating your time to this informative read!

6. References

1. https://developer.android.com/reference/androidx/constraintlayout/motion/widget/MotionLayout
2. https://developer.android.com/reference/androidx/constraintlayout/widget/ConstraintLayout
3. https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2021/02/mad-skills-motion-layout-wrap-up.html
4. https://www.bacancytechnology.com/blog/motionlayout-in-android
5. https://medium.com/mindful-engineering/getting-started-with-motion-layout-in-android-c52af5d5076c
6. https://blog.mindorks.com/getting-started-with-motion-layout-android-tutorials/
7. https://gorillalogic.com/blog/a-motionlayout-tutorial-create-motions-and-animations-for-android
8. https://taglineinfotech.com/motion-layout-in-android/
9. https://applover.com/blog/how-to-create-motionlayout-part1/
10. https://medium.com/simform-engineering/animations-in-android-featuring-motionlayout-from-scratch-3ec5cbd6b616
11. https://www.nomtek.com/blog/motionlayout