TextComponent (Java Platform SE 8 )
Keywords: java.awt.TextComponent class
Date: 2026-04-17

java.awt

## Class TextComponent

- java.lang.Object
- - java.awt.Component
  - - java.awt.TextComponent

- All Implemented Interfaces:
    ImageObserver, MenuContainer, Serializable, Accessible
  Direct Known Subclasses:
    TextArea, TextField

      public class TextComponent
      extends Component
      implements Accessible

  The `TextComponent` class is the superclass of any component that allows the editing of some text.

  A text component embodies a string of text. The `TextComponent` class defines a set of methods that determine whether or not this text is editable. If the component is editable, it defines another set of methods that supports a text insertion caret.

  In addition, the class defines methods that are used to maintain a current selection from the text. The text selection, a substring of the component's text, is the target of editing operations. It is also referred to as the selected text.

  Since:
    JDK1.0
  See Also:
    Serialized Form

- - ### Nested Class Summary

    Nested Classes
    Modifier and Type | Class and Description
    --- | ---
    `protected class` | `TextComponent.AccessibleAWTTextComponent` This class implements accessibility support for the `TextComponent` class.

    - ### Nested classes/interfaces inherited from class java.awt.Component

      `Component.AccessibleAWTComponent, Component.BaselineResizeBehavior, Component.BltBufferStrategy, Component.FlipBufferStrategy`

  - ### Field Summary

    Fields
    Modifier and Type | Field and Description
    --- | ---
    `protected TextListener` | `textListener`

    - ### Fields inherited from class java.awt.Component

      `accessibleContext, BOTTOM_ALIGNMENT, CENTER_ALIGNMENT, LEFT_ALIGNMENT, RIGHT_ALIGNMENT, TOP_ALIGNMENT`

    - ### Fields inherited from interface java.awt.image.ImageObserver

      `ABORT, ALLBITS, ERROR, FRAMEBITS, HEIGHT, PROPERTIES, SOMEBITS, WIDTH`

  - ### Method Summary

    All Methods Instance Methods Concrete Methods
    Modifier and Type | Method and Description
    --- | ---
    `void` | `addNotify()` Makes this Component displayable by connecting it to a native screen resource.
    `void` | `addTextListener(TextListener l)` Adds the specified text event listener to receive text events from this text component.
    `void` | `enableInputMethods(boolean enable)` Enables or disables input method support for this text component.
    `AccessibleContext` | `getAccessibleContext()` Gets the AccessibleContext associated with this TextComponent.
    `Color` | `getBackground()` Gets the background color of this text component.
    `int` | `getCaretPosition()` Returns the position of the text insertion caret.
    `InputMethodRequests` | `getInputMethodRequests()` Gets the input method request handler which supports requests from input methods for this component.
    `<T extends EventListener> T[]` | `getListeners(Class<T> listenerType)` Returns an array of all the objects currently registered as `FooListener`s upon this `TextComponent`.
    `String` | `getSelectedText()` Returns the selected text from the text that is presented by this text component.
    `int` | `getSelectionEnd()` Gets the end position of the selected text in this text component.
    `int` | `getSelectionStart()` Gets the start position of the selected text in this text component.
    `String` | `getText()` Returns the text that is presented by this text component.
    `TextListener[]` | `getTextListeners()` Returns an array of all the text listeners registered on this text component.
    `boolean` | `isEditable()` Indicates whether or not this text component is editable.
    `protected String` | `paramString()` Returns a string representing the state of this `TextComponent`.
    `protected void` | `processEvent(AWTEvent e)` Processes events on this text component.
    `protected void` | `processTextEvent(TextEvent e)` Processes text events occurring on this text component by dispatching them to any registered `TextListener` objects.
    `void` | `removeNotify()` Removes the `TextComponent`'s peer.
    `void` | `removeTextListener(TextListener l)` Removes the specified text event listener so that it no longer receives text events from this text component If `l` is `null`, no exception is thrown and no action is performed.
    `void` | `select(int selectionStart, int selectionEnd)` Selects the text between the specified start and end positions.
    `void` | `selectAll()` Selects all the text in this text component.
    `void` | `setBackground(Color c)` Sets the background color of this text component.
    `void` | `setCaretPosition(int position)` Sets the position of the text insertion caret.
    `void` | `setEditable(boolean b)` Sets the flag that determines whether or not this text component is editable.
    `void` | `setSelectionEnd(int selectionEnd)` Sets the selection end for this text component to the specified position.
    `void` | `setSelectionStart(int selectionStart)` Sets the selection start for this text component to the specified position.
    `void` | `setText(String t)` Sets the text that is presented by this text component to be the specified text.

    - ### Methods inherited from class java.awt.Component

      `action, add, addComponentListener, addFocusListener, addHierarchyBoundsListener, addHierarchyListener, addInputMethodListener, addKeyListener, addMouseListener, addMouseMotionListener, addMouseWheelListener, addPropertyChangeListener, addPropertyChangeListener, applyComponentOrientation, areFocusTraversalKeysSet, bounds, checkImage, checkImage, coalesceEvents, contains, contains, createImage, createImage, createVolatileImage, createVolatileImage, deliverEvent, disable, disableEvents, dispatchEvent, doLayout, enable, enable, enableEvents, firePropertyChange, firePropertyChange, firePropertyChange, firePropertyChange, firePropertyChange, firePropertyChange, firePropertyChange, firePropertyChange, firePropertyChange, getAlignmentX, getAlignmentY, getBaseline, getBaselineResizeBehavior, getBounds, getBounds, getColorModel, getComponentAt, getComponentAt, getComponentListeners, getComponentOrientation, getCursor, getDropTarget, getFocusCycleRootAncestor, getFocusListeners, getFocusTraversalKeys, getFocusTraversalKeysEnabled, getFont, getFontMetrics, getForeground, getGraphics, getGraphicsConfiguration, getHeight, getHierarchyBoundsListeners, getHierarchyListeners, getIgnoreRepaint, getInputContext, getInputMethodListeners, getKeyListeners, getLocale, getLocation, getLocation, getLocationOnScreen, getMaximumSize, getMinimumSize, getMouseListeners, getMouseMotionListeners, getMousePosition, getMouseWheelListeners, getName, getParent, getPeer, getPreferredSize, getPropertyChangeListeners, getPropertyChangeListeners, getSize, getSize, getToolkit, getTreeLock, getWidth, getX, getY, gotFocus, handleEvent, hasFocus, hide, imageUpdate, inside, invalidate, isBackgroundSet, isCursorSet, isDisplayable, isDoubleBuffered, isEnabled, isFocusable, isFocusCycleRoot, isFocusOwner, isFocusTraversable, isFontSet, isForegroundSet, isLightweight, isMaximumSizeSet, isMinimumSizeSet, isOpaque, isPreferredSizeSet, isShowing, isValid, isVisible, keyDown, keyUp, layout, list, list, list, list, list, locate, location, lostFocus, minimumSize, mouseDown, mouseDrag, mouseEnter, mouseExit, mouseMove, mouseUp, move, nextFocus, paint, paintAll, postEvent, preferredSize, prepareImage, prepareImage, print, printAll, processComponentEvent, processFocusEvent, processHierarchyBoundsEvent, processHierarchyEvent, processInputMethodEvent, processKeyEvent, processMouseEvent, processMouseMotionEvent, processMouseWheelEvent, remove, removeComponentListener, removeFocusListener, removeHierarchyBoundsListener, removeHierarchyListener, removeInputMethodListener, removeKeyListener, removeMouseListener, removeMouseMotionListener, removeMouseWheelListener, removePropertyChangeListener, removePropertyChangeListener, repaint, repaint, repaint, repaint, requestFocus, requestFocus, requestFocusInWindow, requestFocusInWindow, reshape, resize, resize, revalidate, setBounds, setBounds, setComponentOrientation, setCursor, setDropTarget, setEnabled, setFocusable, setFocusTraversalKeys, setFocusTraversalKeysEnabled, setFont, setForeground, setIgnoreRepaint, setLocale, setLocation, setLocation, setMaximumSize, setMinimumSize, setName, setPreferredSize, setSize, setSize, setVisible, show, show, size, toString, transferFocus, transferFocusBackward, transferFocusUpCycle, update, validate`

    - ### Methods inherited from class java.lang.Object

      `clone, equals, finalize, getClass, hashCode, notify, notifyAll, wait, wait, wait`

- - ### Field Detail

    - #### textListener

          protected transient TextListener textListener

  - ### Method Detail

    - #### enableInputMethods

          public void enableInputMethods(boolean enable)

      Enables or disables input method support for this text component. If input method support is enabled and the text component also processes key events, incoming events are offered to the current input method and will only be processed by the component or dispatched to its listeners if the input method does not consume them. Whether and how input method support for this text component is enabled or disabled by default is implementation dependent.
      Overrides:
        `enableInputMethods` in class `Component`
      Parameters:
        `enable` - true to enable, false to disable
      Since:
        1.2
      See Also:
        `Component.processKeyEvent(java.awt.event.KeyEvent)`

    - #### getInputMethodRequests

          public InputMethodRequests getInputMethodRequests()

      Description copied from class: `Component`
      Gets the input method request handler which supports requests from input methods for this component. A component that supports on-the-spot text input must override this method to return an `InputMethodRequests` instance. At the same time, it also has to handle input method events.
      Overrides:
        `getInputMethodRequests` in class `Component`
      Returns:
        the input method request handler for this component, `null` by default
      See Also:
        `Component.addInputMethodListener(java.awt.event.InputMethodListener)`

    - #### addNotify

          public void addNotify()

      Makes this Component displayable by connecting it to a native screen resource. This method is called internally by the toolkit and should not be called directly by programs.
      Overrides:
        `addNotify` in class `Component`
      See Also:
        `removeNotify()`

    - #### removeNotify

          public void removeNotify()

      Removes the `TextComponent`'s peer. The peer allows us to modify the appearance of the `TextComponent` without changing its functionality.
      Overrides:
        `removeNotify` in class `Component`
      See Also:
        `Component.isDisplayable()`, `Component.addNotify()`

    - #### setText

          public void setText(String t)

      Sets the text that is presented by this text component to be the specified text.
      Parameters:
        `t` - the new text; if this parameter is `null` then the text is set to the empty string ""
      See Also:
        `getText()`

    - #### getText

          public String getText()

      Returns the text that is presented by this text component. By default, this is an empty string.
      Returns:
        the value of this `TextComponent`
      See Also:
        `setText(java.lang.String)`

    - #### getSelectedText

          public String getSelectedText()

      Returns the selected text from the text that is presented by this text component.
      Returns:
        the selected text of this text component
      See Also:
        `select(int, int)`

    - #### isEditable

          public boolean isEditable()

      Indicates whether or not this text component is editable.
      Returns:
        `true` if this text component is editable; `false` otherwise.
      Since:
        JDK1.0
      See Also:
        `setEditable(boolean)`

    - #### setEditable

          public void setEditable(boolean b)

      Sets the flag that determines whether or not this text component is editable.

      If the flag is set to `true`, this text component becomes user editable. If the flag is set to `false`, the user cannot change the text of this text component. By default, non-editable text components have a background color of SystemColor.control. This default can be overridden by calling setBackground.

      Parameters:
        `b` - a flag indicating whether this text component is user editable.
      Since:
        JDK1.0
      See Also:
        `isEditable()`

    - #### getBackground

          public Color getBackground()

      Gets the background color of this text component. By default, non-editable text components have a background color of SystemColor.control. This default can be overridden by calling setBackground.
      Overrides:
        `getBackground` in class `Component`
      Returns:
        This text component's background color. If this text component does not have a background color, the background color of its parent is returned.
      Since:
        JDK1.0
      See Also:
        `setBackground(Color)`

    - #### setBackground

          public void setBackground(Color c)

      Sets the background color of this text component.
      Overrides:
        `setBackground` in class `Component`
      Parameters:
        `c` - The color to become this text component's color. If this parameter is null then this text component will inherit the background color of its parent.
      Since:
        JDK1.0
      See Also:
        `getBackground()`

    - #### getSelectionStart

          public int getSelectionStart()

      Gets the start position of the selected text in this text component.
      Returns:
        the start position of the selected text
      See Also:
        `setSelectionStart(int)`, `getSelectionEnd()`

    - #### setSelectionStart

          public void setSelectionStart(int selectionStart)

      Sets the selection start for this text component to the specified position. The new start point is constrained to be at or before the current selection end. It also cannot be set to less than zero, the beginning of the component's text. If the caller supplies a value for `selectionStart` that is out of bounds, the method enforces these constraints silently, and without failure.
      Parameters:
        `selectionStart` - the start position of the selected text
      Since:
        JDK1.1
      See Also:
        `getSelectionStart()`, `setSelectionEnd(int)`

    - #### getSelectionEnd

          public int getSelectionEnd()

      Gets the end position of the selected text in this text component.
      Returns:
        the end position of the selected text
      See Also:
        `setSelectionEnd(int)`, `getSelectionStart()`

    - #### setSelectionEnd

          public void setSelectionEnd(int selectionEnd)

      Sets the selection end for this text component to the specified position. The new end point is constrained to be at or after the current selection start. It also cannot be set beyond the end of the component's text. If the caller supplies a value for `selectionEnd` that is out of bounds, the method enforces these constraints silently, and without failure.
      Parameters:
        `selectionEnd` - the end position of the selected text
      Since:
        JDK1.1
      See Also:
        `getSelectionEnd()`, `setSelectionStart(int)`

    - #### select

          public void select(int selectionStart,
                             int selectionEnd)

      Selects the text between the specified start and end positions.

      This method sets the start and end positions of the selected text, enforcing the restriction that the start position must be greater than or equal to zero. The end position must be greater than or equal to the start position, and less than or equal to the length of the text component's text. The character positions are indexed starting with zero. The length of the selection is `endPosition` - `startPosition`, so the character at `endPosition` is not selected. If the start and end positions of the selected text are equal, all text is deselected.

      If the caller supplies values that are inconsistent or out of bounds, the method enforces these constraints silently, and without failure. Specifically, if the start position or end position is greater than the length of the text, it is reset to equal the text length. If the start position is less than zero, it is reset to zero, and if the end position is less than the start position, it is reset to the start position.

      Parameters:
        `selectionStart` - the zero-based index of the first character (`char` value) to be selected
        `selectionEnd` - the zero-based end position of the text to be selected; the character (`char` value) at `selectionEnd` is not selected
      See Also:
        `setSelectionStart(int)`, `setSelectionEnd(int)`, `selectAll()`

    - #### selectAll

          public void selectAll()

      Selects all the text in this text component.
      See Also:
        `select(int, int)`

    - #### setCaretPosition

          public void setCaretPosition(int position)

      Sets the position of the text insertion caret. The caret position is constrained to be between 0 and the last character of the text, inclusive. If the passed-in value is greater than this range, the value is set to the last character (or 0 if the `TextComponent` contains no text) and no error is returned. If the passed-in value is less than 0, an `IllegalArgumentException` is thrown.
      Parameters:
        `position` - the position of the text insertion caret
      Throws:
        `IllegalArgumentException` - if `position` is less than zero
      Since:
        JDK1.1

    - #### getCaretPosition

          public int getCaretPosition()

      Returns the position of the text insertion caret. The caret position is constrained to be between 0 and the last character of the text, inclusive. If the text or caret have not been set, the default caret position is 0.
      Returns:
        the position of the text insertion caret
      Since:
        JDK1.1
      See Also:
        `setCaretPosition(int)`

    - #### addTextListener

          public void addTextListener(TextListener l)

      Adds the specified text event listener to receive text events from this text component. If `l` is `null`, no exception is thrown and no action is performed.

      Refer to AWT Threading Issues for details on AWT's threading model.

      Parameters:
        `l` - the text event listener
      See Also:
        `removeTextListener(java.awt.event.TextListener)`, `getTextListeners()`, `TextListener`

    - #### removeTextListener

          public void removeTextListener(TextListener l)

      Removes the specified text event listener so that it no longer receives text events from this text component If `l` is `null`, no exception is thrown and no action is performed.

      Refer to AWT Threading Issues for details on AWT's threading model.

      Parameters:
        `l` - the text listener
      Since:
        JDK1.1
      See Also:
        `addTextListener(java.awt.event.TextListener)`, `getTextListeners()`, `TextListener`

    - #### getTextListeners

          public TextListener[] getTextListeners()

      Returns an array of all the text listeners registered on this text component.
      Returns:
        all of this text component's `TextListener`s or an empty array if no text listeners are currently registered
      Since:
        1.4
      See Also:
        `addTextListener(java.awt.event.TextListener)`, `removeTextListener(java.awt.event.TextListener)`

    - #### getListeners

          public <T extends EventListener> T[] getListeners(Class<T> listenerType)

      Returns an array of all the objects currently registered as `FooListener`s upon this `TextComponent`. `FooListener`s are registered using the `addFooListener` method.

      You can specify the `listenerType` argument with a class literal, such as `FooListener.class`. For example, you can query a `TextComponent` `t` for its text listeners with the following code:

          TextListener[] tls = (TextListener[])(t.getListeners(TextListener.class));

      If no such listeners exist, this method returns an empty array.
      Overrides:
        `getListeners` in class `Component`
      Parameters:
        `listenerType` - the type of listeners requested; this parameter should specify an interface that descends from `java.util.EventListener`
      Returns:
        an array of all objects registered as `FooListener`s on this text component, or an empty array if no such listeners have been added
      Throws:
        `ClassCastException` - if `listenerType` doesn't specify a class or interface that implements `java.util.EventListener`
      Since:
        1.3
      See Also:
        `getTextListeners()`

    - #### processEvent

          protected void processEvent(AWTEvent e)

      Processes events on this text component. If the event is a `TextEvent`, it invokes the `processTextEvent` method else it invokes its superclass's `processEvent`.

      Note that if the event parameter is `null` the behavior is unspecified and may result in an exception.

      Overrides:
        `processEvent` in class `Component`
      Parameters:
        `e` - the event
      See Also:
        `Component.processComponentEvent(java.awt.event.ComponentEvent)`, `Component.processFocusEvent(java.awt.event.FocusEvent)`, `Component.processKeyEvent(java.awt.event.KeyEvent)`, `Component.processMouseEvent(java.awt.event.MouseEvent)`, `Component.processMouseMotionEvent(java.awt.event.MouseEvent)`, `Component.processInputMethodEvent(java.awt.event.InputMethodEvent)`, `Component.processHierarchyEvent(java.awt.event.HierarchyEvent)`, `Component.processMouseWheelEvent(java.awt.event.MouseWheelEvent)`

    - #### processTextEvent

          protected void processTextEvent(TextEvent e)

      Processes text events occurring on this text component by dispatching them to any registered `TextListener` objects.

      NOTE: This method will not be called unless text events are enabled for this component. This happens when one of the following occurs:

      - A `TextListener` object is registered via `addTextListener`
      - Text events are enabled via `enableEvents`

      Note that if the event parameter is `null` the behavior is unspecified and may result in an exception.

      Parameters:
        `e` - the text event
      See Also:
        `Component.enableEvents(long)`

    - #### paramString

          protected String paramString()

      Returns a string representing the state of this `TextComponent`. This method is intended to be used only for debugging purposes, and the content and format of the returned string may vary between implementations. The returned string may be empty but may not be `null`.
      Overrides:
        `paramString` in class `Component`
      Returns:
        the parameter string of this text component

    - #### getAccessibleContext

          public AccessibleContext getAccessibleContext()

      Gets the AccessibleContext associated with this TextComponent. For text components, the AccessibleContext takes the form of an AccessibleAWTTextComponent. A new AccessibleAWTTextComponent instance is created if necessary.
      Specified by:
        `getAccessibleContext` in interface `Accessible`
      Overrides:
        `getAccessibleContext` in class `Component`
      Returns:
        an AccessibleAWTTextComponent that serves as the AccessibleContext of this TextComponent
      Since:
        1.3

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