VBox (JavaFX 25)
Description: declaration: module: javafx.graphics, package: javafx.scene.layout, class: VBox

# Class VBox

java.lang.Object
javafx.scene.Node
javafx.scene.Parent
javafx.scene.layout.Region
javafx.scene.layout.Pane
javafx.scene.layout.VBox

All Implemented Interfaces:
  `Styleable, EventTarget`

public class VBox extends Pane
VBox lays out its children in a single vertical column. If the vbox has a border and/or padding set, then the contents will be laid out within those insets.

VBox example:

        VBox vbox = new VBox(8); // spacing = 8
        vbox.getChildren().addAll(new Button("Cut"), new Button("Copy"), new Button("Paste"));

VBox will resize children (if resizable) to their preferred heights and uses its `fillWidth` property to determine whether to resize their widths to fill its own width or keep their widths to their preferred (fillWidth defaults to true). The alignment of the content is controlled by the `alignment` property, which defaults to Pos.TOP_LEFT.

If a vbox is resized larger than its preferred height, by default it will keep children to their preferred heights, leaving the extra space unused. If an application wishes to have one or more children be allocated that extra space it may optionally set a vgrow constraint on the child. See "Optional Layout Constraints" for details.

VBox lays out each managed child regardless of the child's visible property value; unmanaged children are ignored.

## Resizable Range

A vbox's parent will resize the vbox within the vbox's resizable range during layout. By default the vbox computes this range based on its content as outlined in the table below.

VBox Resize Table
| width | height
minimum | left/right insets plus the largest of the children's min widths. | top/bottom insets plus the sum of each child's min height plus spacing between each child.
preferred | left/right insets plus the largest of the children's pref widths. | top/bottom insets plus the sum of each child's pref height plus spacing between each child.
maximum | Double.MAX_VALUE | Double.MAX_VALUE

A vbox's unbounded maximum width and height are an indication to the parent that it may be resized beyond its preferred size to fill whatever space is assigned to it.

VBox provides properties for setting the size range directly. These properties default to the sentinel value USE_COMPUTED_SIZE, however the application may set them to other values as needed:

        vbox.setPrefWidth(400);

Applications may restore the computed values by setting these properties back to USE_COMPUTED_SIZE.

VBox does not clip its content by default, so it is possible that children's bounds may extend outside its own bounds if a child's min size prevents it from being fit within the vbox.

## Optional Layout Constraints

An application may set constraints on individual children to customize VBox's layout. For each constraint, VBox provides a static method for setting it on the child.

VBox Constraint Table
Constraint | Type | Description
--- | --- | ---
vgrow | javafx.scene.layout.Priority | The vertical grow priority for the child.
margin | javafx.geometry.Insets | Margin space around the outside of the child.

For example, if a vbox needs the ListView to be allocated all extra space:

        VBox vbox = new VBox();
        ListView list = new ListView();
        VBox.setVgrow(list, Priority.ALWAYS);
        vbox.getChildren().addAll(new Label("Names:"), list);

If more than one child has the same grow priority set, then the vbox will allocate equal amounts of space to each. VBox will only grow a child up to its maximum height, so if the child has a max height other than Double.MAX_VALUE, the application may need to override the max to allow it to grow.

Since:
  JavaFX 2.0

- ## Property Summary

  Properties
  Type
  Property
  Description
  `final ObjectProperty<Pos>`
  `alignment`
  The overall alignment of children within the vbox's width and height.
  `final BooleanProperty`
  `fillWidth`
  Whether or not resizable children will be resized to fill the full width of the vbox or be resized to their preferred width and aligned according to the `alignment` hpos value.
  `final DoubleProperty`
  `spacing`
  The amount of vertical space between each child in the vbox.

  ### Properties declared in class Region

  `background, border, cacheShape, centerShape, height, insets, maxHeight, maxWidth, minHeight, minWidth, opaqueInsets, padding, prefHeight, prefWidth, scaleShape, shape, snapToPixel, width`

  ### Properties declared in class Parent

  `needsLayout`

  ### Properties declared in class Node

  `accessibleHelp, accessibleRoleDescription, accessibleRole, accessibleText, blendMode, boundsInLocal, boundsInParent, cacheHint, cache, clip, cursor, depthTest, disabled, disable, effectiveNodeOrientation, effect, eventDispatcher, focused, focusTraversable, focusVisible, focusWithin, hover, id, inputMethodRequests, layoutBounds, layoutX, layoutY, localToParentTransform, localToSceneTransform, managed, mouseTransparent, nodeOrientation, onContextMenuRequested, onDragDetected, onDragDone, onDragDropped, onDragEntered, onDragExited, onDragOver, onInputMethodTextChanged, onKeyPressed, onKeyReleased, onKeyTyped, onMouseClicked, onMouseDragEntered, onMouseDragExited, onMouseDragged, onMouseDragOver, onMouseDragReleased, onMouseEntered, onMouseExited, onMouseMoved, onMousePressed, onMouseReleased, onRotate, onRotationFinished, onRotationStarted, onScrollFinished, onScroll, onScrollStarted, onSwipeDown, onSwipeLeft, onSwipeRight, onSwipeUp, onTouchMoved, onTouchPressed, onTouchReleased, onTouchStationary, onZoomFinished, onZoom, onZoomStarted, opacity, parent, pickOnBounds, pressed, rotate, rotationAxis, scaleX, scaleY, scaleZ, scene, style, translateX, translateY, translateZ, viewOrder, visible`

- ## Field Summary

  ### Fields declared in class Region

  `USE_COMPUTED_SIZE, USE_PREF_SIZE`

  ### Fields declared in class Node

  `BASELINE_OFFSET_SAME_AS_HEIGHT`

- ## Constructor Summary

  Constructors
  Constructor
  Description
  `VBox()`
  Creates a `VBox` layout with `spacing = 0` and alignment at `TOP_LEFT`.
  `VBox(double spacing)`
  Creates a `VBox` layout with the specified spacing between children.
  `VBox(double spacing, Node... children)`
  Creates a `VBox` layout with the specified spacing between children.
  `VBox(Node... children)`
  Creates a `VBox` layout with `spacing = 0`.

- ## Method Summary

  Modifier and Type
  Method
  Description
  `final ObjectProperty<Pos>`
  `alignmentProperty()`
  The overall alignment of children within the vbox's width and height.
  `static void`
  `clearConstraints(Node child)`
  Removes all vbox constraints from the child node.
  `final BooleanProperty`
  `fillWidthProperty()`
  Whether or not resizable children will be resized to fill the full width of the vbox or be resized to their preferred width and aligned according to the `alignment` hpos value.
  `final Pos`
  `getAlignment()`
  Gets the value of the `alignment` property.
  `static List<CssMetaData<? extends Styleable, ?>>`
  `getClassCssMetaData()`
  Gets the `CssMetaData` associated with this class, which may include the `CssMetaData` of its superclasses.
  `Orientation`
  `getContentBias()`
  Returns the orientation of a node's resizing bias for layout purposes.
  `List<CssMetaData<? extends Styleable, ?>>`
  `getCssMetaData()`
  This method should delegate to `Node.getClassCssMetaData()` so that a Node's CssMetaData can be accessed without the need for reflection.
  `static Insets`
  `getMargin(Node child)`
  Returns the child's margin property if set.
  `final double`
  `getSpacing()`
  Gets the value of the `spacing` property.
  `static Priority`
  `getVgrow(Node child)`
  Returns the child's vgrow property if set.
  `final boolean`
  `isFillWidth()`
  Gets the value of the `fillWidth` property.
  `final void`
  `setAlignment(Pos value)`
  Sets the value of the `alignment` property.
  `final void`
  `setFillWidth(boolean value)`
  Sets the value of the `fillWidth` property.
  `static void`
  `setMargin(Node child, Insets value)`
  Sets the margin for the child when contained by a vbox.
  `final void`
  `setSpacing(double value)`
  Sets the value of the `spacing` property.
  `static void`
  `setVgrow(Node child, Priority value)`
  Sets the vertical grow priority for the child when contained by a vbox.
  `final DoubleProperty`
  `spacingProperty()`
  The amount of vertical space between each child in the vbox.

  ### Methods declared in class Pane

  `getChildren`

  ### Methods declared in class Region

  `backgroundProperty, borderProperty, cacheShapeProperty, centerShapeProperty, computeMaxHeight, computeMaxWidth, computeMinHeight, computeMinWidth, computePrefHeight, computePrefWidth, getBackground, getBorder, getHeight, getInsets, getMaxHeight, getMaxWidth, getMinHeight, getMinWidth, getOpaqueInsets, getPadding, getPrefHeight, getPrefWidth, getShape, getUserAgentStylesheet, getWidth, heightProperty, insetsProperty, isCacheShape, isCenterShape, isResizable, isScaleShape, isSnapToPixel, layoutInArea, layoutInArea, layoutInArea, layoutInArea, maxHeight, maxHeightProperty, maxWidth, maxWidthProperty, minHeight, minHeightProperty, minWidth, minWidthProperty, opaqueInsetsProperty, paddingProperty, positionInArea, positionInArea, prefHeight, prefHeightProperty, prefWidth, prefWidthProperty, resize, scaleShapeProperty, setBackground, setBorder, setCacheShape, setCenterShape, setHeight, setMaxHeight, setMaxSize, setMaxWidth, setMinHeight, setMinSize, setMinWidth, setOpaqueInsets, setPadding, setPrefHeight, setPrefSize, setPrefWidth, setScaleShape, setShape, setSnapToPixel, setWidth, shapeProperty, snappedBottomInset, snappedLeftInset, snappedRightInset, snappedTopInset, snapPosition, snapPositionX, snapPositionY, snapSize, snapSizeX, snapSizeY, snapSpace, snapSpaceX, snapSpaceY, snapToPixelProperty, widthProperty`

  ### Methods declared in class Parent

  `getBaselineOffset, getChildrenUnmodifiable, getManagedChildren, getStylesheets, isNeedsLayout, layout, layoutChildren, needsLayoutProperty, requestLayout, requestParentLayout, setNeedsLayout, updateBounds`

  ### Methods declared in class Node

  `accessibleHelpProperty, accessibleRoleDescriptionProperty, accessibleRoleProperty, accessibleTextProperty, addEventFilter, addEventHandler, applyCss, autosize, blendModeProperty, boundsInLocalProperty, boundsInParentProperty, buildEventDispatchChain, cacheHintProperty, cacheProperty, clipProperty, computeAreaInScreen, contains, contains, cursorProperty, depthTestProperty, disabledProperty, disableProperty, effectiveNodeOrientationProperty, effectProperty, eventDispatcherProperty, executeAccessibleAction, fireEvent, focusedProperty, focusTraversableProperty, focusVisibleProperty, focusWithinProperty, getAccessibleHelp, getAccessibleRole, getAccessibleRoleDescription, getAccessibleText, getBlendMode, getBoundsInLocal, getBoundsInParent, getCacheHint, getClip, getCursor, getDepthTest, getEffect, getEffectiveNodeOrientation, getEventDispatcher, getId, getInitialCursor, getInitialFocusTraversable, getInputMethodRequests, getLayoutBounds, getLayoutX, getLayoutY, getLocalToParentTransform, getLocalToSceneTransform, getNodeOrientation, getOnContextMenuRequested, getOnDragDetected, getOnDragDone, getOnDragDropped, getOnDragEntered, getOnDragExited, getOnDragOver, getOnInputMethodTextChanged, getOnKeyPressed, getOnKeyReleased, getOnKeyTyped, getOnMouseClicked, getOnMouseDragEntered, getOnMouseDragExited, getOnMouseDragged, getOnMouseDragOver, getOnMouseDragReleased, getOnMouseEntered, getOnMouseExited, getOnMouseMoved, getOnMousePressed, getOnMouseReleased, getOnRotate, getOnRotationFinished, getOnRotationStarted, getOnScroll, getOnScrollFinished, getOnScrollStarted, getOnSwipeDown, getOnSwipeLeft, getOnSwipeRight, getOnSwipeUp, getOnTouchMoved, getOnTouchPressed, getOnTouchReleased, getOnTouchStationary, getOnZoom, getOnZoomFinished, getOnZoomStarted, getOpacity, getParent, getProperties, getPseudoClassStates, getRotate, getRotationAxis, getScaleX, getScaleY, getScaleZ, getScene, getStyle, getStyleableParent, getStyleClass, getTransforms, getTranslateX, getTranslateY, getTranslateZ, getTypeSelector, getUserData, getViewOrder, hasProperties, hoverProperty, idProperty, inputMethodRequestsProperty, intersects, intersects, isCache, isDisable, isDisabled, isFocused, isFocusTraversable, isFocusVisible, isFocusWithin, isHover, isManaged, isMouseTransparent, isPickOnBounds, isPressed, isVisible, layoutBoundsProperty, layoutXProperty, layoutYProperty, localToParent, localToParent, localToParent, localToParent, localToParent, localToParentTransformProperty, localToScene, localToScene, localToScene, localToScene, localToScene, localToScene, localToScene, localToScene, localToScene, localToScene, localToSceneTransformProperty, localToScreen, localToScreen, localToScreen, localToScreen, localToScreen, lookup, lookupAll, managedProperty, mouseTransparentProperty, nodeOrientationProperty, notifyAccessibleAttributeChanged, onContextMenuRequestedProperty, onDragDetectedProperty, onDragDoneProperty, onDragDroppedProperty, onDragEnteredProperty, onDragExitedProperty, onDragOverProperty, onInputMethodTextChangedProperty, onKeyPressedProperty, onKeyReleasedProperty, onKeyTypedProperty, onMouseClickedProperty, onMouseDragEnteredProperty, onMouseDragExitedProperty, onMouseDraggedProperty, onMouseDragOverProperty, onMouseDragReleasedProperty, onMouseEnteredProperty, onMouseExitedProperty, onMouseMovedProperty, onMousePressedProperty, onMouseReleasedProperty, onRotateProperty, onRotationFinishedProperty, onRotationStartedProperty, onScrollFinishedProperty, onScrollProperty, onScrollStartedProperty, onSwipeDownProperty, onSwipeLeftProperty, onSwipeRightProperty, onSwipeUpProperty, onTouchMovedProperty, onTouchPressedProperty, onTouchReleasedProperty, onTouchStationaryProperty, onZoomFinishedProperty, onZoomProperty, onZoomStartedProperty, opacityProperty, parentProperty, parentToLocal, parentToLocal, parentToLocal, parentToLocal, parentToLocal, pickOnBoundsProperty, pressedProperty, pseudoClassStateChanged, queryAccessibleAttribute, relocate, removeEventFilter, removeEventHandler, requestFocus, requestFocusTraversal, resizeRelocate, rotateProperty, rotationAxisProperty, scaleXProperty, scaleYProperty, scaleZProperty, sceneProperty, sceneToLocal, sceneToLocal, sceneToLocal, sceneToLocal, sceneToLocal, sceneToLocal, sceneToLocal, sceneToLocal, screenToLocal, screenToLocal, screenToLocal, setAccessibleHelp, setAccessibleRole, setAccessibleRoleDescription, setAccessibleText, setBlendMode, setCache, setCacheHint, setClip, setCursor, setDepthTest, setDisable, setDisabled, setEffect, setEventDispatcher, setEventHandler, setFocused, setFocusTraversable, setHover, setId, setInputMethodRequests, setLayoutX, setLayoutY, setManaged, setMouseTransparent, setNodeOrientation, setOnContextMenuRequested, setOnDragDetected, setOnDragDone, setOnDragDropped, setOnDragEntered, setOnDragExited, setOnDragOver, setOnInputMethodTextChanged, setOnKeyPressed, setOnKeyReleased, setOnKeyTyped, setOnMouseClicked, setOnMouseDragEntered, setOnMouseDragExited, setOnMouseDragged, setOnMouseDragOver, setOnMouseDragReleased, setOnMouseEntered, setOnMouseExited, setOnMouseMoved, setOnMousePressed, setOnMouseReleased, setOnRotate, setOnRotationFinished, setOnRotationStarted, setOnScroll, setOnScrollFinished, setOnScrollStarted, setOnSwipeDown, setOnSwipeLeft, setOnSwipeRight, setOnSwipeUp, setOnTouchMoved, setOnTouchPressed, setOnTouchReleased, setOnTouchStationary, setOnZoom, setOnZoomFinished, setOnZoomStarted, setOpacity, setPickOnBounds, setPressed, setRotate, setRotationAxis, setScaleX, setScaleY, setScaleZ, setStyle, setTranslateX, setTranslateY, setTranslateZ, setUserData, setViewOrder, setVisible, snapshot, snapshot, startDragAndDrop, startFullDrag, styleProperty, toBack, toFront, toString, translateXProperty, translateYProperty, translateZProperty, usesMirroring, viewOrderProperty, visibleProperty`

  ### Methods declared in class Object

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

  ### Methods declared in interface Styleable

  `getStyleableNode`

- ## Property Details

  - ### spacing

    public final DoubleProperty spacingProperty
    The amount of vertical space between each child in the vbox.
    See Also:
      - `getSpacing()`
      - `setSpacing(double)`
      - `spacingProperty()`

  - ### alignment

    public final ObjectProperty<Pos> alignmentProperty
    The overall alignment of children within the vbox's width and height.
    See Also:
      - `getAlignment()`
      - `setAlignment(Pos)`
      - `alignmentProperty()`

  - ### fillWidth

    public final BooleanProperty fillWidthProperty
    Whether or not resizable children will be resized to fill the full width of the vbox or be resized to their preferred width and aligned according to the `alignment` hpos value.
    See Also:
      - `isFillWidth()`
      - `setFillWidth(boolean)`
      - `fillWidthProperty()`

- ## Constructor Details

  - ### VBox

    public VBox()
    Creates a `VBox` layout with `spacing = 0` and alignment at `TOP_LEFT`.

  - ### VBox

    public VBox(double spacing)
    Creates a `VBox` layout with the specified spacing between children.
    Parameters:
      `spacing` - the amount of vertical space between each child

  - ### VBox

    public VBox(Node... children)
    Creates a `VBox` layout with `spacing = 0`.
    Parameters:
      `children` - the initial set of children for this pane
    Since:
      JavaFX 8.0

  - ### VBox

    public VBox(double spacing, Node... children)
    Creates a `VBox` layout with the specified spacing between children.
    Parameters:
      `spacing` - the amount of vertical space between each child
      `children` - the initial set of children for this pane
    Since:
      JavaFX 8.0

- ## Method Details

  - ### setVgrow

    public static void setVgrow(Node child, Priority value)
    Sets the vertical grow priority for the child when contained by a vbox. If set, the vbox will use the priority value to allocate additional space if the vbox is resized larger than its preferred height. If multiple vbox children have the same vertical grow priority, then the extra space will be split evenly between them. If no vertical grow priority is set on a child, the vbox will never allocate any additional vertical space for that child.

    Setting the value to `null` will remove the constraint.

    Parameters:
      `child` - the child of a vbox
      `value` - the vertical grow priority for the child

  - ### getVgrow

    public static Priority getVgrow(Node child)
    Returns the child's vgrow property if set.
    Parameters:
      `child` - the child node of a vbox
    Returns:
      the vertical grow priority for the child or null if no priority was set

  - ### setMargin

    public static void setMargin(Node child, Insets value)
    Sets the margin for the child when contained by a vbox. If set, the vbox will layout the child so that it has the margin space around it. Setting the value to null will remove the constraint.
    Parameters:
      `child` - the child mode of a vbox
      `value` - the margin of space around the child

  - ### getMargin

    public static Insets getMargin(Node child)
    Returns the child's margin property if set.
    Parameters:
      `child` - the child node of a vbox
    Returns:
      the margin for the child or null if no margin was set

  - ### clearConstraints

    public static void clearConstraints(Node child)
    Removes all vbox constraints from the child node.
    Parameters:
      `child` - the child node

  - ### spacingProperty

    public final DoubleProperty spacingProperty()
    The amount of vertical space between each child in the vbox.
    Returns:
      the amount of vertical space between each child in the vbox
    See Also:
      - `getSpacing()`
      - `setSpacing(double)`

  - ### setSpacing

    public final void setSpacing(double value)
    Sets the value of the `spacing` property.
    Property description:
      The amount of vertical space between each child in the vbox.
    Parameters:
      `value` - the value for the `spacing` property
    See Also:
      - `getSpacing()`
      - `spacingProperty()`

  - ### getSpacing

    public final double getSpacing()
    Gets the value of the `spacing` property.
    Property description:
      The amount of vertical space between each child in the vbox.
    Returns:
      the value of the `spacing` property
    See Also:
      - `setSpacing(double)`
      - `spacingProperty()`

  - ### alignmentProperty

    public final ObjectProperty<Pos> alignmentProperty()
    The overall alignment of children within the vbox's width and height.
    Returns:
      the overall alignment of children within the vbox's width and height
    See Also:
      - `getAlignment()`
      - `setAlignment(Pos)`

  - ### setAlignment

    public final void setAlignment(Pos value)
    Sets the value of the `alignment` property.
    Property description:
      The overall alignment of children within the vbox's width and height.
    Parameters:
      `value` - the value for the `alignment` property
    See Also:
      - `getAlignment()`
      - `alignmentProperty()`

  - ### getAlignment

    public final Pos getAlignment()
    Gets the value of the `alignment` property.
    Property description:
      The overall alignment of children within the vbox's width and height.
    Returns:
      the value of the `alignment` property
    See Also:
      - `setAlignment(Pos)`
      - `alignmentProperty()`

  - ### fillWidthProperty

    public final BooleanProperty fillWidthProperty()
    Whether or not resizable children will be resized to fill the full width of the vbox or be resized to their preferred width and aligned according to the `alignment` hpos value.
    Returns:
      true if resizable children will be resized to fill the full width of the vbox
    See Also:
      - `isFillWidth()`
      - `setFillWidth(boolean)`

  - ### setFillWidth

    public final void setFillWidth(boolean value)
    Sets the value of the `fillWidth` property.
    Property description:
      Whether or not resizable children will be resized to fill the full width of the vbox or be resized to their preferred width and aligned according to the `alignment` hpos value.
    Parameters:
      `value` - the value for the `fillWidth` property
    See Also:
      - `isFillWidth()`
      - `fillWidthProperty()`

  - ### isFillWidth

    public final boolean isFillWidth()
    Gets the value of the `fillWidth` property.
    Property description:
      Whether or not resizable children will be resized to fill the full width of the vbox or be resized to their preferred width and aligned according to the `alignment` hpos value.
    Returns:
      the value of the `fillWidth` property
    See Also:
      - `setFillWidth(boolean)`
      - `fillWidthProperty()`

  - ### getContentBias

    public Orientation getContentBias()
    Description copied from class: `Node`
    Returns the orientation of a node's resizing bias for layout purposes. If the node type has no bias, returns null. If the node is resizable and it's height depends on its width, returns HORIZONTAL, else if its width depends on its height, returns VERTICAL.

    Resizable subclasses should override this method to return an appropriate value.

    Overrides:
      `getContentBias` in class `Node`
    Returns:
      null unless one of its children has a content bias.
    See Also:
      - `Node.isResizable()`
      - `Node.minWidth(double)`
      - `Node.minHeight(double)`
      - `Node.prefWidth(double)`
      - `Node.prefHeight(double)`
      - `Node.maxWidth(double)`
      - `Node.maxHeight(double)`

  - ### getClassCssMetaData

    public static List<CssMetaData<? extends Styleable, ?>> getClassCssMetaData()
    Gets the `CssMetaData` associated with this class, which may include the `CssMetaData` of its superclasses.
    Returns:
      the `CssMetaData`
    Since:
      JavaFX 8.0

  - ### getCssMetaData

    public List<CssMetaData<? extends Styleable, ?>> getCssMetaData()
    This method should delegate to `Node.getClassCssMetaData()` so that a Node's CssMetaData can be accessed without the need for reflection.
    Specified by:
      `getCssMetaData` in interface `Styleable`
    Overrides:
      `getCssMetaData` in class `Region`
    Returns:
      The CssMetaData associated with this node, which may include the CssMetaData of its superclasses.
    Since:
      JavaFX 8.0