[android] How can I create a border around an Android LinearLayout?

I have one big layout, and one smaller layout inside of it.

How do I create a line border around the small layout?

This solution will only add the border, the body of the LinearLayout will be transparent.

First, Create this border drawable in the drawable folder, border.xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<shape xmlns:android= "http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    android:shape="rectangle">
    <stroke android:width="2dp" android:color="#ec0606"/>
    <corners android:radius="10dp"/>
</shape>

Then, in your LinearLayout View, add the border.xml as the background like this

<LinearLayout 
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="match_parent"
    android:orientation="vertical"
    android:background="@drawable/border">

Don't want to create a drawable resource?

  <FrameLayout
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="wrap_content"
    android:background="@android:color/black"
    android:minHeight="128dp">

    <FrameLayout
      android:layout_width="match_parent"
      android:layout_height="match_parent"
      android:layout_margin="1dp"
      android:background="@android:color/white">

      <TextView ... />
    </FrameLayout>
  </FrameLayout>

I'll add Android docs link to other answers.

https://developer.android.com/guide/topics/resources/drawable-resource.html#Shape

It describes all attributes of the Shape Drawable and stroke among them to set the border.

Example:

<shape xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android" android:shape="rectangle">
  <stroke android:width="1dp" android:color="#F00"/>
  <solid android:color="#0000"/>
</shape>

Red border with transparent background.

you can do it Pragmatically also

  GradientDrawable gradientDrawable=new GradientDrawable();
   gradientDrawable.setStroke(4,getResources().getColor(R.color.line_Input));

Then set the background of layout as :

LinearLayout layout = (LinearLayout ) findViewById(R.id.ayout); layout .setBackground(gradientDrawable);

Try This in your res/drawable

    <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><layer-list xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">
<item>
  <shape
    android:shape="rectangle">
    <padding android:left="15dp"
        android:right="15dp"
        android:top="15dp"
        android:bottom="15dp"/>
    <stroke android:width="10dp"
        android:color="@color/colorPrimary"/>
  </shape>
</item><item android:left="-5dp"
        android:right="-5dp"
        android:top="-5dp"
        android:bottom="-5dp">
  <shape android:shape="rectangle">
    <solid android:color="@color/background" />
  </shape></item></layer-list>

Create a one xml file in drawable folder

<stroke
    android:width="2dp"
    android:color="#B40404" />

<padding
    android:bottom="5dp"
    android:left="5dp"
    android:right="5dp"
    android:top="5dp" />

<corners android:radius="4dp" />

Now call this xml to your small layout background

android:background="@drawable/yourxml"

Creat XML called border.xml in drawable folder as below :

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
 <layer-list xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">
  <item> 
    <shape android:shape="rectangle">
      <solid android:color="#FF0000" /> 
    </shape>
  </item>   
    <item android:left="5dp" android:right="5dp"  android:top="5dp" >  
     <shape android:shape="rectangle"> 
      <solid android:color="#000000" />
    </shape>
   </item>    
 </layer-list>

then add this to linear layout as backgound as this:

     android:background="@drawable/border"

Try this:

For example, let's define res/drawable/my_custom_background.xml as:

(create this layout in your drawable folder) layout_border.xml

  <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<layer-list xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">
    <item>
        <shape android:shape="rectangle">
            <stroke android:width="2dp" android:height="2dp"
                android:color="#FF0000" />
            <solid android:color="#000000" />
            <padding android:left="1dp" android:top="1dp" android:right="1dp"
                android:bottom="1dp" />

            <corners android:radius="1dp" android:bottomRightRadius="5dp"
                android:bottomLeftRadius="0dp" android:topLeftRadius="5dp"
                android:topRightRadius="0dp" />
        </shape>
    </item>

</layer-list>

main.xml

<LinearLayout 
    android:layout_gravity="center"
    android:layout_width="200dp" 
    android:layout_height="200dp"   
    android:background="@drawable/layout_border" />
</LinearLayout>