[python] Switch between two frames in tkinter

Note: According to JDN96, the answer below may cause a memory leak by repeatedly destroying and recreating frames. However, I have not tested to verify this myself.

One way to switch frames in tkinter is to destroy the old frame then replace it with your new frame.

I have modified Bryan Oakley's answer to destroy the old frame before replacing it. As an added bonus, this eliminates the need for a container object and allows you to use any generic Frame class.

# Multi-frame tkinter application v2.3
import tkinter as tk

class SampleApp(tk.Tk):
    def __init__(self):
        tk.Tk.__init__(self)
        self._frame = None
        self.switch_frame(StartPage)

    def switch_frame(self, frame_class):
        """Destroys current frame and replaces it with a new one."""
        new_frame = frame_class(self)
        if self._frame is not None:
            self._frame.destroy()
        self._frame = new_frame
        self._frame.pack()

class StartPage(tk.Frame):
    def __init__(self, master):
        tk.Frame.__init__(self, master)
        tk.Label(self, text="This is the start page").pack(side="top", fill="x", pady=10)
        tk.Button(self, text="Open page one",
                  command=lambda: master.switch_frame(PageOne)).pack()
        tk.Button(self, text="Open page two",
                  command=lambda: master.switch_frame(PageTwo)).pack()

class PageOne(tk.Frame):
    def __init__(self, master):
        tk.Frame.__init__(self, master)
        tk.Label(self, text="This is page one").pack(side="top", fill="x", pady=10)
        tk.Button(self, text="Return to start page",
                  command=lambda: master.switch_frame(StartPage)).pack()

class PageTwo(tk.Frame):
    def __init__(self, master):
        tk.Frame.__init__(self, master)
        tk.Label(self, text="This is page two").pack(side="top", fill="x", pady=10)
        tk.Button(self, text="Return to start page",
                  command=lambda: master.switch_frame(StartPage)).pack()

if __name__ == "__main__":
    app = SampleApp()
    app.mainloop()

Explanation

switch_frame() works by accepting any Class object that implements Frame. The function then creates a new frame to replace the old one.

• Deletes old _frame if it exists, then replaces it with the new frame.
• Other frames added with .pack(), such as menubars, will be unaffected.
• Can be used with any class that implements tkinter.Frame.
• Window automatically resizes to fit new content

Version History

v2.3

- Pack buttons and labels as they are initialized

v2.2

- Initialize `_frame` as `None`.
- Check if `_frame` is `None` before calling `.destroy()`.

v2.1.1

- Remove type-hinting for backwards compatibility with Python 3.4.

v2.1

- Add type-hinting for `frame_class`.

v2.0

- Remove extraneous `container` frame.
    - Application now works with any generic `tkinter.frame` instance.
- Remove `controller` argument from frame classes.
    - Frame switching is now done with `master.switch_frame()`.

v1.6

- Check if frame attribute exists before destroying it.
- Use `switch_frame()` to set first frame.

v1.5

  - Revert 'Initialize new `_frame` after old `_frame` is destroyed'.
      - Initializing the frame before calling `.destroy()` results
        in a smoother visual transition.

v1.4

- Pack frames in `switch_frame()`.
- Initialize new `_frame` after old `_frame` is destroyed.
    - Remove `new_frame` variable.

v1.3

- Rename `parent` to `master` for consistency with base `Frame` class.

v1.2

- Remove `main()` function.

v1.1

- Rename `frame` to `_frame`.
    - Naming implies variable should be private.
- Create new frame before destroying old frame.

v1.0

- Initial version.