Java Jcombobox example set selected item actionlistener getselecteditem

JComboBox is Drop down box with multiple values in Java Swing.

It is defined as javax.swing.JComboBox<E>.

Here E is type of element of JComboBox.

public class JComboBox
extends JComponent
implements ItemSelectable, ListDataListener, ActionListener, Accessible

public class JComboBox

extends JComponent

implements ItemSelectable, ListDataListener, ActionListener, Accessible

JComboBox Constructors

Sr No	Constructors and Description
1	JComboBox() Create a JComboBox with default default data model
2	JComboBox(ComboBoxModel aModel) Create a JComboBox with ComboBoxModel aModel
3	JComboBox(E[] items) Create a JComboBox with specified array
4	JComboBox(Vector items) Create a JComboBox with specified Vector

Methods of JComboBox

Sr No	Methods and Description
1	void addItem(E item) Add an Item to item list
2	Object getSelectedItem() Returns the selected Item
3	void removeItem(Object anObject) Remove an Item from Item list
4	void removeItem(Object anObject) Remove an Item from Item list
5	void addActionListener(ActionListener l) Add action listener
6	getItemAt(int index) Get Item at specified index

JComboBox add and show items

Create a frame with any size.
Create Reference for Container, JLables and JComboBox.
get content page and set its layout null.
Create JLabels and JComboBox objects.
Add elements to JComboBox using addItem() and by using String[]
Set bounds for JLables and JComboBox
Add all Components to container.

Examples of JComboBox

package swing;
import java.awt.Container;
import javax.swing.JComboBox;
import javax.swing.JFrame;
import javax.swing.JLabel;
public class JComboBoxExample1 extends JFrame {
    Container container;
    JLabel label1, label2;
    JComboBox<String> jComboBox1, jComboBox2;
    public JComboBoxExample1() {
        container = this.getContentPane();
        container.setLayout(null);
        /*First label and combobox*/
        label1 = new JLabel("Select Language");
        label1.setBounds(50, 50, 100, 30);
        jComboBox1 = new JComboBox<>();
        jComboBox1.addItem("C/ C++");
        jComboBox1.addItem("Java");
        jComboBox1.addItem("PHP");
        jComboBox1.addItem("Python");
        jComboBox1.addItem("ASP.Net");
        jComboBox1.setBounds(200, 50, 150, 30);
        /*Second label and combobox*/
        label2 = new JLabel("Expertise Level");
        label2.setBounds(50, 120, 100, 30);
        String[] experties = {"Beginner", "Intermediate", "Advanced", "Expert"};
        jComboBox2 = new JComboBox<String>(experties);
        jComboBox2.setBounds(200, 120, 150, 30);
        //adding components
        container.add(label1);
        container.add(jComboBox1);
        container.add(label2);
        container.add(jComboBox2);
    }
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        JComboBoxExample1 frame = new JComboBoxExample1();
        frame.setTitle("JComboBox Example");
        frame.setVisible(true);
        frame.setSize(400, 300);
        frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
    }
}

package swing;

import java.awt.Container;

import javax.swing.JComboBox;

import javax.swing.JFrame;

import javax.swing.JLabel;

public class JComboBoxExample1 extends JFrame {

Container container;

JLabel label1, label2;

JComboBox<String> jComboBox1, jComboBox2;

public JComboBoxExample1() {

container = this.getContentPane();

container.setLayout(null);

/*First label and combobox*/

label1 = new JLabel("Select Language");

label1.setBounds(50, 50, 100, 30);

jComboBox1 = new JComboBox<>();

jComboBox1.addItem("C/ C++");

jComboBox1.addItem("Java");

jComboBox1.addItem("PHP");

jComboBox1.addItem("Python");

jComboBox1.addItem("ASP.Net");

jComboBox1.setBounds(200, 50, 150, 30);

/*Second label and combobox*/

label2 = new JLabel("Expertise Level");

label2.setBounds(50, 120, 100, 30);

String[] experties = {"Beginner", "Intermediate", "Advanced", "Expert"};

jComboBox2 = new JComboBox<String>(experties);

jComboBox2.setBounds(200, 120, 150, 30);

//adding components

container.add(label1);

container.add(jComboBox1);

container.add(label2);

container.add(jComboBox2);

}

public static void main(String[] args) {

JComboBoxExample1 frame = new JComboBoxExample1();

frame.setTitle("JComboBox Example");

frame.setVisible(true);

frame.setSize(400, 300);

frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);

}

JComboBox actionlistener get selected item and get selected index

jComboBox1.addActionListener(this); is used to add action listener to jComboBox1.

You have to override actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) to handle combo box event.

combo.getSelectedItem() displays the selected item

combo.getSelectedIndex() is used to display selected item index.

JComboBox indexing starts from 0.

jcombobox get selected item example

import java.awt.Color;
import java.awt.Container;
import java.awt.Font;
import java.awt.event.ActionEvent;
import java.awt.event.ActionListener;
import javax.swing.JComboBox;
import javax.swing.JFrame;
import javax.swing.JLabel;
public class JComboBoxExample2 extends JFrame implements ActionListener {
    Container container;
    JLabel label1, label2, label3;
    JComboBox<String> jComboBox1;
    public JComboBoxExample2() {
        container = this.getContentPane();
        container.setLayout(null);
        label1 = new JLabel("Your Favourite car ");
        label1.setBounds(10, 50, 150, 30);
        String[] cars = {"BMW", "Honda City", "Ford Aspire", "Land Rover", "Mercedes Benz"};
        jComboBox1 = new JComboBox<>(cars);
        jComboBox1.setBounds(200, 50, 150, 30);
        Font f = new Font("Verdana", Font.BOLD, 20);
        label2 = new JLabel();
        label2.setFont(f);
        label2.setForeground(Color.RED);
        label2.setBounds(10, 150, 500, 50);
        label3 = new JLabel();
        label3.setFont(f);
        label3.setForeground(Color.RED);
        label3.setBounds(10, 200, 500, 50);
        //adding components
        container.add(label1);
        container.add(jComboBox1);
        container.add(label2);
        container.add(label3);
        //add actionlistement to combobox
        jComboBox1.addActionListener(this);
    }
    public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
        JComboBox combo = (JComboBox) e.getSource();
        label2.setText("Your Favourite Car is " + combo.getSelectedItem());
        label3.setText("Its Position is " + combo.getSelectedIndex());
    }
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        JComboBoxExample2 frame = new JComboBoxExample2();
        frame.setTitle("JComboBox Example");
        frame.setVisible(true);
        frame.setSize(500, 300);
        frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
    }
}

import java.awt.Color;

import java.awt.Container;

import java.awt.Font;

import java.awt.event.ActionEvent;

import java.awt.event.ActionListener;

import javax.swing.JComboBox;

import javax.swing.JFrame;

import javax.swing.JLabel;

public class JComboBoxExample2 extends JFrame implements ActionListener {

Container container;

JLabel label1, label2, label3;

JComboBox<String> jComboBox1;

public JComboBoxExample2() {

container = this.getContentPane();

container.setLayout(null);

label1 = new JLabel("Your Favourite car ");

label1.setBounds(10, 50, 150, 30);

String[] cars = {"BMW", "Honda City", "Ford Aspire", "Land Rover", "Mercedes Benz"};

jComboBox1 = new JComboBox<>(cars);

jComboBox1.setBounds(200, 50, 150, 30);

Font f = new Font("Verdana", Font.BOLD, 20);

label2 = new JLabel();

label2.setFont(f);

label2.setForeground(Color.RED);

label2.setBounds(10, 150, 500, 50);

label3 = new JLabel();

label3.setFont(f);

label3.setForeground(Color.RED);

label3.setBounds(10, 200, 500, 50);

//adding components

container.add(label1);

container.add(jComboBox1);

container.add(label2);

container.add(label3);

//add actionlistement to combobox

jComboBox1.addActionListener(this);

}

public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {

JComboBox combo = (JComboBox) e.getSource();

label2.setText("Your Favourite Car is " + combo.getSelectedItem());

label3.setText("Its Position is " + combo.getSelectedIndex());

}

public static void main(String[] args) {

JComboBoxExample2 frame = new JComboBoxExample2();

frame.setTitle("JComboBox Example");

frame.setVisible(true);

frame.setSize(500, 300);

frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);

}

Fig: **JComboBox actionlistener get selected item and get selected index**

JComboBox set selected item and set selected index

create JComboBox
To select specific item based on name use comboBoxRef.setSelectedItem("Item Name");
To select specific item based on index use comboBoxRef.setSelectedIndex(3);
Index number must be between 0 to itemSize-1

import java.awt.Container;
import javax.swing.JComboBox;
import javax.swing.JFrame;
import javax.swing.JLabel;
public class JComboBoxExample3 extends JFrame {
    Container container;
    JLabel label1, label2;
    JComboBox<String> jComboBox1, jComboBox2;
    public JComboBoxExample3() {
        container = this.getContentPane();
        container.setLayout(null);
        label1 = new JLabel("Payment Mode ");
        label1.setBounds(10, 50, 150, 30);
        String[] paymentModes = {"Cash", "DD", "BANK TRANSFER", "UPI", "OTHER"};
        jComboBox1 = new JComboBox<>(paymentModes);
        jComboBox1.setSelectedItem("BANK TRANSFER");
        jComboBox1.setBounds(200, 50, 150, 30);
        label2 = new JLabel("Payment Term ");
        label2.setBounds(10, 100, 150, 30);
        String[] paymentTerm = {"Monthly", "Quarterly", "Half Year", "Year"};
        jComboBox2 = new JComboBox<>(paymentTerm);
        jComboBox2.setSelectedIndex(3);
        jComboBox2.setBounds(200, 100, 150, 30);
        //adding components
        container.add(label1);
        container.add(jComboBox1);
         container.add(label2);
        container.add(jComboBox2);
    }
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        JComboBoxExample3 frame = new JComboBoxExample3();
        frame.setTitle("JComboBox Example");
        frame.setVisible(true);
        frame.setSize(500, 300);
        frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
    }
}

import java.awt.Container;

import javax.swing.JComboBox;

import javax.swing.JFrame;

import javax.swing.JLabel;

public class JComboBoxExample3 extends JFrame {

Container container;

JLabel label1, label2;

JComboBox<String> jComboBox1, jComboBox2;

public JComboBoxExample3() {

container = this.getContentPane();

container.setLayout(null);

label1 = new JLabel("Payment Mode ");

label1.setBounds(10, 50, 150, 30);

String[] paymentModes = {"Cash", "DD", "BANK TRANSFER", "UPI", "OTHER"};

jComboBox1 = new JComboBox<>(paymentModes);

jComboBox1.setSelectedItem("BANK TRANSFER");

jComboBox1.setBounds(200, 50, 150, 30);

label2 = new JLabel("Payment Term ");

label2.setBounds(10, 100, 150, 30);

String[] paymentTerm = {"Monthly", "Quarterly", "Half Year", "Year"};

jComboBox2 = new JComboBox<>(paymentTerm);

jComboBox2.setSelectedIndex(3);

jComboBox2.setBounds(200, 100, 150, 30);

//adding components

container.add(label1);

container.add(jComboBox1);

container.add(label2);

container.add(jComboBox2);

}

public static void main(String[] args) {

JComboBoxExample3 frame = new JComboBoxExample3();

frame.setTitle("JComboBox Example");

frame.setVisible(true);

frame.setSize(500, 300);

frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);

}

**Fig JComboBox set selected item and set selected index**

jcombobox get selected item using ItemListener

JComboBox Example ItemListener

Create JComboBox
Add ItemListner to this
override itemStateChanged(ItemEvent e) method
get Item Event Source from combobox
select item and index by using getSelectedItem() and getSelectedIndex()

import java.awt.Color;
import java.awt.Container;
import java.awt.event.ItemEvent;
import java.awt.event.ItemListener;
import javax.swing.JComboBox;
import javax.swing.JFrame;
import javax.swing.JLabel;
public class JComboBoxExample4 extends JFrame implements ItemListener {
    Container container;
    JLabel label1, label2, label3;
    JComboBox<String> jComboBox1;
    public JComboBoxExample4() {
        container = this.getContentPane();
        container.setLayout(null);
        label1 = new JLabel("Your Feedback ");
        label1.setBounds(10, 50, 150, 30);
        String[] paymentModes = {"Poor", "Average", "Good", "Excellent"};
        jComboBox1 = new JComboBox<>(paymentModes);
        jComboBox1.setSelectedItem("Good");
        jComboBox1.setBounds(200, 50, 150, 30);
        label2 = new JLabel();
        label2.setBounds(10, 100, 500, 30);
        label2.setForeground(Color.RED);
        label3 = new JLabel();
        label3.setBounds(10, 130, 500, 30);
        label3.setForeground(Color.RED);
        jComboBox1.addItemListener(this);
        //adding components
        container.add(label1);
        container.add(jComboBox1);
        container.add(label2);
        container.add(label3);
    }
    @Override
    public void itemStateChanged(ItemEvent e) {
        if (e.getSource() == jComboBox1) {
            label2.setText("You Selected " + jComboBox1.getSelectedItem());
            label3.setText("Index value is " + jComboBox1.getSelectedIndex());
        }
    }
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        JComboBoxExample4 frame = new JComboBoxExample4();
        frame.setTitle("JComboBox Example");
        frame.setVisible(true);
        frame.setSize(500, 300);
        frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
    }
}

import java.awt.Color;

import java.awt.Container;

import java.awt.event.ItemEvent;

import java.awt.event.ItemListener;

import javax.swing.JComboBox;

import javax.swing.JFrame;

import javax.swing.JLabel;

public class JComboBoxExample4 extends JFrame implements ItemListener {

Container container;

JLabel label1, label2, label3;

JComboBox<String> jComboBox1;

public JComboBoxExample4() {

container = this.getContentPane();

container.setLayout(null);

label1 = new JLabel("Your Feedback ");

label1.setBounds(10, 50, 150, 30);

String[] paymentModes = {"Poor", "Average", "Good", "Excellent"};

jComboBox1 = new JComboBox<>(paymentModes);

jComboBox1.setSelectedItem("Good");

jComboBox1.setBounds(200, 50, 150, 30);

label2 = new JLabel();

label2.setBounds(10, 100, 500, 30);

label2.setForeground(Color.RED);

label3 = new JLabel();

label3.setBounds(10, 130, 500, 30);

label3.setForeground(Color.RED);

jComboBox1.addItemListener(this);

//adding components

container.add(label1);

container.add(jComboBox1);

container.add(label2);

container.add(label3);

}

@Override

public void itemStateChanged(ItemEvent e) {

if (e.getSource() == jComboBox1) {

label2.setText("You Selected " + jComboBox1.getSelectedItem());

label3.setText("Index value is " + jComboBox1.getSelectedIndex());

}

public static void main(String[] args) {

JComboBoxExample4 frame = new JComboBoxExample4();

frame.setTitle("JComboBox Example");

frame.setVisible(true);

frame.setSize(500, 300);

frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);

}

JComboBox Show Image in combo box using ListCellRenderer and ItemListner

import java.awt.Color;
import java.awt.Component;
import java.awt.Container;
import java.awt.Dimension;
import java.awt.Font;
import java.awt.GridLayout;
import java.awt.event.ItemEvent;
import java.awt.event.ItemListener;
import java.util.Vector;
import javax.swing.ImageIcon;
import javax.swing.JComboBox;
import javax.swing.JFrame;
import javax.swing.JLabel;
import javax.swing.JList;
import javax.swing.JPanel;
import javax.swing.ListCellRenderer;
import static javax.swing.SwingConstants.CENTER;
public class JComboBoxExample6 extends JFrame implements ItemListener {
    Container container;
    JLabel label1, label2, label3;
    JComboBox<City> jComboBox1;
    JPanel mainPanel, comboPanel, infoPanel;
    ImageIcon imageIcon;
    Vector<City> cityList = new Vector<City>();
    public JComboBoxExample6() {
        container = this.getContentPane();
        mainPanel = new JPanel(new GridLayout(2, 0, 20, 20));
        comboPanel = new JPanel();
        ComboListInitializer();
        jComboBox1 = new JComboBox<City>(cityList);
        ComboBoxRenderer renderer = new ComboBoxRenderer();
        renderer.setPreferredSize(new Dimension(200, 50));
        jComboBox1.setRenderer(renderer);
        jComboBox1.setMaximumRowCount(4);
        jComboBox1.addItemListener(this);
        comboPanel.add(jComboBox1);
        infoPanel = new JPanel();
        label2 = new JLabel();
        infoPanel.add(label2);
        label3 = new JLabel();
        infoPanel.add(label3);
        mainPanel.add(comboPanel);
        mainPanel.add(infoPanel);
        container.add(mainPanel);
    }
    @Override
    public void itemStateChanged(ItemEvent e) {
        if (e.getSource() == jComboBox1) {
            City c = (City) jComboBox1.getSelectedItem();
            label2.setText("You Selected " + c.getName());
            label3.setIcon(c.getImage());
        }
    }
    public void ComboListInitializer() {
        cityList.add(new City(1, "Delhi", new ImageIcon("D://icons/india-gate.png")));
        cityList.add(new City(2, "Agra", new ImageIcon("D://icons/taj-mahal.png")));
        cityList.add(new City(3, "Kolkata", new ImageIcon("D://icons/victoria-memorial.png")));
        cityList.add(new City(4, "Channai", new ImageIcon("D://icons/beach.png")));
        cityList.add(new City(5, "Bengaluru", new ImageIcon("D://icons/buildings.png")));
    }
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        JComboBoxExample6 frame = new JComboBoxExample6();
        frame.setTitle("JComboBox Example");
        frame.setVisible(true);
        frame.setSize(500, 300);
        frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
    }
    class ComboBoxRenderer extends JLabel
            implements ListCellRenderer<Object> {
        public ComboBoxRenderer() {
            setOpaque(true);
            setHorizontalAlignment(LEFT);
            setVerticalAlignment(CENTER);
        }
        @Override
        public Component getListCellRendererComponent(
                JList list,
                Object value,
                int index,
                boolean isSelected,
                boolean cellHasFocus) {
            if (value instanceof City) {
                City city = (City) value;
                setText(city.getName());
                setIcon(city.getImage());
            }
            if (isSelected) {
                setBackground(Color.BLUE);
                setForeground(Color.WHITE);
                setFont(new Font("Verdana", Font.BOLD, 22));
            } else {
                setBackground(list.getBackground());
                setForeground(list.getForeground());
                setFont(list.getFont());
            }
            return this;
        }
    }
}
class City {
    int id;
    String name;
    ImageIcon image;
    public City() {
    }
    public City(int id, String name, ImageIcon image) {
        this.id = id;
        this.name = name;
        this.image = image;
    }
    public int getId() {
        return id;
    }
    public void setId(int id) {
        this.id = id;
    }
    public String getName() {
        return name;
    }
    public void setName(String name) {
        this.name = name;
    }
    public ImageIcon getImage() {
        return image;
    }
    public void setImage(ImageIcon image) {
        this.image = image;
    }
}

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import java.awt.Color;

import java.awt.Component;

import java.awt.Container;

import java.awt.Dimension;

import java.awt.Font;

import java.awt.GridLayout;

import java.awt.event.ItemEvent;

import java.awt.event.ItemListener;

import java.util.Vector;

import javax.swing.ImageIcon;

import javax.swing.JComboBox;

import javax.swing.JFrame;

import javax.swing.JLabel;

import javax.swing.JList;

import javax.swing.JPanel;

import javax.swing.ListCellRenderer;

import static javax.swing.SwingConstants.CENTER;

public class JComboBoxExample6 extends JFrame implements ItemListener {

Container container;

JLabel label1, label2, label3;

JComboBox<City> jComboBox1;

JPanel mainPanel, comboPanel, infoPanel;

ImageIcon imageIcon;

Vector<City> cityList = new Vector<City>();

public JComboBoxExample6() {

container = this.getContentPane();

mainPanel = new JPanel(new GridLayout(2, 0, 20, 20));

comboPanel = new JPanel();

ComboListInitializer();

jComboBox1 = new JComboBox<City>(cityList);

ComboBoxRenderer renderer = new ComboBoxRenderer();

renderer.setPreferredSize(new Dimension(200, 50));

jComboBox1.setRenderer(renderer);

jComboBox1.setMaximumRowCount(4);

jComboBox1.addItemListener(this);

comboPanel.add(jComboBox1);

infoPanel = new JPanel();

label2 = new JLabel();

infoPanel.add(label2);

label3 = new JLabel();

infoPanel.add(label3);

mainPanel.add(comboPanel);

mainPanel.add(infoPanel);

container.add(mainPanel);

}

@Override

public void itemStateChanged(ItemEvent e) {

if (e.getSource() == jComboBox1) {

City c = (City) jComboBox1.getSelectedItem();

label2.setText("You Selected " + c.getName());

label3.setIcon(c.getImage());

}

public void ComboListInitializer() {

cityList.add(new City(1, "Delhi", new ImageIcon("D://icons/india-gate.png")));

cityList.add(new City(2, "Agra", new ImageIcon("D://icons/taj-mahal.png")));

cityList.add(new City(3, "Kolkata", new ImageIcon("D://icons/victoria-memorial.png")));

cityList.add(new City(4, "Channai", new ImageIcon("D://icons/beach.png")));

cityList.add(new City(5, "Bengaluru", new ImageIcon("D://icons/buildings.png")));

}

public static void main(String[] args) {

JComboBoxExample6 frame = new JComboBoxExample6();

frame.setTitle("JComboBox Example");

frame.setVisible(true);

frame.setSize(500, 300);

frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);

}

class ComboBoxRenderer extends JLabel

implements ListCellRenderer<Object> {

public ComboBoxRenderer() {

setOpaque(true);

setHorizontalAlignment(LEFT);

setVerticalAlignment(CENTER);

}

@Override

public Component getListCellRendererComponent(

JList list,

Object value,

int index,

boolean isSelected,

boolean cellHasFocus) {

if (value instanceof City) {

City city = (City) value;

setText(city.getName());

setIcon(city.getImage());

}

if (isSelected) {

setBackground(Color.BLUE);

setForeground(Color.WHITE);

setFont(new Font("Verdana", Font.BOLD, 22));

} else {

setBackground(list.getBackground());

setForeground(list.getForeground());

setFont(list.getFont());

}

return this;

}

class City {

int id;

String name;

ImageIcon image;

public City() {

}

public City(int id, String name, ImageIcon image) {

this.id = id;

this.name = name;

this.image = image;

}

public int getId() {

return id;

}

public void setId(int id) {

this.id = id;

}

public String getName() {

return name;

}

public void setName(String name) {

this.name = name;

}

public ImageIcon getImage() {

return image;

}

public void setImage(ImageIcon image) {

this.image = image;

}

JComboBox Show Image in combo box using ListCellRenderer and ItemListner — Fig: Show image in JComboBox

How to use combobox in java netbeans

We have developed many examples in netbeans.

It is a very simple copy and above example and paste in netbeans/ eclipse then run.

Run a swing program is same as simple java program

Fig: How to use combobox in java netbeans

JCombobox Example in netbeans — Fig: JCombobox Example in Netbeans

Image Reference

https://freeicons.io/indian-republic-day-icons/india-gate-indian%20republic%20day-icon-7661#

Taj Mahal icon icon by Icons8

https://thenounproject.com/term/victoria-memorial/2165511/

JComboBox Constructors

Methods of JComboBox

JComboBox add and show items

Examples of JComboBox

JComboBox actionlistener get selected item and get selected index

jcombobox get selected item example

JComboBox set selected item and set selected index

jcombobox get selected item using ItemListener

JComboBox Example ItemListener

JComboBox Show Image in combo box using ListCellRenderer and ItemListner

How to use combobox in java netbeans

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