Enhance Your UI with Material 3 Buttons in Jetpack Compose

Jetpack Compose has revolutionized Android development, enabling developers to build declarative, modern UI components efficiently. With the introduction of Material 3 (also known as Material You), Android apps can now embrace dynamic, personalized themes that adapt to user preferences. Among the core elements in any user interface are buttons, which play a critical role in interaction design. In this blog post, we’ll explore how to leverage Material 3 buttons in Jetpack Compose to create engaging, accessible, and functional UIs.

Understanding Material 3 and Its Significance

Material 3 is the latest iteration of Google’s design system, emphasizing adaptability, accessibility, and a cohesive user experience. Unlike its predecessor Material Design 2, Material 3 introduces:

  • Dynamic color theming: A palette generated from user wallpapers or chosen themes.

  • Refined typography and shapes: Modernized styles to ensure consistency and legibility.

  • Enhanced components: Redesigned widgets, including buttons, for better usability.

Adopting Material 3 in your Jetpack Compose project ensures your app aligns with contemporary design trends, enhances user satisfaction, and supports accessibility best practices.

Setting Up Material 3 in Jetpack Compose

To get started with Material 3, include the necessary dependencies in your build.gradle file:

implementation "androidx.compose.material3:material3:<latest_version>"

Additionally, update your theme to use Material 3 by modifying the Theme composable in your app:

@Composable
fun MyAppTheme(
    darkTheme: Boolean = isSystemInDarkTheme(),
    content: @Composable () -> Unit
) {
    val colorScheme = if (darkTheme) {
        dynamicDarkColorScheme(LocalContext.current)
    } else {
        dynamicLightColorScheme(LocalContext.current)
    }

    MaterialTheme(
        colorScheme = colorScheme,
        typography = Typography,
        shapes = Shapes,
        content = content
    )
}

With this setup, your app is ready to implement Material 3 components, including buttons.

Exploring Material 3 Button Types

Material 3 offers a variety of buttons designed for specific use cases. Each button type serves a unique purpose, ensuring developers can maintain visual hierarchy and clear user intent in their applications.

1. Elevated Button

Elevated buttons are distinguished by their shadow and slight elevation, making them suitable for use on surfaces with contrasting backgrounds.

ElevatedButton(
    onClick = { /* Handle click */ },
    modifier = Modifier.padding(8.dp)
) {
    Text(text = "Elevated Button")
}

Best Practices:

  • Use elevated buttons sparingly to draw attention to primary actions.

  • Avoid overusing them in flat layouts, as excessive elevation can create visual clutter.

2. Filled Button

Filled buttons are prominent and ideal for primary actions. They stand out due to their solid background color derived from the app’s theme.

Button(
    onClick = { /* Handle click */ },
    modifier = Modifier.padding(8.dp)
) {
    Text(text = "Filled Button")
}

Best Practices:

  • Use for primary actions that need immediate user attention.

  • Ensure contrast between the button’s background and text for accessibility.

3. Outlined Button

Outlined buttons have a border without a filled background, making them less visually intrusive. They’re perfect for secondary actions.

OutlinedButton(
    onClick = { /* Handle click */ },
    modifier = Modifier.padding(8.dp)
) {
    Text(text = "Outlined Button")
}

Best Practices:

  • Pair with filled buttons for secondary or less critical actions.

  • Avoid using them for actions requiring high prominence.

4. Text Button

Text buttons are minimalistic, consisting only of text with no background or border. They’re suitable for actions that are low priority or supplementary.

TextButton(
    onClick = { /* Handle click */ },
    modifier = Modifier.padding(8.dp)
) {
    Text(text = "Text Button")
}

Best Practices:

  • Use for contextual actions like links or less critical choices.

  • Avoid in areas where users might overlook their functionality.

Customizing Material 3 Buttons

Material 3 buttons in Jetpack Compose are highly customizable. Here’s how you can adjust their appearance and behavior:

1. Styling Buttons

You can modify the shape, elevation, or colors of buttons by passing a custom ButtonDefaults style.

Button(
    onClick = { /* Handle click */ },
    colors = ButtonDefaults.buttonColors(
        containerColor = Color.Blue,
        contentColor = Color.White
    ),
    shape = RoundedCornerShape(12.dp)
) {
    Text(text = "Styled Button")
}

2. Adding Icons

Icons enhance buttons by providing visual cues to users. Use Icon alongside Text for better context.

Button(
    onClick = { /* Handle click */ },
    modifier = Modifier.padding(8.dp)
) {
    Icon(Icons.Default.Favorite, contentDescription = "Favorite")
    Spacer(modifier = Modifier.width(4.dp))
    Text(text = "Favorite")
}

3. Button States

Manage button states like disabled or loading using the enabled parameter or custom state logic.

Button(
    onClick = { /* Handle click */ },
    enabled = false,
    modifier = Modifier.padding(8.dp)
) {
    Text(text = "Disabled Button")
}

Best Practices for Material 3 Buttons

  1. Maintain Visual Hierarchy: Use button types intentionally to guide user actions.

  2. Prioritize Accessibility: Ensure sufficient contrast, clear labels, and meaningful content descriptions for screen readers.

  3. Optimize Touch Targets: Follow Material Design guidelines for touch targets (48dp minimum) to enhance usability.

  4. Consistent Theming: Use theme-based colors and typography to maintain a cohesive UI.

  5. Feedback Mechanisms: Provide visual or auditory feedback for button clicks to improve user experience.

Advanced Use Cases

1. Dynamic Theming with Material 3 Buttons

Jetpack Compose’s dynamic theming allows buttons to adapt to user-selected palettes. This creates a personalized experience.

val colorScheme = dynamicLightColorScheme(LocalContext.current)
Button(
    onClick = { /* Handle click */ },
    colors = ButtonDefaults.buttonColors(
        containerColor = colorScheme.primary,
        contentColor = colorScheme.onPrimary
    )
) {
    Text(text = "Dynamic Button")
}

2. Animating Buttons

Combine Jetpack Compose’s animation APIs with buttons for engaging interactions.

var isClicked by remember { mutableStateOf(false) }
val scale by animateFloatAsState(targetValue = if (isClicked) 1.2f else 1f)

Button(
    onClick = { isClicked = !isClicked },
    modifier = Modifier.scale(scale)
) {
    Text(text = "Animated Button")
}

Conclusion

Material 3 buttons in Jetpack Compose provide developers with powerful tools to craft polished, dynamic, and accessible UIs. By understanding their types, customization options, and advanced use cases, you can enhance your app’s usability and aesthetic appeal. Adopt these best practices, and your users will enjoy a seamless, engaging experience.

Leverage the flexibility of Jetpack Compose and the elegance of Material 3 to create next-level Android applications. Stay tuned for more deep dives into advanced Compose concepts!