10 Tips to Customize NexusTextView for Better UXNexusTextView is a hypothetical (or proprietary) custom TextView component used in Android UI development. Whether you’re building a polished mobile app or prototyping an interactive interface, careful customization of your text component can dramatically improve usability, readability, and user delight. Below are ten practical, implementation-focused tips to customize NexusTextView for better UX, including code snippets, rationale, and testing suggestions.
1. Choose the Right Typeface and Weight
Typography is the foundation of readable UI. Select a typeface and weight that match your app’s personality and remain legible at different sizes.
- Use system fonts for performance or bundle a variable font for flexible weights.
- Prefer font families that include clear distinctions between weights (e.g., Regular, Medium, Bold).
- For localization, ensure the font supports required scripts (Cyrillic, Arabic, Devanagari, etc.).
Example (Kotlin):
val typeface = ResourcesCompat.getFont(context, R.font.your_font) nexusTextView.typeface = typeface nexusTextView.setTypeface(typeface, Typeface.NORMAL) Why it matters: Readable typography reduces cognitive load and improves comprehension.
2. Optimize Line Length and Line Height
Long lines are hard to scan; too-short lines break rhythm. Aim for 45–75 characters per line for body text. Adjust line height (leading) for legibility.
-
Use setLineSpacing to fine-tune extra spacing:
nexusTextView.setLineSpacing(4f, 1.2f) // add 4px, 1.2x multiplier -
For different screen sizes, change maxWidth or use ConstraintLayout to control column width.
Why it matters: Appropriate line length and spacing improve reading speed and comprehension.
3. Implement Dynamic Type / Font Scaling
Respect user accessibility preferences by scaling text with system font size settings.
- Use scaled pixels (sp) for text sizes.
- Listen for configuration changes or use AutoSizeText features.
Example:
if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.O) { nexusTextView.setAutoSizeTextTypeWithDefaults(TextView.AUTO_SIZE_TEXT_TYPE_UNIFORM) } Why it matters: Accessibility-conscious scaling ensures content remains usable for users with low vision.
4. Provide Clear Hierarchy with Size, Weight, and Color
Visual hierarchy helps users scan the UI. Use variations in size, weight, and color contrast to separate headings, subheadings, and body text.
- Headings: larger size, stronger weight.
- Subtext: smaller, lower contrast (but maintain accessibility contrast ratios).
- Use semantic styles (e.g., nexusTextView.setStyle(Style.HEADING)) if NexusTextView supports it.
Why it matters: Hierarchy reduces effort to find and understand content.
5. Use Proper Contrast and Color for Readability
Ensure text color contrasts sufficiently with the background. Follow WCAG contrast guidelines: at least 4.5:1 for normal text, 3:1 for large text.
- Test colors against both light and dark backgrounds.
- For theming, supply colors in color resources and support day/night modes.
Example:
nexusTextView.setTextColor(ContextCompat.getColor(context, R.color.primary_text)) Why it matters: Good contrast improves legibility and accessibility.
6. Support Text Decoration and Inline Formatting
Enable subtle text decorations (bold, italic, underline) and inline formatting for emphasis without overusing them. Use Spannable for mixed-format text.
Example — Spannable for clickable links and bold segments:
val spannable = SpannableString("Tap here to learn more") spannable.setSpan(StyleSpan(Typeface.BOLD), 0, 3, Spanned.SPAN_EXCLUSIVE_EXCLUSIVE) spannable.setSpan(ClickableSpan(...), 4, 8, Spanned.SPAN_EXCLUSIVE_EXCLUSIVE) nexusTextView.text = spannable nexusTextView.movementMethod = LinkMovementMethod.getInstance() Why it matters: Inline emphasis helps users scan and act on important content.
7. Add Proper Padding and Touch Targets
Text often sits near tappable elements. Ensure NexusTextView maintains comfortable padding and meets touch target guidelines (minimum 48dp) when interactive.
- Use minHeight or include it in parent layout to maintain target size.
- Increase hit area with TouchDelegate if the visible text is small.
Example — expand touch area:
val parent = nexusTextView.parent as View parent.post { val rect = Rect() nexusTextView.getHitRect(rect) rect.top -= 16; rect.left -= 16; rect.right += 16; rect.bottom += 16 parent.touchDelegate = TouchDelegate(rect, nexusTextView) } Why it matters: Larger touch targets reduce accidental taps and improve usability on small screens.
8. Handle Ellipsizing, Wrapping, and Hyphenation
Decide how text should behave when space is limited: wrap, truncate, or hyphenate.
-
Use ellipsize for single-line truncation:
nexusTextView.ellipsize = TextUtils.TruncateAt.END nexusTextView.maxLines = 1 -
For multi-line, enable hyphenation on API 23+:
if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.M) { nexusTextView.hyphenationFrequency = Layout.HYPHENATION_FREQUENCY_NORMAL }
Why it matters: Predictable truncation avoids layout breakage and improves clarity.
9. Animate Text Changes Thoughtfully
Animate only when it improves comprehension (e.g., subtle cross-fade or slide for updated content). Avoid distracting or slow animations for dense text.
Example — simple cross-fade:
nexusTextView.animate().alpha(0f).setDuration(120).withEndAction { nexusTextView.text = "New text" nexusTextView.animate().alpha(1f).setDuration(120) } Why it matters: Well-timed animations draw attention without interrupting reading.
10. Test with Real Content and Real Users
Fake lorem ipsum hides real-world problems (long words, punctuation, localization). Test with:
- Long words and URLs
- Different languages with longer text
- Accessibility settings (large fonts, TalkBack)
- Low- and high-density screens
Create device and emulator permutations, and run quick usability tests to surface issues like clipping, overlap, or focus problems.
Why it matters: Real-content testing finds edge cases that static design cannot predict.
Separately, here’s a short checklist you can paste into a PR template:
- [ ] Font supports target locales
- [ ] Text scales with system fonts (sp)
- [ ] Contrast ratio meets WCAG
- [ ] Ellipsizing/wrapping behaves as expected
- [ ] Touch target >= 48dp where interactive
- [ ] Animations are subtle and performant
- [ ] Hyphenation applied where helpful
- [ ] Integration tested on multiple device sizes
Leave a Reply