Android - set TextView TextStyle programmatically?

When simplicity meets flexibility

There are several ways to alter styles with programming prowess. Let's look at some notable ones:

• setTextAppearance: This comes in handy when you want to apply a comprehensive style to your TextView.

// Dressed to impress with just one method call.
textView.setTextAppearance(context, R.style.yourStyle);
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• TextViewCompat.setTextAppearance: Use this method for consistent styling across different API levels.

// Because age shouldn't affect style, right? 
TextViewCompat.setTextAppearance(textView, R.style.yourStyle);
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• Defining styles in XML: Centralize all your TextView styles in styles.xml to keep your code base tidy and easy-to-maintain.

• SpannableString with StyleSpan: Cater to intricate text styling needs within a TextView by placing emphasis on specific words or phrases:

// StyleSpan is like a laser pointer for your TextView, highlighting exactly what you want!
SpannableString styledString = new SpannableString("Bold and italic text");
styledString.setSpan(new StyleSpan(Typeface.BOLD), 0, 4, Spanned.SPAN_EXCLUSIVE_EXCLUSIVE);
styledString.setSpan(new StyleSpan(Typeface.ITALIC), 9, 15, Spanned.SPAN_EXCLUSIVE_EXCLUSIVE);
textView.setText(styledString);
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The more, the merrier

setTypeface is indeed potent but only intends to apply styles like NORMAL, BOLD, ITALIC, and BOLD_ITALIC. For more advanced text styling, think about HTML or spannable strings.

Practical visualisation

The act of altering TextView TextStyle programmatically can be as simple as changing gears in a car:

// Buckle up, we're going for a ride!
TextView textView = findViewById(R.id.text_view_id);
// Want to feel the wind in your hair? Go bold!
textView.setTypeface(null, Typeface.BOLD);
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Deeper into TextView styles

For those who crave an immersive styling experience, brace yourself for some next-level tips:

Implementing and managing complex styles

When dealing with a multitude of TextViews and styles, consider creatin however, you may override accidentally or mix styles inconsistently. Always double-check and sequence your style applications with care.

Performance whiz

Applying styles programmatically can affect performance, especially within list views or recyclable views. Optimize by reusing style resources and avoiding unnecessary updates.