### Class

# Gtk ConstraintLayout

since: 4.0

#### Description [src]

    final class Gtk.ConstraintLayout : Gtk.LayoutManager
      implements Gtk.Buildable {
      /* No available fields */
    }

A layout manager using constraints to describe relations between widgets.

`GtkConstraintLayout` is a layout manager that uses relations between widget attributes, expressed via `GtkConstraint` instances, to measure and allocate widgets.

### How do constraints work

Constraints are objects defining the relationship between attributes of a widget; you can read the description of the `GtkConstraint` class to have a more in depth definition.

By taking multiple constraints and applying them to the children of a widget using `GtkConstraintLayout`, it’s possible to describe complex layout policies; each constraint applied to a child or to the parent widgets contributes to the full description of the layout, in terms of parameters for resolving the value of each attribute.

It is important to note that a layout is defined by the totality of constraints; removing a child, or a constraint, from an existing layout without changing the remaining constraints may result in an unstable or unsolvable layout.

Constraints have an implicit “reading order”; you should start describing each edge of each child, as well as their relationship with the parent container, from the top left (or top right, in RTL languages), horizontally first, and then vertically.

A constraint-based layout with too few constraints can become “unstable”, that is: have more than one solution. The behavior of an unstable layout is undefined.

A constraint-based layout with conflicting constraints may be unsolvable, and lead to an unstable layout. You can use the `GtkConstraint:strength` property of `GtkConstraint` to “nudge” the layout towards a solution.

### GtkConstraintLayout as GtkBuildable

`GtkConstraintLayout` implements the `GtkBuildable` interface and has a custom “constraints” element which allows describing constraints in a `GtkBuilder` UI file.

An example of a UI definition fragment specifying a constraint:

      <object class="GtkConstraintLayout">
        <constraints>
          <constraint target="button" target-attribute="start"
                      relation="eq"
                      source="super" source-attribute="start"
                      constant="12"
                      strength="required" />
          <constraint target="button" target-attribute="width"
                      relation="ge"
                      constant="250"
                      strength="strong" />
        </constraints>
      </object>

The definition above will add two constraints to the GtkConstraintLayout:

- a required constraint between the leading edge of “button” and the leading edge of the widget using the constraint layout, plus 12 pixels
- a strong, constant constraint making the width of “button” greater than, or equal to 250 pixels

The “target” and “target-attribute” attributes are required.

The “source” and “source-attribute” attributes of the “constraint” element are optional; if they are not specified, the constraint is assumed to be a constant.

The “relation” attribute is optional; if not specified, the constraint is assumed to be an equality.

The “strength” attribute is optional; if not specified, the constraint is assumed to be required.

The “source” and “target” attributes can be set to “super” to indicate that the constraint target is the widget using the GtkConstraintLayout.

There can be “constant” and “multiplier” attributes.

Additionally, the “constraints” element can also contain a description of the `GtkConstraintGuides` used by the layout:

      <constraints>
        <guide min-width="100" max-width="500" name="hspace"/>
        <guide min-height="64" nat-height="128" name="vspace" strength="strong"/>
      </constraints>

The “guide” element has the following optional attributes:

- “min-width”, “nat-width”, and “max-width”, describe the minimum, natural, and maximum width of the guide, respectively
- “min-height”, “nat-height”, and “max-height”, describe the minimum, natural, and maximum height of the guide, respectively
- “strength” describes the strength of the constraint on the natural size of the guide; if not specified, the constraint is assumed to have a medium strength
- “name” describes a name for the guide, useful when debugging

### Using the Visual Format Language

Complex constraints can be described using a compact syntax called VFL, or Visual Format Language.

The Visual Format Language describes all the constraints on a row or column, typically starting from the leading edge towards the trailing one. Each element of the layout is composed by “views”, which identify a `GtkConstraintTarget`.

For instance:

      [button]-[textField]

Describes a constraint that binds the trailing edge of “button” to the leading edge of “textField”, leaving a default space between the two.

Using VFL is also possible to specify predicates that describe constraints on attributes like width and height:

      // Width must be greater than, or equal to 50
      [button(>=50)]

      // Width of button1 must be equal to width of button2
      [button1(==button2)]

The default orientation for a VFL description is horizontal, unless otherwise specified:

      // horizontal orientation, default attribute: width
      H:[button(>=150)]

      // vertical orientation, default attribute: height
      V:[button1(==button2)]

It’s also possible to specify multiple predicates, as well as their strength:

      // minimum width of button must be 150
      // natural width of button can be 250
      [button(>=150@required, ==250@medium)]

Finally, it’s also possible to use simple arithmetic operators:

      // width of button1 must be equal to width of button2
      // divided by 2 plus 12
      [button1(button2 / 2 + 12)]

Available since: 4.0

#### Ancestors

- GtkLayoutManager
- GObject

#### Implements

- GtkBuildable

#### Constructors

###### gtk_constraint_layout_new

Creates a new `GtkConstraintLayout` layout manager.

since: 4.0

#### Instance methods

###### gtk_constraint_layout_add_constraint

Adds a constraint to the layout manager.

since: 4.0

###### gtk_constraint_layout_add_constraints_from_description

Creates a list of constraints from a VFL description.

since: 4.0

###### gtk_constraint_layout_add_constraints_from_descriptionv

Creates a list of constraints from a VFL description.

since: 4.0

###### gtk_constraint_layout_add_guide

Adds a guide to `layout`.

since: 4.0

###### gtk_constraint_layout_observe_constraints

Returns a `GListModel` to track the constraints that are part of the layout.

since: 4.0

###### gtk_constraint_layout_observe_guides

Returns a `GListModel` to track the guides that are part of the layout.

since: 4.0

###### gtk_constraint_layout_remove_all_constraints

Removes all constraints from the layout manager.

since: 4.0

###### gtk_constraint_layout_remove_constraint

Removes `constraint` from the layout manager, so that it no longer influences the layout.

since: 4.0

###### gtk_constraint_layout_remove_guide

Removes `guide` from the layout manager, so that it no longer influences the layout.

since: 4.0

##### Methods inherited from GtkLayoutManager (6)

###### gtk_layout_manager_allocate

Assigns the given `width`, `height`, and `baseline` to a `widget`, and computes the position and sizes of the children of the `widget` using the layout management policy of `manager`.

since: 4.0

###### gtk_layout_manager_get_layout_child

Retrieves a `GtkLayoutChild` instance for the `GtkLayoutManager`, creating one if necessary.

since: 4.0

###### gtk_layout_manager_get_request_mode

Retrieves the request mode of `manager`.

since: 4.0

###### gtk_layout_manager_get_widget

Retrieves the `GtkWidget` using the given `GtkLayoutManager`.

since: 4.0

###### gtk_layout_manager_layout_changed

Queues a resize on the `GtkWidget` using `manager`, if any.

since: 4.0

###### gtk_layout_manager_measure

Measures the size of the `widget` using `manager`, for the given `orientation` and size.

since: 4.0

##### Methods inherited from GObject (43)

Please see GObject for a full list of methods.

##### Methods inherited from GtkBuildable (1)

###### gtk_buildable_get_buildable_id

Gets the ID of the `buildable` object.

since: 4.0

#### Signals

##### Signals inherited from GObject (1)

###### GObject::notify

The notify signal is emitted on an object when one of its properties has its value set through g_object_set_property(), g_object_set(), et al.

since: 2.0

#### Class structure

    struct GtkConstraintLayoutClass {
      GtkLayoutManagerClass parent_class;

    }

No description available.

###### Class members

`parent_class: GtkLayoutManagerClass`
  No description available.