How to create a parallax scrolling effect for ListView headers like in the Spotify app?

Other Questions Spotify
1

I’ve been using the Spotify app on Android and noticed something cool. When you look at an artist’s page, the header image moves differently from the rest of the list. It’s like the image has its own scrolling speed.

I’m trying to figure out how to do this in my own app. Does anyone know what this effect is called or how to make it happen? I think it looks really slick and would be great for my music app too.

If you’ve seen this before, can you explain how it works? Or maybe point me in the right direction to learn more about it? I’m pretty new to Android development, so any help would be awesome.

Here’s a quick example of what I mean:

class ArtistHeader : FrameLayout {
    private lateinit var headerImage: ImageView
    private lateinit var artistName: TextView

    // Imagine more code here to set up the view

    fun updateParallaxEffect(scrollY: Int) {
        // This is where the magic would happen
        // But I'm not sure how to implement it
    }
}

Thanks for any tips or explanations!

2

I’ve been working with parallax effects in Android for a while now, and I can tell you it’s a game-changer for user experience. The Spotify-style header you’re after is definitely achievable.

In my experience, the key is to use a CoordinatorLayout with a CollapsingToolbarLayout. But here’s a pro tip: don’t just copy-paste code. Really understand how these components work together.

I once spent days trying to get the perfect parallax effect, tweaking the parallax multiplier endlessly. Eventually, I found that a value around 0.5 to 0.7 usually looks best. It’s subtle enough to be smooth but noticeable enough to add depth.

One thing to watch out for: performance. If you’re not careful, parallax can eat up resources, especially on older devices. I learned this the hard way when my app started lagging on mid-range phones. Make sure to test on various devices and optimize your image loading and scrolling logic.

Lastly, consider accessibility. Some users might find parallax disorienting, so it’s worth providing an option to disable it. Trust me, your users will appreciate the thoughtfulness.

3

yo alex, that spotify effect is sick! it’s called parallax scrolling. u need a CoordinatorLayout with CollapsingToolbarLayout to make it happen. the trick is setting layout_collapseMode=“parallax” on ur ImageView. play with the parallax multiplier to get it just right. good luck with ur app, bro!

4

Hey Alex_Thunder, I’ve actually implemented something similar in one of my projects recently. The effect you’re describing is indeed called parallax scrolling, and it’s a great way to add some visual flair to your app.

To achieve this in Android, you’ll want to use a CoordinatorLayout with a CollapsingToolbarLayout. The CollapsingToolbarLayout allows you to create that cool collapsing header effect, and you can set the parallax multiplier to control how fast the image moves relative to the scroll.

Here’s a basic setup:

<androidx.coordinatorlayout.widget.CoordinatorLayout>
    <com.google.android.material.appbar.AppBarLayout>
        <com.google.android.material.appbar.CollapsingToolbarLayout
            app:layout_scrollFlags="scroll|exitUntilCollapsed"
            app:contentScrim="@color/colorPrimary"
            app:expandedTitleMarginStart="48dp"
            app:expandedTitleMarginEnd="64dp">

            <ImageView
                android:id="@+id/backdrop"
                app:layout_collapseMode="parallax"
                app:layout_collapseParallaxMultiplier="0.7" />

            <androidx.appcompat.widget.Toolbar
                app:layout_collapseMode="pin" />

        </com.google.android.material.appbar.CollapsingToolbarLayout>
    </com.google.android.material.appbar.AppBarLayout>

    <androidx.core.widget.NestedScrollView>
        <!-- Your scrollable content here -->
    </androidx.core.widget.NestedScrollView>
</androidx.coordinatorlayout.widget.CoordinatorLayout>

The key is setting app:layout_collapseMode=“parallax” on your ImageView. Play around with the parallax multiplier to get the effect you want. Hope this helps you get started!

5

The effect you’re describing is indeed parallax scrolling, and it’s quite popular in modern app design. To implement this in Android, you’ll need to use a combination of CoordinatorLayout and CollapsingToolbarLayout.

Here’s a basic approach:

  1. Set up a CoordinatorLayout as your root view.
  2. Inside it, add an AppBarLayout containing a CollapsingToolbarLayout.
  3. In the CollapsingToolbarLayout, include your ImageView with the artist’s image.
  4. Set the ImageView’s layout_collapseMode to ‘parallax’.
  5. Adjust the layout_collapseParallaxMultiplier to control the parallax intensity.

The CollapsingToolbarLayout handles most of the heavy lifting for you, so you don’t need to manually calculate scroll positions. This should give you a smooth parallax effect similar to what you’ve seen in Spotify.

Remember to test on different screen sizes to ensure the effect looks good across devices.

6

hey alex, that spotify effect is pretty cool! it’s called parallax scrolling. u need a CoordinatorLayout and CollapsingToolbarLayout to make it work. set layout_collapseMode=“parallax” on ur ImageView and play with the multiplier. just watch out for performance on older phones. good luck with ur app!