How do you obtain a Drawable object from a resource id in android package?

Question

I need to get a Drawable object to display on an image button. Is there a way to use the code below (or something like it) to get an object from the android.R.drawable.* package?

for example if drawableId was android.R.drawable.ic_delete

mContext.getResources().getDrawable(drawableId)

Answer 1

Drawable d = getResources().getDrawable(android.R.drawable.ic_dialog_email);
ImageView image = (ImageView)findViewById(R.id.image);
image.setImageDrawable(d);

Answer 2

As of API 21, you should use the getDrawable(int, Theme) method instead of getDrawable(int), as it allows you to fetch a drawable object associated with a particular resource ID for the given screen density/theme. Calling the deprecated getDrawable(int) method is equivalent to calling getDrawable(int, null).

You should use the following code from the support library instead:

ContextCompat.getDrawable(context, android.R.drawable.ic_dialog_email)

Using this method is equivalent to calling:

if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.LOLLIPOP) {
    return resources.getDrawable(id, context.getTheme());
} else {
    return resources.getDrawable(id);
}

Answer 3

As of API 21, you could also use:

   ResourcesCompat.getDrawable(getResources(), R.drawable.name, null);

Instead of ContextCompat.getDrawable(context, android.R.drawable.ic_dialog_email)

Answer 4

best way is

 button.setBackgroundResource(android.R.drawable.ic_delete);

OR this for Drawable left and something like that for right etc.

int imgResource = R.drawable.left_img;
button.setCompoundDrawablesWithIntrinsicBounds(imgResource, 0, 0, 0);

and

getResources().getDrawable() is now deprecated