Label (lv_label)

Overview

A label is the basic object type that is used to display text.

Parts and Styles

• LV_PART_MAIN Uses all the typical background properties and the text properties. The padding values can be used to add space between the text and the background.

• LV_PART_SCROLLBAR The scrollbar that is shown when the text is larger than the widget's size.

• LV_PART_SELECTED Tells the style of the selected text. Only text_color and bg_color style properties can be used.

Usage

Set text

You can set the text on a label at runtime with lv_label_set_text(label, "New text"). This will allocate a buffer dynamically, and the provided string will be copied into that buffer. Therefore, you don't need to keep the text you pass to lv_label_set_text in scope after that function returns.

With lv_label_set_text_fmt(label, "Value: %d", 15) printf formatting can be used to set the text.

Labels are able to show text from a static character buffer. To do so, use lv_label_set_text_static(label, "Text"). In this case, the text is not stored in the dynamic memory and the given buffer is used directly instead. This means that the array can't be a local variable which goes out of scope when the function exits. Constant strings are safe to use with lv_label_set_text_static (except when used with LV_LABEL_LONG_DOT, as it modifies the buffer in-place), as they are stored in ROM memory, which is always accessible.

Newline

Newline characters are handled automatically by the label object. You can use \n to make a line break. For example: "line1\nline2\n\nline4"

Long modes

By default, the width and height of the label is set to LV_SIZE_CONTENT. Therefore, the size of the label is automatically expanded to the text size. Otherwise, if the width or height are explicitly set (using e.g.lv_obj_set_width or a layout), the lines wider than the label's width can be manipulated according to several long mode policies. Similarly, the policies can be applied if the height of the text is greater than the height of the label.

• LV_LABEL_LONG_WRAP Wrap too long lines. If the height is LV_SIZE_CONTENT the label's height will be expanded, otherwise the text will be clipped. (Default)

• LV_LABEL_LONG_DOT Replaces the last 3 characters from bottom right corner of the label with dots (.)

• LV_LABEL_LONG_SCROLL If the text is wider than the label scroll it horizontally back and forth. If it's higher, scroll vertically. Only one direction is scrolled and horizontal scrolling has higher precedence.

• LV_LABEL_LONG_SCROLL_CIRCULAR If the text is wider than the label scroll it horizontally continuously. If it's higher, scroll vertically. Only one direction is scrolled and horizontal scrolling has higher precedence.

• LV_LABEL_LONG_CLIP Simply clip the parts of the text outside the label.

You can specify the long mode with lv_label_set_long_mode(label, LV_LABEL_LONG_...)

Note that LV_LABEL_LONG_DOT manipulates the text buffer in-place in order to add/remove the dots. When lv_label_set_text or lv_label_set_array_text are used, a separate buffer is allocated and this implementation detail is unnoticed. This is not the case with lv_label_set_text_static. The buffer you pass to lv_label_set_text_static must be writable if you plan to use LV_LABEL_LONG_DOT.

Text recolor

In the text, you can use commands to recolor parts of the text. For example: "Write a #ff0000 red# word". This feature can be enabled individually for each label by lv_label_set_recolor() function, recoloring is only supported when the text wrapped with ##ff0000 ... #sintax is in one line, it is not supported in wrapped text, see example Line wrap, recoloring and scrolling.

Text selection

If enabled by LV_LABEL_TEXT_SELECTION part of the text can be selected. It's similar to when you use your mouse on a PC to select a text. The whole mechanism (click and select the text as you drag your finger/mouse) is implemented in Text area and the Label widget only allows manual text selection with lv_label_get_text_selection_start(label, start_char_index) and lv_label_get_text_selection_start(label, end_char_index).

Very long texts

LVGL can efficiently handle very long (e.g. > 40k characters) labels by saving some extra data (~12 bytes) to speed up drawing. To enable this feature, set LV_LABEL_LONG_TXT_HINT   1 in lv_conf.h.

Custom scrolling animations

Some aspects of the scrolling animations in long modes LV_LABEL_LONG_SCROLL and LV_LABEL_LONG_SCROLL_CIRCULAR can be customized by setting the animation property of a style, using lv_style_set_anim(). Currently, only the start and repeat delay of the circular scrolling animation can be customized. If you need to customize another aspect of the scrolling animation, feel free to open an issue on Github to request the feature.

Symbols

The labels can display symbols alongside letters (or on their own). Read the Font section to learn more about the symbols.

Events

No special events are sent by the Label.

See the events of the Base object too.

Learn more about Events.

Keys

No Keys are processed by the object type.

Learn more about Keys.

Example

Line wrap, recoloring and scrolling

C code  

 GitHub

#include "../../lv_examples.h"
#if LV_USE_LABEL && LV_BUILD_EXAMPLES

/**
 * Show line wrap, re-color, line align and text scrolling.
 */
void lv_example_label_1(void)
{
    lv_obj_t * label1 = lv_label_create(lv_scr_act());
    lv_label_set_long_mode(label1, LV_LABEL_LONG_WRAP);     /*Break the long lines*/
    lv_label_set_recolor(label1, true);                      /*Enable re-coloring by commands in the text*/
    lv_label_set_text(label1, "#0000ff Re-color# #ff00ff words# #ff0000 of a# label, align the lines to the center "
                      "and wrap long text automatically.");
    lv_obj_set_width(label1, 150);  /*Set smaller width to make the lines wrap*/
    lv_obj_set_style_text_align(label1, LV_TEXT_ALIGN_CENTER, 0);
    lv_obj_align(label1, LV_ALIGN_CENTER, 0, -40);

    lv_obj_t * label2 = lv_label_create(lv_scr_act());
    lv_label_set_long_mode(label2, LV_LABEL_LONG_SCROLL_CIRCULAR);     /*Circular scroll*/
    lv_obj_set_width(label2, 150);
    lv_label_set_text(label2, "It is a circularly scrolling text. ");
    lv_obj_align(label2, LV_ALIGN_CENTER, 0, 40);
}

#endif

MicroPython code  

 GitHub Simulator

#
# Show line wrap, re-color, line align and text scrolling.
#
label1 = lv.label(lv.scr_act())
label1.set_long_mode(lv.label.LONG.WRAP)      # Break the long lines*/
label1.set_recolor(True)                      # Enable re-coloring by commands in the text
label1.set_text("#0000ff Re-color# #ff00ff words# #ff0000 of a# label, align the lines to the center"
                              "and  wrap long text automatically.")
label1.set_width(150)                         # Set smaller width to make the lines wrap
label1.set_style_text_align(lv.ALIGN.CENTER, 0)
label1.align(lv.ALIGN.CENTER, 0, -40)


label2 = lv.label(lv.scr_act())
label2.set_long_mode(lv.label.LONG.SCROLL_CIRCULAR) # Circular scroll
label2.set_width(150)
label2.set_text("It is a circularly scrolling text. ")
label2.align(lv.ALIGN.CENTER, 0, 40)

---

Text shadow

C code  

 GitHub

#include "../../lv_examples.h"
#if LV_USE_LABEL && LV_BUILD_EXAMPLES

/**
 * Create a fake text shadow
 */
void lv_example_label_2(void)
{
    /*Create a style for the shadow*/
    static lv_style_t style_shadow;
    lv_style_init(&style_shadow);
    lv_style_set_text_opa(&style_shadow, LV_OPA_30);
    lv_style_set_text_color(&style_shadow, lv_color_black());

    /*Create a label for the shadow first (it's in the background)*/
    lv_obj_t * shadow_label = lv_label_create(lv_scr_act());
    lv_obj_add_style(shadow_label, &style_shadow, 0);

    /*Create the main label*/
    lv_obj_t * main_label = lv_label_create(lv_scr_act());
    lv_label_set_text(main_label, "A simple method to create\n"
                      "shadows on a text.\n"
                      "It even works with\n\n"
                      "newlines     and spaces.");

    /*Set the same text for the shadow label*/
    lv_label_set_text(shadow_label, lv_label_get_text(main_label));

    /*Position the main label*/
    lv_obj_align(main_label, LV_ALIGN_CENTER, 0, 0);

    /*Shift the second label down and to the right by 2 pixel*/
    lv_obj_align_to(shadow_label, main_label, LV_ALIGN_TOP_LEFT, 2, 2);
}

#endif

MicroPython code  

 GitHub Simulator

#
# Create a fake text shadow
#

# Create a style for the shadow
style_shadow = lv.style_t()
style_shadow.init()
style_shadow.set_text_opa(lv.OPA._30)
style_shadow.set_text_color(lv.color_black())

# Create a label for the shadow first (it's in the background)
shadow_label = lv.label(lv.scr_act())
shadow_label.add_style(style_shadow, 0)

# Create the main label
main_label = lv.label(lv.scr_act())
main_label.set_text("A simple method to create\n"
                   "shadows on a text.\n"
                   "It even works with\n\n"
                   "newlines     and spaces.")

# Set the same text for the shadow label
shadow_label.set_text(lv.label.get_text(main_label))

# Position the main label
main_label.align(lv.ALIGN.CENTER, 0, 0)

# Shift the second label down and to the right by 2 pixel
shadow_label.align_to(main_label, lv.ALIGN.TOP_LEFT, 2, 2)

---

Show LTR, RTL and Chinese texts

C code  

 GitHub

#include "../../lv_examples.h"
#if LV_USE_LABEL && LV_BUILD_EXAMPLES && LV_FONT_DEJAVU_16_PERSIAN_HEBREW && LV_FONT_SIMSUN_16_CJK && LV_USE_BIDI

/**
 * Show mixed LTR, RTL and Chinese label
 */
void lv_example_label_3(void)
{
    lv_obj_t * ltr_label = lv_label_create(lv_scr_act());
    lv_label_set_text(ltr_label, "In modern terminology, a microcontroller is similar to a system on a chip (SoC).");
    lv_obj_set_style_text_font(ltr_label, &lv_font_montserrat_16, 0);
    lv_obj_set_width(ltr_label, 310);
    lv_obj_align(ltr_label, LV_ALIGN_TOP_LEFT, 5, 5);

    lv_obj_t * rtl_label = lv_label_create(lv_scr_act());
    lv_label_set_text(rtl_label,
                      "מעבד, או בשמו המלא יחידת עיבוד מרכזית (באנגלית: CPU - Central Processing Unit).");
    lv_obj_set_style_base_dir(rtl_label, LV_BASE_DIR_RTL, 0);
    lv_obj_set_style_text_font(rtl_label, &lv_font_dejavu_16_persian_hebrew, 0);
    lv_obj_set_width(rtl_label, 310);
    lv_obj_align(rtl_label, LV_ALIGN_LEFT_MID, 5, 0);

    lv_obj_t * cz_label = lv_label_create(lv_scr_act());
    lv_label_set_text(cz_label,
                      "嵌入式系统（Embedded System），\n是一种嵌入机械或电气系统内部、具有专一功能和实时计算性能的计算机系统。");
    lv_obj_set_style_text_font(cz_label, &lv_font_simsun_16_cjk, 0);
    lv_obj_set_width(cz_label, 310);
    lv_obj_align(cz_label, LV_ALIGN_BOTTOM_LEFT, 5, -5);
}

#endif

MicroPython code  

 GitHub Simulator

import fs_driver
#
# Show mixed LTR, RTL and Chinese label
#

ltr_label = lv.label(lv.scr_act())
ltr_label.set_text("In modern terminology, a microcontroller is similar to a system on a chip (SoC).")
# ltr_label.set_style_text_font(ltr_label, &lv_font_montserrat_16, 0);

fs_drv = lv.fs_drv_t()
fs_driver.fs_register(fs_drv, 'S')

try:
    ltr_label.set_style_text_font(ltr_label, lv.font_montserrat_16, 0)
except:
    font_montserrat_16 = lv.font_load("S:../../assets/font/montserrat-16.fnt")
    ltr_label.set_style_text_font(font_montserrat_16, 0)

ltr_label.set_width(310)
ltr_label.align(lv.ALIGN.TOP_LEFT, 5, 5)

rtl_label = lv.label(lv.scr_act())
rtl_label.set_text("מעבד, או בשמו המלא יחידת עיבוד מרכזית (באנגלית: CPU - Central Processing Unit).")
rtl_label.set_style_base_dir(lv.BASE_DIR.RTL, 0)
rtl_label.set_style_text_font(lv.font_dejavu_16_persian_hebrew, 0)
rtl_label.set_width(310)
rtl_label.align(lv.ALIGN.LEFT_MID, 5, 0)

font_simsun_16_cjk = lv.font_load("S:../../assets/font/lv_font_simsun_16_cjk.fnt")

cz_label = lv.label(lv.scr_act())
cz_label.set_style_text_font(font_simsun_16_cjk, 0)
cz_label.set_text("嵌入式系统（Embedded System），\n是一种嵌入机械或电气系统内部、具有专一功能和实时计算性能的计算机系统。")
cz_label.set_width(310)
cz_label.align(lv.ALIGN.BOTTOM_LEFT, 5, -5)

---

Draw label with gradient color

C code  

 GitHub

#include "../../lv_examples.h"
#if LV_USE_LABEL && LV_USE_CANVAS && LV_BUILD_EXAMPLES && LV_DRAW_COMPLEX

#define MASK_WIDTH 100
#define MASK_HEIGHT 45

static void add_mask_event_cb(lv_event_t * e)
{
    static lv_draw_mask_map_param_t m;
    static int16_t mask_id;

    lv_event_code_t code = lv_event_get_code(e);
    lv_obj_t * obj = lv_event_get_target(e);
    lv_opa_t * mask_map = lv_event_get_user_data(e);
    if(code == LV_EVENT_COVER_CHECK) {
        lv_event_set_cover_res(e, LV_COVER_RES_MASKED);
    }
    else if(code == LV_EVENT_DRAW_MAIN_BEGIN) {
        lv_draw_mask_map_init(&m, &obj->coords, mask_map);
        mask_id = lv_draw_mask_add(&m, NULL);

    }
    else if(code == LV_EVENT_DRAW_MAIN_END) {
        lv_draw_mask_free_param(&m);
        lv_draw_mask_remove_id(mask_id);
    }
}

/**
 * Draw label with gradient color
 */
void lv_example_label_4(void)
{
    /* Create the mask of a text by drawing it to a canvas*/
    static lv_opa_t mask_map[MASK_WIDTH * MASK_HEIGHT];

    /*Create a "8 bit alpha" canvas and clear it*/
    lv_obj_t * canvas = lv_canvas_create(lv_scr_act());
    lv_canvas_set_buffer(canvas, mask_map, MASK_WIDTH, MASK_HEIGHT, LV_IMG_CF_ALPHA_8BIT);
    lv_canvas_fill_bg(canvas, lv_color_black(), LV_OPA_TRANSP);

    /*Draw a label to the canvas. The result "image" will be used as mask*/
    lv_draw_label_dsc_t label_dsc;
    lv_draw_label_dsc_init(&label_dsc);
    label_dsc.color = lv_color_white();
    label_dsc.align = LV_TEXT_ALIGN_CENTER;
    lv_canvas_draw_text(canvas, 5, 5, MASK_WIDTH, &label_dsc, "Text with gradient");

    /*The mask is reads the canvas is not required anymore*/
    lv_obj_del(canvas);

    /* Create an object from where the text will be masked out.
     * Now it's a rectangle with a gradient but it could be an image too*/
    lv_obj_t * grad = lv_obj_create(lv_scr_act());
    lv_obj_set_size(grad, MASK_WIDTH, MASK_HEIGHT);
    lv_obj_center(grad);
    lv_obj_set_style_bg_color(grad, lv_color_hex(0xff0000), 0);
    lv_obj_set_style_bg_grad_color(grad, lv_color_hex(0x0000ff), 0);
    lv_obj_set_style_bg_grad_dir(grad, LV_GRAD_DIR_HOR, 0);
    lv_obj_add_event_cb(grad, add_mask_event_cb, LV_EVENT_ALL, mask_map);
}

#endif

MicroPython code  

 GitHub Simulator

Error encountered while trying to open /home/runner/work/lvgl/lvgl/examples/widgets/label/lv_example_label_4.py

---

Customize circular scrolling animation

C code  

 GitHub

#include "../../lv_examples.h"
#if LV_USE_LABEL && LV_BUILD_EXAMPLES

/**
 * Show customizing the circular scrolling animation of a label with `LV_LABEL_LONG_SCROLL_CIRCULAR`
 * long mode.
 */
void lv_example_label_5(void)
{
    static lv_anim_t animation_template;
    static lv_style_t label_style;

    lv_anim_init(&animation_template);
    lv_anim_set_delay(&animation_template, 1000);           /*Wait 1 second to start the first scroll*/
    lv_anim_set_repeat_delay(&animation_template,
                             3000);    /*Repeat the scroll 3 seconds after the label scrolls back to the initial position*/

    /*Initialize the label style with the animation template*/
    lv_style_init(&label_style);
    lv_style_set_anim(&label_style, &animation_template);

    lv_obj_t * label1 = lv_label_create(lv_scr_act());
    lv_label_set_long_mode(label1, LV_LABEL_LONG_SCROLL_CIRCULAR);      /*Circular scroll*/
    lv_obj_set_width(label1, 150);
    lv_label_set_text(label1, "It is a circularly scrolling text. ");
    lv_obj_align(label1, LV_ALIGN_CENTER, 0, 40);
    lv_obj_add_style(label1, &label_style, LV_STATE_DEFAULT);           /*Add the style to the label*/
}

#endif

MicroPython code  

 GitHub Simulator

#
# Show customizing the circular scrolling animation of a label with `LV_LABEL_LONG_SCROLL_CIRCULAR` long mode.
#

label1 = lv.label(lv.scr_act())
label1.set_long_mode(lv.label.LONG.SCROLL_CIRCULAR)         # Circular scroll
label1.set_width(150)
label1.set_text("It is a circularly scrolling text. ")
label1.align(lv.ALIGN.CENTER, 0, 40)

---

API

Typedefs

typedef uint8_t lv_label_long_mode_t

Enums

enum [anonymous]

Long mode behaviors. Used in 'lv_label_ext_t'

Values:

enumerator LV_LABEL_LONG_WRAP

Keep the object width, wrap the too long lines and expand the object height

enumerator LV_LABEL_LONG_DOT

Keep the size and write dots at the end if the text is too long

enumerator LV_LABEL_LONG_SCROLL

Keep the size and roll the text back and forth

enumerator LV_LABEL_LONG_SCROLL_CIRCULAR

Keep the size and roll the text circularly

enumerator LV_LABEL_LONG_CLIP

Keep the size and clip the text out of it

Functions

LV_EXPORT_CONST_INT(LV_LABEL_DOT_NUM)

LV_EXPORT_CONST_INT(LV_LABEL_POS_LAST)

LV_EXPORT_CONST_INT(LV_LABEL_TEXT_SELECTION_OFF)

lv_obj_t *lv_label_create(lv_obj_t *parent)

Create a label object

Parameters

parent -- pointer to an object, it will be the parent of the new label.

Returns

pointer to the created button

void lv_label_set_text(lv_obj_t *obj, const char *text)

Set a new text for a label. Memory will be allocated to store the text by the label.

Parameters

• obj -- pointer to a label object

• text -- '\0' terminated character string. NULL to refresh with the current text.

void lv_label_set_text_fmt (lv_obj_t *obj, const char *fmt,...) LV_FORMAT_ATTRIBUTE(2

void void lv_label_set_text_static (lv_obj_t *obj, const char *text)

Set a static text. It will not be saved by the label so the 'text' variable has to be 'alive' while the label exists.

Parameters

• obj -- pointer to a label object

• text -- pointer to a text. NULL to refresh with the current text.

void lv_label_set_long_mode(lv_obj_t *obj, lv_label_long_mode_t long_mode)

Set the behavior of the label with longer text then the object size

Parameters

• obj -- pointer to a label object

• long_mode -- the new mode from 'lv_label_long_mode' enum. In LV_LONG_WRAP/DOT/SCROLL/SCROLL_CIRC the size of the label should be set AFTER this function

void lv_label_set_recolor(lv_obj_t *obj, bool en)

void lv_label_set_text_sel_start(lv_obj_t *obj, uint32_t index)

Set where text selection should start

Parameters

• obj -- pointer to a label object

• index -- character index from where selection should start. LV_LABEL_TEXT_SELECTION_OFF for no selection

void lv_label_set_text_sel_end(lv_obj_t *obj, uint32_t index)

Set where text selection should end

Parameters

• obj -- pointer to a label object

• index -- character index where selection should end. LV_LABEL_TEXT_SELECTION_OFF for no selection

char *lv_label_get_text(const lv_obj_t *obj)

Get the text of a label

Parameters

obj -- pointer to a label object

Returns

the text of the label

lv_label_long_mode_t lv_label_get_long_mode(const lv_obj_t *obj)

Get the long mode of a label

Parameters

obj -- pointer to a label object

Returns

the current long mode

bool lv_label_get_recolor(const lv_obj_t *obj)

Get the recoloring attribute

Parameters

obj -- pointer to a label object

Returns

true: recoloring is enabled, false: disable

void lv_label_get_letter_pos(const lv_obj_t *obj, uint32_t char_id, lv_point_t *pos)

Get the relative x and y coordinates of a letter

Parameters

• obj -- pointer to a label object

• index -- index of the character [0 ... text length - 1]. Expressed in character index, not byte index (different in UTF-8)

• pos -- store the result here (E.g. index = 0 gives 0;0 coordinates if the text if aligned to the left)

uint32_t lv_label_get_letter_on(const lv_obj_t *obj, lv_point_t *pos_in)

Get the index of letter on a relative point of a label.

Parameters

• obj -- pointer to label object

• pos -- pointer to point with coordinates on a the label

Returns

The index of the letter on the 'pos_p' point (E.g. on 0;0 is the 0. letter if aligned to the left) Expressed in character index and not byte index (different in UTF-8)

bool lv_label_is_char_under_pos(const lv_obj_t *obj, lv_point_t *pos)

Check if a character is drawn under a point.

Parameters

• obj -- pointer to a label object

• pos -- Point to check for character under

Returns

whether a character is drawn under the point

uint32_t lv_label_get_text_selection_start(const lv_obj_t *obj)

Get the selection start index.

Parameters

obj -- pointer to a label object.

Returns

selection start index. LV_LABEL_TEXT_SELECTION_OFF if nothing is selected.

uint32_t lv_label_get_text_selection_end(const lv_obj_t *obj)

Get the selection end index.

Parameters

obj -- pointer to a label object.

Returns

selection end index. LV_LABEL_TXT_SEL_OFF if nothing is selected.

void lv_label_ins_text(lv_obj_t *obj, uint32_t pos, const char *txt)

Insert a text to a label. The label text can not be static.

Parameters

• obj -- pointer to a label object

• pos -- character index to insert. Expressed in character index and not byte index. 0: before first char. LV_LABEL_POS_LAST: after last char.

• txt -- pointer to the text to insert

void lv_label_cut_text(lv_obj_t *obj, uint32_t pos, uint32_t cnt)

Delete characters from a label. The label text can not be static.

Parameters

• obj -- pointer to a label object

• pos -- character index from where to cut. Expressed in character index and not byte index. 0: start in from of the first character

• cnt -- number of characters to cut

Variables

const lv_obj_class_t lv_label_class

struct lv_label_t

Public Members

lv_obj_t obj

char *text

char *tmp_ptr

char tmp[LV_LABEL_DOT_NUM + 1]

union lv_label_t::[anonymous] dot

uint32_t dot_end

lv_draw_label_hint_t hint

uint32_t sel_start

uint32_t sel_end

lv_point_t offset

lv_label_long_mode_t long_mode

uint8_t static_txt

uint8_t recolor

uint8_t expand

uint8_t dot_tmp_alloc