Events

Events are triggered in LVGL when something happens which might be interesting to the user, e.g. when an object

• is clicked

• is scrolled

• has its value changed

• is redrawn, etc.

Add events to the object

The user can assign callback functions to an object to see its events. In practice, it looks like this:

lv_obj_t * btn = lv_btn_create(lv_scr_act());
lv_obj_add_event_cb(btn, my_event_cb, LV_EVENT_CLICKED, NULL);   /*Assign an event callback*/

...

static void my_event_cb(lv_event_t * event)
{
    printf("Clicked\n");
}

In the example LV_EVENT_CLICKED means that only the click event will call my_event_cb. See the list of event codes for all the options. LV_EVENT_ALL can be used to receive all the events.

The last parameter of lv_obj_add_event_cb is a pointer to any custom data that will be available in the event. It will be described later in more detail.

More events can be added to an object, like this:

lv_obj_add_event_cb(obj, my_event_cb_1, LV_EVENT_CLICKED, NULL);
lv_obj_add_event_cb(obj, my_event_cb_2, LV_EVENT_PRESSED, NULL);
lv_obj_add_event_cb(obj, my_event_cb_3, LV_EVENT_ALL, NULL);		/*No filtering, receive all events*/

Even the same event callback can be used on an object with different user_data. For example:

lv_obj_add_event_cb(obj, increment_on_click, LV_EVENT_CLICKED, &num1);
lv_obj_add_event_cb(obj, increment_on_click, LV_EVENT_CLICKED, &num2);

The events will be called in the order as they were added.

More objects can use the same event callback.

Remove event(s) from an object

Events can be removed from an object with the lv_obj_remove_event_cb(obj, event_cb) function or lv_obj_remove_event_dsc(obj, event_dsc). event_dsc is a pointer returned by lv_obj_add_event_cb.

Event codes

The event codes can be grouped into these categories:

• Input device events

• Drawing events

• Other events

• Special events

• Custom events

All objects (such as Buttons/Labels/Sliders etc.) regardless their type receive the Input device, Drawing and Other events.

However the Special events are specific to a particular widget type. See the widgets' documentation to learn when they are sent,

Custom events are added by the user and therefore these are never sent by LVGL.

The following event codes exist:

Input device events

• LV_EVENT_PRESSED The object has been pressed

• LV_EVENT_PRESSING The object is being pressed (called continuously while pressing)

• LV_EVENT_PRESS_LOST The object is still being pressed but slid cursor/finger off of the object

• LV_EVENT_SHORT_CLICKED The object was pressed for a short period of time, then released it. Not called if scrolled.

• LV_EVENT_LONG_PRESSED Object has been pressed for at least the long_press_time specified in the input device driver. Not called if scrolled.

• LV_EVENT_LONG_PRESSED_REPEAT Called after long_press_time in every long_press_repeat_time ms. Not called if scrolled.

• LV_EVENT_CLICKED Called on release if the object did not scroll (regardless of long press)

• LV_EVENT_RELEASED Called in every case when the object has been released

• LV_EVENT_SCROLL_BEGIN Scrolling begins. The event paramter is NULL or an lv_anim_t * with the scroll animation descriptor to modify if required.

• LV_EVENT_SCROLL_END Scrolling ends.

• LV_EVENT_SCROLL The object was scrolled

• LV_EVENT_GESTURE A gesture is detected. Get the gesture with lv_indev_get_gesture_dir(lv_indev_get_act());

• LV_EVENT_KEY A key is sent to the object. Get the key with lv_indev_get_key(lv_indev_get_act());

• LV_EVENT_FOCUSED The object is focused

• LV_EVENT_DEFOCUSED The object is defocused

• LV_EVENT_LEAVE The object is defocused but still selected

• LV_EVENT_HIT_TEST Perform advanced hit-testing. Use lv_hit_test_info_t * a = lv_event_get_hit_test_info(e) and check if a->point can click the object or not. If not set a->res = false

Drawing events

• LV_EVENT_COVER_CHECK Check if the object fully covers an area. The event parameter is lv_cover_check_info_t *.

• LV_EVENT_REFR_EXT_DRAW_SIZE Get the required extra draw area around the object (e.g. for shadow). The event parameter is lv_coord_t * to store the size. Overwrite it only with a larger value.

• LV_EVENT_DRAW_MAIN_BEGIN Starting the main drawing phase.

• LV_EVENT_DRAW_MAIN Perform the main drawing

• LV_EVENT_DRAW_MAIN_END Finishing the main drawing phase

• LV_EVENT_DRAW_POST_BEGIN Starting the post draw phase (when all children are drawn)

• LV_EVENT_DRAW_POST Perform the post draw phase (when all children are drawn)

• LV_EVENT_DRAW_POST_END Finishing the post draw phase (when all children are drawn)

• LV_EVENT_DRAW_PART_BEGIN Starting to draw a part. The event parameter is lv_obj_draw_dsc_t *. Learn more here.

• LV_EVENT_DRAW_PART_END Finishing to draw a part. The event parameter is lv_obj_draw_dsc_t *. Learn more here.

Other events

• LV_EVENT_DELETE Object is being deleted

• LV_EVENT_CHILD_CHANGED Child was removed/added

• LV_EVENT_SIZE_CHANGED Object coordinates/size have changed

• LV_EVENT_STYLE_CHANGED Object's style has changed

• LV_EVENT_BASE_DIR_CHANGED The base dir has changed

• LV_EVENT_GET_SELF_SIZE Get the internal size of a widget

Special events

• LV_EVENT_VALUE_CHANGED The object's value has changed (i.e. slider moved)

• LV_EVENT_INSERT A text is being inserted to the object. The event data is char * being inserted.

• LV_EVENT_REFRESH Notify the object to refresh something on it (for the user)

• LV_EVENT_READY A process has finished

• LV_EVENT_CANCEL A process has been canceled

Custom events

Any custom event codes can be registered by uint32_t MY_EVENT_1 = lv_event_register_id();

And can be sent to any object with lv_event_send(obj, MY_EVENT_1, &some_data)

Sending events

To manually send events to an object, use lv_event_send(obj, <EVENT_CODE> &some_data).

For example, this can be used to manually close a message box by simulating a button press (although there are simpler ways to do this):

/*Simulate the press of the first button (indexes start from zero)*/
uint32_t btn_id = 0;
lv_event_send(mbox, LV_EVENT_VALUE_CHANGED, &btn_id);

Refresh event

LV_EVENT_REFRESH is special event because it's designed to be used by the user to notify an object to refresh itself. Some examples:

• notify a label to refresh its text according to one or more variables (e.g. current time)

• refresh a label when the language changes

• enable a button if some conditions are met (e.g. the correct PIN is entered)

• add/remove styles to/from an object if a limit is exceeded, etc

Fields of lv_event_t

lv_event_t is the only parameter passed to event callback and it contains all the data about the event. The following values can be gotten from it:

• lv_event_get_code(e) get the event code

• lv_event_get_target(e) get the object to which the event is sent

• lv_event_get_original_target(e) get the object to which the event is sent originally sent (different from lv_event_get_target if event bubbling is enabled)

• lv_event_get_user_data(e) get the pointer passed as the last parameter of lv_obj_add_event_cb.

• lv_event_get_param(e) get the parameter passed as the last parameter of lv_event_send

Event bubbling

If lv_obj_add_flag(obj, LV_OBJ_FLAG_EVENT_BUBBLE) is enabled all events will be sent to the object's parent too. If the parent also has LV_OBJ_FLAG_EVENT_BUBBLE enabled the event will be sent to its parent too, and so on.

The target parameter of the event is always the current target object, not the original object. To get the original target call lv_event_get_original_target(e) in the event handler.

Examples

Button click event

Click to try in the MicroPython simulator!

C code     view on GitHub

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

static void event_cb(lv_event_t * e)
{
    LV_LOG_USER("Clicked");

    static uint32_t cnt = 1;
    lv_obj_t * btn = lv_event_get_target(e);
    lv_obj_t * label = lv_obj_get_child(btn, 0);
    lv_label_set_text_fmt(label, "%d", cnt);
    cnt++;
}

/**
 * Add click event to a button
 */
void lv_example_event_1(void)
{
    lv_obj_t * btn = lv_btn_create(lv_scr_act());
    lv_obj_set_size(btn, 100, 50);
    lv_obj_center(btn);
    lv_obj_add_event_cb(btn, event_cb, LV_EVENT_CLICKED, NULL);

    lv_obj_t * label = lv_label_create(btn);
    lv_label_set_text(label, "Click me!");
    lv_obj_center(label);
}

#endif

MicroPython code     view on GitHub

class Event_1():
    def __init__(self):
        self.cnt = 1
        #
        # Add click event to a button
        #

        btn = lv.btn(lv.scr_act())
        btn.set_size(100, 50)
        btn.center()
        btn.add_event_cb(self.event_cb, lv.EVENT.CLICKED, None)
        
        label = lv.label(btn)
        label.set_text("Click me!");
        label.center()

    def event_cb(self,e):
        print("Clicked");
            
        btn = lv.btn.__cast__(e.get_target())
        label = btn.get_child(0)
        label.set_text(str(self.cnt))
        self.cnt += 1

evt1 = Event_1()

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Handle multiple events

Click to try in the MicroPython simulator!

C code     view on GitHub

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

static void event_cb(lv_event_t * e)
{
    lv_event_code_t code = lv_event_get_code(e);
    lv_obj_t * label = lv_event_get_user_data(e);

    switch(code) {
    case LV_EVENT_PRESSED:
        lv_label_set_text(label, "The last button event:\nLV_EVENT_PRESSED");
        break;
    case LV_EVENT_CLICKED:
        lv_label_set_text(label, "The last button event:\nLV_EVENT_CLICKED");
        break;
    case LV_EVENT_LONG_PRESSED:
        lv_label_set_text(label, "The last button event:\nLV_EVENT_LONG_PRESSED");
        break;
    case LV_EVENT_LONG_PRESSED_REPEAT:
        lv_label_set_text(label, "The last button event:\nLV_EVENT_LONG_PRESSED_REPEAT");
        break;
    default:
        break;
    }
}

/**
 * Handle multiple events
 */
void lv_example_event_2(void)
{
    lv_obj_t * btn = lv_btn_create(lv_scr_act());
    lv_obj_set_size(btn, 100, 50);
    lv_obj_center(btn);

    lv_obj_t * btn_label = lv_label_create(btn);
    lv_label_set_text(btn_label, "Click me!");
    lv_obj_center(btn_label);

    lv_obj_t * info_label = lv_label_create(lv_scr_act());
    lv_label_set_text(info_label, "The last button event:\nNone");

    lv_obj_add_event_cb(btn, event_cb, LV_EVENT_ALL, info_label);
}

#endif

MicroPython code     view on GitHub

def event_cb(e,label):
    code = e.get_code()
    if code == lv.EVENT.PRESSED:
        label.set_text("The last button event:\nLV_EVENT_PRESSED")
    elif code == lv.EVENT.CLICKED:
        label.set_text("The last button event:\nLV_EVENT_CLICKED")
    elif code ==  lv.EVENT.LONG_PRESSED:
        label.set_text("The last button event:\nLV_EVENT_LONG_PRESSED")
    elif code == lv.EVENT.LONG_PRESSED_REPEAT:
        label.set_text("The last button event:\nLV_EVENT_LONG_PRESSED_REPEAT")        
btn = lv.btn(lv.scr_act())
btn.set_size(100, 50)
btn.center()

btn_label = lv.label(btn)
btn_label.set_text("Click me!")
btn_label.center()

info_label = lv.label(lv.scr_act())
info_label.set_text("The last button event:\nNone");

btn.add_event_cb(lambda e: event_cb(e,info_label), lv.EVENT.ALL, None)

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Event bubbling

Click to try in the MicroPython simulator!

C code     view on GitHub

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

static void event_cb(lv_event_t * e)
{
    /*The original target of the event. Can be the buttons or the container*/
    lv_obj_t * target = lv_event_get_target(e);

    /*The current target is always the container as the event is added to it*/
    lv_obj_t * cont = lv_event_get_current_target(e);

    /*If container was clicked do nothing*/
    if(target == cont) return;

    /*Make the clicked buttons red*/
    lv_obj_set_style_bg_color(target, lv_palette_main(LV_PALETTE_RED), 0);
}

/**
 * Demonstrate event bubbling
 */
void lv_example_event_3(void)
{

    lv_obj_t * cont = lv_obj_create(lv_scr_act());
    lv_obj_set_size(cont, 290, 200);
    lv_obj_center(cont);
    lv_obj_set_flex_flow(cont, LV_FLEX_FLOW_ROW_WRAP);

    uint32_t i;
    for(i = 0; i < 30; i++) {
        lv_obj_t * btn = lv_btn_create(cont);
        lv_obj_set_size(btn, 80, 50);
        lv_obj_add_flag(btn, LV_OBJ_FLAG_EVENT_BUBBLE);

        lv_obj_t * label = lv_label_create(btn);
        lv_label_set_text_fmt(label, "%d", i);
        lv_obj_center(label);
    }

    lv_obj_add_event_cb(cont, event_cb, LV_EVENT_CLICKED, NULL);
}

#endif

MicroPython code     view on GitHub

def event_cb(e):

    # The original target of the event. Can be the buttons or the container
    target = e.get_target()
    # print(type(target))

    # If container was clicked do nothing
    if type(target) != type(lv.btn()):
        return

    # Make the clicked buttons red
    target.set_style_bg_color(lv.palette_main(lv.PALETTE.RED), 0)

#
# Demonstrate event bubbling
#

cont = lv.obj(lv.scr_act())
cont.set_size(320, 200)
cont.center()
cont.set_flex_flow(lv.FLEX_FLOW.ROW_WRAP)

for i in range(30):
    btn = lv.btn(cont)
    btn.set_size(80, 50)
    btn.add_flag(lv.obj.FLAG.EVENT_BUBBLE)

    label = lv.label(btn)
    label.set_text(str(i))
    label.center()
    cont.add_event_cb(event_cb, lv.EVENT.CLICKED, None)

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