How to Detect the Android Navigation Bar Presence on Load

How can I check if the Android navigation bar is present on app load to adjust my layout?

View decorView = getWindow().getDecorView();
int uiOptions = decorView.getSystemUiVisibility();
boolean hasNavBar = (uiOptions & View.SYSTEM_UI_FLAG_HIDE_NAVIGATION) == 0;

Detecting the presence of the Android navigation bar on app load is crucial for responsive app design. Using the right methods, you can determine whether the navigation bar is visible and adjust your layout accordingly without attempting to hide or remove it.

View decorView = getWindow().getDecorView();
int uiOptions = decorView.getSystemUiVisibility();
boolean hasNavBar = (uiOptions & View.SYSTEM_UI_FLAG_HIDE_NAVIGATION) == 0;
if (hasNavBar) {
    // Navigation bar is present - adjust layout
} else {
    // Navigation bar is not present - adjust layout
}

Causes

• The navigation bar may not be visible in full-screen modes.
• Different Android devices have different UI navigation implementations.

Solutions

• Use `getDecorView().getSystemUiVisibility()` to check the navigation bar visibility.
• Adjust your layout parameters based on the detection result during the `onCreate()` of your main activity.

Mistake: Relying solely on system UI flags that may change during runtime.

Solution: Always check the current UI flags in the onWindowFocusChanged method.

Mistake: Not adjusting layouts dynamically after checking for the navigation bar.

Solution: Implement layout adjustments in response to navigation bar detection.