# Spannable

Added in[API level 1](https://developer.android.com/guide/topics/manifest/uses-sdk-element#ApiLevels)  
Summary:[Nested Classes](https://developer.android.com/reference/android/text/Spannable#nestedclasses)\|[Inherited Constants](https://developer.android.com/reference/android/text/Spannable#inhconstants)\|[Methods](https://developer.android.com/reference/android/text/Spannable#pubmethods)\|[Inherited Methods](https://developer.android.com/reference/android/text/Spannable#inhmethods)  

# Spannable

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[Kotlin](https://developer.android.com/reference/kotlin/android/text/Spannable "View this page in Kotlin")\|Java

`
public


interface
Spannable
`  
`


implements

`[Spanned](https://developer.android.com/reference/android/text/Spanned)`


`

|------------------------|
| android.text.Spannable |

|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Known indirect subclasses [Editable](https://developer.android.com/reference/android/text/Editable),[PrecomputedText](https://developer.android.com/reference/android/text/PrecomputedText),[SpannableString](https://developer.android.com/reference/android/text/SpannableString),[SpannableStringBuilder](https://developer.android.com/reference/android/text/SpannableStringBuilder) |-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | [Editable](https://developer.android.com/reference/android/text/Editable)                             | This is the interface for text whose content and markup can be changed (as opposed to immutable text like Strings). | | [PrecomputedText](https://developer.android.com/reference/android/text/PrecomputedText)               | A text which has the character metrics data.                                                                        | | [SpannableString](https://developer.android.com/reference/android/text/SpannableString)               | This is the class for text whose content is immutable but to which markup objects can be attached and detached.     | | [SpannableStringBuilder](https://developer.android.com/reference/android/text/SpannableStringBuilder) | This is the class for text whose content and markup can both be changed.                                            | |

<br />

*** ** * ** ***

This is the interface for text to which markup objects can be attached and detached. Not all Spannable classes have mutable text; see[Editable](https://developer.android.com/reference/android/text/Editable)for that.

## Summary

|                                                                                                    ### Nested classes                                                                                                     ||
|----------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| ` class` | [Spannable.Factory](https://developer.android.com/reference/android/text/Spannable.Factory) Factory used by TextView to create new[Spannables](https://developer.android.com/reference/android/text/Spannable). |

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                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          ### Inherited constants                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   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|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------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| From interface[android.text.Spanned](https://developer.android.com/reference/android/text/Spanned) |-------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | `int` | [SPAN_COMPOSING](https://developer.android.com/reference/android/text/Spanned#SPAN_COMPOSING) This flag is set on spans that are being used to apply temporary styling information on the composing text of an input method, so that they can be found and removed when the composing text is being replaced.                                                                                                                 | | `int` | [SPAN_EXCLUSIVE_EXCLUSIVE](https://developer.android.com/reference/android/text/Spanned#SPAN_EXCLUSIVE_EXCLUSIVE) Spans of type SPAN_EXCLUSIVE_EXCLUSIVE do not expand to include text inserted at either their starting or ending point.                                                                                                                                                                                     | | `int` | [SPAN_EXCLUSIVE_INCLUSIVE](https://developer.android.com/reference/android/text/Spanned#SPAN_EXCLUSIVE_INCLUSIVE) Non-0-length spans of type SPAN_EXCLUSIVE_INCLUSIVE expand to include text inserted at their ending point but not at their starting point.                                                                                                                                                                  | | `int` | [SPAN_INCLUSIVE_EXCLUSIVE](https://developer.android.com/reference/android/text/Spanned#SPAN_INCLUSIVE_EXCLUSIVE) Non-0-length spans of type SPAN_INCLUSIVE_EXCLUSIVE expand to include text inserted at their starting point but not at their ending point.                                                                                                                                                                  | | `int` | [SPAN_INCLUSIVE_INCLUSIVE](https://developer.android.com/reference/android/text/Spanned#SPAN_INCLUSIVE_INCLUSIVE) Spans of type SPAN_INCLUSIVE_INCLUSIVE expand to include text inserted at either their starting or ending point.                                                                                                                                                                                            | | `int` | [SPAN_INTERMEDIATE](https://developer.android.com/reference/android/text/Spanned#SPAN_INTERMEDIATE) This flag will be set for intermediate span changes, meaning there is guaranteed to be another change following it.                                                                                                                                                                                                       | | `int` | [SPAN_MARK_MARK](https://developer.android.com/reference/android/text/Spanned#SPAN_MARK_MARK) 0-length spans with type SPAN_MARK_MARK behave like text marks: they remain at their original offset when text is inserted at that offset.                                                                                                                                                                                      | | `int` | [SPAN_MARK_POINT](https://developer.android.com/reference/android/text/Spanned#SPAN_MARK_POINT) SPAN_MARK_POINT is a synonym for[SPAN_INCLUSIVE_INCLUSIVE](https://developer.android.com/reference/android/text/Spanned#SPAN_INCLUSIVE_INCLUSIVE).                                                                                                                                                                            | | `int` | [SPAN_PARAGRAPH](https://developer.android.com/reference/android/text/Spanned#SPAN_PARAGRAPH) SPAN_PARAGRAPH behaves like SPAN_INCLUSIVE_EXCLUSIVE (SPAN_MARK_MARK), except that if either end of the span is at the end of the buffer, that end behaves like _POINT instead (so SPAN_INCLUSIVE_INCLUSIVE if it starts in the middle and ends at the end, or SPAN_EXCLUSIVE_INCLUSIVE if it both starts and ends at the end). | | `int` | [SPAN_POINT_MARK](https://developer.android.com/reference/android/text/Spanned#SPAN_POINT_MARK) SPAN_POINT_MARK is a synonym for[SPAN_EXCLUSIVE_EXCLUSIVE](https://developer.android.com/reference/android/text/Spanned#SPAN_EXCLUSIVE_EXCLUSIVE).                                                                                                                                                                            | | `int` | [SPAN_POINT_MARK_MASK](https://developer.android.com/reference/android/text/Spanned#SPAN_POINT_MARK_MASK) Bitmask of bits that are relevent for controlling point/mark behavior of spans.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     | | `int` | [SPAN_POINT_POINT](https://developer.android.com/reference/android/text/Spanned#SPAN_POINT_POINT) 0-length spans with type SPAN_POINT_POINT behave like cursors: they are pushed forward by the length of the insertion when text is inserted at their offset.                                                                                                                                                                | | `int` | [SPAN_PRIORITY](https://developer.android.com/reference/android/text/Spanned#SPAN_PRIORITY) The bits specified by the SPAN_PRIORITY bitmap determine the order of change notifications -- higher numbers go first.                                                                                                                                                                                                            | | `int` | [SPAN_PRIORITY_SHIFT](https://developer.android.com/reference/android/text/Spanned#SPAN_PRIORITY_SHIFT) The bits numbered just above SPAN_PRIORITY_SHIFT determine the order of change notifications -- higher numbers go first.                                                                                                                                                                                              | | `int` | [SPAN_USER](https://developer.android.com/reference/android/text/Spanned#SPAN_USER) The bits specified by the SPAN_USER bitfield are available for callers to use to store scalar data associated with their span object.                                                                                                                                                                                                     | | `int` | [SPAN_USER_SHIFT](https://developer.android.com/reference/android/text/Spanned#SPAN_USER_SHIFT) The bits numbered SPAN_USER_SHIFT and above are available for callers to use to store scalar data associated with their span object.                                                                                                                                                                                          | |

|                                                                                                                                                                                             ### Public methods                                                                                                                                                                                             ||
|------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| ` abstract void` | ` `[removeSpan](https://developer.android.com/reference/android/text/Spannable#removeSpan(java.lang.Object))`(`[Object](https://developer.android.com/reference/java/lang/Object)` what) ` Remove the specified object from the range of text to which it was attached, if any.                                                                                                          |
| ` abstract void` | ` `[setSpan](https://developer.android.com/reference/android/text/Spannable#setSpan(java.lang.Object,%20int,%20int,%20int))`(`[Object](https://developer.android.com/reference/java/lang/Object)` what, int start, int end, int flags) ` Attach the specified markup object to the range`start...end`of the text, or move the object to that range if it was already attached elsewhere. |

| ### Inherited methods |
|-----------------------|---|
| From interface` `[android.text.Spanned](https://developer.android.com/reference/android/text/Spanned)` ` |---------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | ` abstract int`     | ` `[getSpanEnd](https://developer.android.com/reference/android/text/Spanned#getSpanEnd(java.lang.Object))`(`[Object](https://developer.android.com/reference/java/lang/Object)` tag) ` Return the end of the range of text to which the specified markup object is attached, or -1 if the object is not attached.                                                                                                                                                         | | ` abstract int`     | ` `[getSpanFlags](https://developer.android.com/reference/android/text/Spanned#getSpanFlags(java.lang.Object))`(`[Object](https://developer.android.com/reference/java/lang/Object)` tag) ` Return the flags that were specified when[Spannable.setSpan](https://developer.android.com/reference/android/text/Spannable#setSpan(java.lang.Object,%20int,%20int,%20int))was used to attach the specified markup object, or 0 if the specified object has not been attached. | | ` abstract int`     | ` `[getSpanStart](https://developer.android.com/reference/android/text/Spanned#getSpanStart(java.lang.Object))`(`[Object](https://developer.android.com/reference/java/lang/Object)` tag) ` Return the beginning of the range of text to which the specified markup object is attached, or -1 if the object is not attached.                                                                                                                                               | | ` abstract <T> T[]` | ` `[getSpans](https://developer.android.com/reference/android/text/Spanned#getSpans(int,%20int,%20java.lang.Class<T>))`(int start, int end, `[Class](https://developer.android.com/reference/java/lang/Class)`<T> type) ` Return an array of the markup objects attached to the specified slice of this CharSequence and whose type is the specified type or a subclass of it.                                                                                             | | ` abstract int`     | ` `[nextSpanTransition](https://developer.android.com/reference/android/text/Spanned#nextSpanTransition(int,%20int,%20java.lang.Class))`(int start, int limit, `[Class](https://developer.android.com/reference/java/lang/Class)`<T> type) ` Return the first offset greater than`start`where a markup object of class`type`begins or ends, or`limit`if there are no starts or ends greater than`start`but less than`limit`.                                               | ||
| From interface` `[java.lang.CharSequence](https://developer.android.com/reference/java/lang/CharSequence)` ` |--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | ` abstract char`                                                                           | ` `[charAt](https://developer.android.com/reference/java/lang/CharSequence#charAt(int))`(int index) ` Returns the`char`value at the specified index.                                                                                                                                                                                                                         | | ` default `[IntStream](https://developer.android.com/reference/java/util/stream/IntStream) | ` `[chars](https://developer.android.com/reference/java/lang/CharSequence#chars())`() ` Returns a stream of`int`zero-extending the`char`values from this sequence.                                                                                                                                                                                                           | | ` default `[IntStream](https://developer.android.com/reference/java/util/stream/IntStream) | ` `[codePoints](https://developer.android.com/reference/java/lang/CharSequence#codePoints())`() ` Returns a stream of code point values from this sequence.                                                                                                                                                                                                                  | | ` static int`                                                                              | ` `[compare](https://developer.android.com/reference/java/lang/CharSequence#compare(java.lang.CharSequence,%20java.lang.CharSequence))`(`[CharSequence](https://developer.android.com/reference/java/lang/CharSequence)` cs1, `[CharSequence](https://developer.android.com/reference/java/lang/CharSequence)` cs2) ` Compares two`CharSequence`instances lexicographically. | | ` default boolean`                                                                         | ` `[isEmpty](https://developer.android.com/reference/java/lang/CharSequence#isEmpty())`() ` Returns`true`if this character sequence is empty.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                | | ` abstract int`                                                                            | ` `[length](https://developer.android.com/reference/java/lang/CharSequence#length())`() ` Returns the length of this character sequence.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     | | ` abstract `[CharSequence](https://developer.android.com/reference/java/lang/CharSequence) | ` `[subSequence](https://developer.android.com/reference/java/lang/CharSequence#subSequence(int,%20int))`(int start, int end) ` Returns a`CharSequence`that is a subsequence of this sequence.                                                                                                                                                                               | | ` abstract `[String](https://developer.android.com/reference/java/lang/String)             | ` `[toString](https://developer.android.com/reference/java/lang/CharSequence#toString())`() ` Returns a string containing the characters in this sequence in the same order as this sequence.                                                                                                                                                                                | ||

## Public methods

### removeSpan

Added in[API level 1](https://developer.android.com/guide/topics/manifest/uses-sdk-element#ApiLevels)  

```
public abstract void removeSpan (Object what)
```

Remove the specified object from the range of text to which it was attached, if any. It is OK to remove an object that was never attached in the first place.

<br />

|       Parameters        ||
|--------|-----------------|
| `what` | `Object` <br /> |

### setSpan

Added in[API level 1](https://developer.android.com/guide/topics/manifest/uses-sdk-element#ApiLevels)  

```
public abstract void setSpan (Object what, 
                int start, 
                int end, 
                int flags)
```

Attach the specified markup object to the range`start...end`of the text, or move the object to that range if it was already attached elsewhere. See[Spanned](https://developer.android.com/reference/android/text/Spanned)for an explanation of what the flags mean. The object can be one that has meaning only within your application, or it can be one that the text system will use to affect text display or behavior. Some noteworthy ones are the subclasses of[CharacterStyle](https://developer.android.com/reference/android/text/style/CharacterStyle)and[ParagraphStyle](https://developer.android.com/reference/android/text/style/ParagraphStyle), and[TextWatcher](https://developer.android.com/reference/android/text/TextWatcher)and[SpanWatcher](https://developer.android.com/reference/android/text/SpanWatcher).

<br />

|        Parameters        ||
|---------|-----------------|
| `what`  | `Object` <br /> |
| `start` | `int` <br />    |
| `end`   | `int` <br />    |
| `flags` | `int` <br />    |