How to detect swipe direction between left/right and up/down

You simply have to extend SimpleOnGestureListener class,

Declare this in your class,

private static final int SWIPE_MIN_DISTANCE = 120; private static final int SWIPE_MAX_OFF_PATH = 250; private static final int SWIPE_THRESHOLD_VELOCITY = 200; 

As an example for horizontal swipe you can see the below code,

 class MyGestureDetector extends SimpleOnGestureListener { @Override public boolean onFling(MotionEvent e1, MotionEvent e2, float velocityX, float velocityY) { try { if (Math.abs(e1.getY() - e2.getY()) > SWIPE_MAX_OFF_PATH){ return false; } // right to left swipe if (e1.getX() - e2.getX() > SWIPE_MIN_DISTANCE && Math.abs(velocityX) > SWIPE_THRESHOLD_VELOCITY) { onLeftSwipe(); } // left to right swipe else if (e2.getX() - e1.getX() > SWIPE_MIN_DISTANCE && Math.abs(velocityX) > SWIPE_THRESHOLD_VELOCITY) { onRightSwipe(); } } catch (Exception e) { } return false; } } 

You can do this similarly for vertical swipe purpose.

Fernandour answer is perfect, I am writing this answer about how to use it with Activity and Fragment as many people are looking for it.

public class MyActivity extends Activity implements View.OnTouchListener{ private RelativeLayout someLayout; //take any layout on which you want your gesture listener; @Override public void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) { super.onCreate(savedInstanceState); gestureDetector=new GestureDetector(this,new OnSwipeListener(){ @Override public boolean onSwipe(Direction direction) { if (direction==Direction.up){ //do your stuff Log.d(TAG, "onSwipe: up"); } if (direction==Direction.down){ //do your stuff Log.d(TAG, "onSwipe: down"); } return true; } }); someLayout.setOnTouchListener(this); } @Override public boolean onTouch(View v, MotionEvent event) { Log.d(TAG, "onTouch: "); gestureDetector.onTouchEvent(event); return true; } } 

A full Usage Example for fernandohur answer above:

If you want to apply OnSwipeListener to one of your views, so:
Wherever this view is - set a touch listener for that view, like this:

myview.setOnTouchListener(this); 

Now in your Activity's OnCreate or in your Custom view constructor do this:

// Global private GestureDetectorCompat detector; // In OnCreate or custome view constructor (which extends one of Android views) detector = new GestureDetectorCompat(context, onSwipeListener); 

Override in the same class the onTouch event, like this:

@Override public boolean onTouch(View view, MotionEvent motionEvent) { return detector.onTouchEvent(motionEvent); } 

And also have in the same class this listener object:

OnSwipeListener onSwipeListener = new OnSwipeListener() { @Override public boolean onSwipe(Direction direction) { // Possible implementation if(direction == Direction.left|| direction == Direction.right) { // Do something COOL like animation or whatever you want // Refer to your view if needed using a global reference return true; } else if(direction == Direction.up|| direction == Direction.down) { // Do something COOL like animation or whatever you want // Refer to your view if needed using a global reference return true; } return super.onSwipe(direction); } }; 

The best answer that i test it several times and its worked for me

float firstX_point, firstY_point; @Override public boolean onTouchEvent(MotionEvent event) { int action = event.getAction(); switch (action) { case MotionEvent.ACTION_DOWN: firstX_point = event.getRawX(); firstY_point = event.getRawY(); break; case MotionEvent.ACTION_UP: float finalX = event.getRawX(); float finalY = event.getRawY(); int distanceX = (int) (finalX - firstX_point); int distanceY = (int) (finalY - firstY_point); if (Math.abs(distanceX) > Math.abs(distanceY)) { if ((firstX_point < finalX)) { Log.d("Test", "Left to Right swipe performed"); } else { Log.d("Test", "Right to Left swipe performed"); } }else{ if ((firstY_point < finalY)) { Log.d("Test", "Up to Down swipe performed"); } else { Log.d("Test", "Down to Up swipe performed"); } } break; } return true; } 

that is how I did it, easiest way

float initialX, initialY; @Override public boolean onTouchEvent(MotionEvent event) { int action = event.getActionMasked(); switch (action) { case MotionEvent.ACTION_DOWN: initialX = event.getX(); initialY = event.getY(); // Log.d(TAG, "Action was DOWN"); break; case MotionEvent.ACTION_MOVE: //Log.d(TAG, "Action was MOVE"); break; case MotionEvent.ACTION_UP: float finalX = event.getX(); float finalY = event.getY(); //Log.d(TAG, "Action was UP"); if (initialX < finalX) { // Log.d(TAG, "Left to Right swipe performed"); } if (initialX > finalX) { // Log.d(TAG, "Right to Left swipe performed"); } if (initialY < finalY) { // Log.d(TAG, "Up to Down swipe performed"); } if (initialY > finalY) { // Log.d(TAG, "Down to Up swipe performed"); } break; case MotionEvent.ACTION_CANCEL: //Log.d(TAG,"Action was CANCEL"); break; case MotionEvent.ACTION_OUTSIDE: // Log.d(TAG, "Movement occurred outside bounds of current screen element"); break; } return super.onTouchEvent(event); } 

You could override SimpleGestureListener and calculate the diff between start end current coordinates:

private class GestureListener extends SimpleOnGestureListener { @Override public boolean onScroll(MotionEvent e1, MotionEvent e2, float distanceX, float distanceY) { if (e2.getY() > e1.getY()) { // direction up }else { // direction down } if (e2.getX() > e1.getX()) { // direction right }else { // direction left } return true; } } 

I solved this way:

viewPager.setOnTouchListener(new View.OnTouchListener() { float prevX = -1; @Override public boolean onTouch(View v, MotionEvent event) { if (prevX != -1) { if (event.getX() > prevX) { if (viewPager.getCurrentItem() == 0) { // Left to Right swipe } //Log.d("DEBUG", MotionEvent.ACTION_MOVE + ":" + event.getAction() + ":" + event.getActionMasked() + ":Left Swipe" + ":" + prevX + ":" + event.getX() + ":" + viewPager.getCurrentItem()); } else if (prevX > event.getX()) { // Right to left swipe //Log.d("DEBUG", MotionEvent.ACTION_MOVE + ":" + event.getAction() + ":" + event.getActionMasked() + ":Right Swipe" + ":" + prevX + ":" + event.getX() + ":" + viewPager.getCurrentItem()); } } if (event.getAction() == MotionEvent.ACTION_MOVE) { prevX = event.getX(); } else { prevX = -1; } return false; } }); 

I have an open source gesture library on bitbucket that does this. Within this library is a 'HGFling' class. This demonstrates how to detect the direction of a fling. You can download the library from: https://bitbucket.org/warwick/hacergestov3. It's open source.

Adding Kotlin implementation for @Fernandour answer. For Java look at @farhan patel answer I am adding this because I was having difficulty, hope it will save someone#s time.

class ClientFragment : Fragment(), View.OnTouchListener { private lateinit var gestureDetector: GestureDetector override fun onTouch(v: View?, event: MotionEvent?): Boolean { Log.d(TAG, "onTouch: "); gestureDetector.onTouchEvent(event); return true } override fun onCreateView(inflater: LayoutInflater, container: ViewGroup?, savedInstanceState: Bundle?): View? { ... gestureDetector = GestureDetector(activity, object : OnSwipeListener() { override fun onSwipe(direction: Direction): Boolean { when(direction){ Direction.up -> { Log.d(TAG, "onSwipe: up") sendCommand("UP") return true } Direction.down ->{ Log.d(TAG, "onSwipe: down") sendCommand("DOWN") return true } Direction.left -> { Log.d(TAG, "onSwipe: left") sendCommand("LEFT") return true } Direction.right ->{ Log.d(TAG, "onSwipe: right") sendCommand("RIGHT") return true } else -> { } } return true } }) dpadLayout.setOnTouchListener(this) 

the extended version of @Fernandour 's answer easy to implement direct with on touch listener no to do extra code… with on touch o'clock ,long press ,double click implementation….

 public class OnSwipeListener implements View.OnTouchListener{ public enum Direction{up,down,left,right;} private GestureDetector gestureDetector; private Context context; public OnSwipeListener(Context c) { this.context = c; gestureDetector = new GestureDetector(c, new GestureListener(c)); } public boolean onTouch(final View view, final MotionEvent motionEvent) { return gestureDetector.onTouchEvent(motionEvent); } public void onSwipeRight() { } public void onSwipeLeft() { } public void onSwipeUp() { } public void onSwipeDown() { } public void onClick() { } public void onDoubleClick() { } public void onLongClick() { } public double getAngle(float x1, float y1, float x2, float y2) { double rad = Math.atan2(y1-y2,x2-x1) + Math.PI; return (rad*180/Math.PI + 180)%360; } private final class GestureListener extends GestureDetector.SimpleOnGestureListener { Context context; public GestureListener(Context c) { this.context = c; } @Override public boolean onDown(MotionEvent e) { return true; } @Override public boolean onSingleTapUp(MotionEvent e) { onClick(); return super.onSingleTapUp(e); } @Override public boolean onDoubleTap(MotionEvent e) { onDoubleClick(); return super.onDoubleTap(e); } @Override public void onLongPress(MotionEvent e) { onLongClick(); super.onLongPress(e); } @Override public boolean onFling(MotionEvent e1, MotionEvent e2, float velocityX, float velocityY) { float x1 = e1.getX(); float y1 = e1.getY(); float x2 = e2.getX(); float y2 = e2.getY(); Direction direction = getDirection(x1,y1,x2,y2); return onSwipe(direction); } public Direction getDirection(float x1, float y1, float x2, float y2){ double angle = getAngle(x1, y1, x2, y2); return fromAngle(angle); } public Direction fromAngle(double angle){ if(inRange(angle, 45, 135)){ onSwipeUp(); return Direction.up; } else if(inRange(angle, 0,45) || inRange(angle, 315, 360)){ onSwipeRight(); return Direction.right; } // else if(inRange(angle, 225, 315)){ // //onSwipeDown(); // // } else if(inRange(angle,135, 225)){ onSwipeLeft(); return Direction.left; } else { return Direction.down; } } private boolean inRange(double angle, float init, float end){ return (angle >= init) && (angle < end); } public boolean onSwipe(Direction direction){ return false; } }; } 

Best Way and Simple Way to detect Swipe left, Right, Top, Bottom

1. First Make One Java Class and implements View.OnTouchListener Add below code in this Class:

 public class OnSwipeTouchListener implements View.OnTouchListener { private final GestureDetector gestureDetector; Context context; OnSwipeTouchListener(Context ctx, View mainView) { gestureDetector = new GestureDetector(ctx, new GestureListener()); mainView.setOnTouchListener(this); context = ctx; } @Override public boolean onTouch(View v, MotionEvent event) { return gestureDetector.onTouchEvent(event); } public class GestureListener extends GestureDetector.SimpleOnGestureListener { private static final int SWIPE_THRESHOLD = 100; private static final int SWIPE_VELOCITY_THRESHOLD = 100; @Override public boolean onDown(MotionEvent e) { return true; } @Override public boolean onFling(MotionEvent e1, MotionEvent e2, float velocityX, float velocityY) { boolean result = false; try { float diffY = e2.getY() - e1.getY(); float diffX = e2.getX() - e1.getX(); if (Math.abs(diffX) > Math.abs(diffY)) { if (Math.abs(diffX) > SWIPE_THRESHOLD && Math.abs(velocityX) > SWIPE_VELOCITY_THRESHOLD) { if (diffX > 0) { onSwipeRight(); } else { onSwipeLeft(); } result = true; } } else if (Math.abs(diffY) > SWIPE_THRESHOLD && Math.abs(velocityY) > SWIPE_VELOCITY_THRESHOLD) { if (diffY > 0) { onSwipeBottom(); } else { onSwipeTop(); } result = true; } } catch (Exception exception) { exception.printStackTrace(); } return result; } } void onSwipeRight() { Toast.makeText(context, "You Swipe Right", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show(); this.onSwipe.swipeRight(); } void onSwipeLeft() { Toast.makeText(context, "You Swipe Left", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show(); this.onSwipe.swipeLeft(); } void onSwipeTop() { Toast.makeText(context, "You Swipe Up", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show(); this.onSwipe.swipeTop(); } void onSwipeBottom() { Toast.makeText(context, "You Swipe Down", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show(); this.onSwipe.swipeBottom(); } interface onSwipeListener { void swipeRight(); void swipeTop(); void swipeBottom(); void swipeLeft(); } onSwipeListener onSwipe; } 

And In Your MainActivity Class Use This Code:

 public class MainActivity extends AppCompatActivity { OnSwipeTouchListener onSwipeTouchListener; @Override protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) { super.onCreate(savedInstanceState); setContentView(R.layout.activity_main); onSwipeTouchListener = new OnSwipeTouchListener(this, findViewById(R.id.relativeLayout)); } } 

In activity_main.xml:

 <RelativeLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android" xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools" android:id="@+id/relativeLayout" android:layout_width="match_parent" android:layout_height="match_parent" android:padding="16dp" tools:context=".MainActivity"> </RelativeLayout> 

The answers available are far too complex for such a simple problem. I suggest using Kotlin in another approach to it (code is as3, but you can get the idea):

var touchDistance:Number = Point.distance(_moveTouchPoint, _startTouchPoint); if (touchDistance >= SWIPE_MIN_DISTANCE) { var xDiff:Number = _moveTouchPoint.x - _startTouchPoint.x; var yDiff:Number = _moveTouchPoint.y - _startTouchPoint.y; var yGreater:Boolean = Math.abs(yDiff) >= Math.abs(xDiff); if (yGreater) { // direction is up or down changePlayerDirectionTo(yDiff < 0 ? DIRECTION_UP : DIRECTION_DOWN); } else { // direction is left or right changePlayerDirectionTo(xDiff < 0 ? DIRECTION_LEFT : DIRECTION_RIGHT) } } 

In each case either x or y will be greater in absolute value, which can resolve to certain direction set. From then on you can rely on the coordinate sign to detect which direction exactly.