Search code examples
androidiosuser-interfaceportingtabbar

Best Android equivalent for iOS Tab Bar Controller

I'm about to start porting an existing iPhone app to Android. The iPhone app's navigation is based on a UITabBarController, with a separate view controller for each of the 5 functions of the app.

I've never programmed an Android before, never owned an Android before, heck, never even used an Android before for more than a minute at a time.

So what's the most intuitive way to redesign the UI? How would the majority of Android users expect the application to work?

Is there some equivalent of a UITabBarController that's widely used on Android? If not, how intuitive would it be to present a simple list of app functions in a "master" activity, then open up a new activity for each function when the user clicks on it, and rely on them hitting the "back" button to go back to the master activity?

Thanks, -Numegil

Solution

  • Also consider using a TabBar in iOS and using the options menu in Android. So in Android the user pushes/taps the menu button and can navigate from the pop up options menu. In iOS, I have a tab bar for the same navigation choices at the bottom of the screen.

    So when the use hits the back button you return from the selected options screen to the Main screen in Android.