iOS Auto Layout

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Introduction

Auto Layout was introduced in iOS 6.0 and only supports iOS 6.0 and higher versions. It helps us create interfaces for multiple devices.

Example Steps

1. Create a simple View based application

2. Modify the contents of the ViewController.m file, as shown below

#import "ViewController.h"
@interface ViewController ()
@property (nonatomic, strong) UIButton *leftButton;
@property (nonatomic, strong) UIButton *rightButton;
@property (nonatomic, strong) UITextField *textfield;

@end
@implementation ViewController

- (void)viewDidLoad{
    [super viewDidLoad];
    UIView *superview = self.view;
    /*1. Create leftButton and add to our view*/
    self.leftButton = [UIButton buttonWithType:UIButtonTypeRoundedRect];
    self.leftButton.translatesAutoresizingMaskIntoConstraints = NO;
    [self.leftButton setTitle:@"LeftButton" forState:UIControlStateNormal];
    [self.view addSubview:self.leftButton];    
    /* 2. Constraint to position LeftButton's X*/
    NSLayoutConstraint *leftButtonXConstraint = [NSLayoutConstraint 
    constraintWithItem:self.leftButton attribute:NSLayoutAttributeCenterX 
    relatedBy:NSLayoutRelationGreaterThanOrEqual toItem:superview attribute:
    NSLayoutAttributeCenterX multiplier:1.0 constant:-60.0f];
    /* 3. Constraint to position LeftButton's Y*/
    NSLayoutConstraint *leftButtonYConstraint = [NSLayoutConstraint 
    constraintWithItem:self.leftButton attribute:NSLayoutAttributeCenterY 
    relatedBy:NSLayoutRelationEqual toItem:superview attribute:
    NSLayoutAttributeCenterY multiplier:1.0f constant:0.0f];   
    /* 4. Add the constraints to button's superview*/
    [superview addConstraints:@[ leftButtonXConstraint,
    leftButtonYConstraint]];    
    /*5. Create rightButton and add to our view*/
    self.rightButton = [UIButton buttonWithType:UIButtonTypeRoundedRect];
    self.rightButton.translatesAutoresizingMaskIntoConstraints = NO;
    [self.rightButton setTitle:@"RightButton" forState:UIControlStateNormal];
    [self.view addSubview:self.rightButton];    
    /*6. Constraint to position RightButton's X*/
    NSLayoutConstraint *rightButtonXConstraint = [NSLayoutConstraint 
    constraintWithItem:self.rightButton attribute:NSLayoutAttributeCenterX 
    relatedBy:NSLayoutRelationGreaterThanOrEqual toItem:superview attribute:
    NSLayoutAttributeCenterX multiplier:1.0 constant:60.0f];
    /*7. Constraint to position RightButton's Y*/
    rightButtonXConstraint.priority = UILayoutPriorityDefaultHigh;
    NSLayoutConstraint *centerYMyConstraint = [NSLayoutConstraint 
    constraintWithItem:self.rightButton attribute:NSLayoutAttributeCenterY 
    relatedBy:NSLayoutRelationGreaterThanOrEqual toItem:superview attribute:
    NSLayoutAttributeCenterY multiplier:1.0f constant:0.0f];
    [superview addConstraints:@[centerYMyConstraint,
    rightButtonXConstraint]];
   //8. Add Text field
    self.textfield = [[UITextField alloc]initWithFrame:
    CGRectMake(0, 100, 100, 30)];
    self.textfield.borderStyle = UITextBorderStyleRoundedRect;
    self.textfield.translatesAutoresizingMaskIntoConstraints = NO;
    [self.view addSubview:self.textfield];
    //9. Text field Constraints
    NSLayoutConstraint *textFieldTopConstraint = [NSLayoutConstraint 
    constraintWithItem:self.textfield attribute:NSLayoutAttributeTop 
    relatedBy:NSLayoutRelationGreaterThanOrEqual toItem:superview 
    attribute:NSLayoutAttributeTop multiplier:1.0 constant:60.0f];
    NSLayoutConstraint *textFieldBottomConstraint = [NSLayoutConstraint 
    constraintWithItem:self.textfield attribute:NSLayoutAttributeTop 
    relatedBy:NSLayoutRelationGreaterThanOrEqual toItem:self.rightButton 
    attribute:NSLayoutAttributeTop multiplier:0.8 constant:-60.0f];
    NSLayoutConstraint *textFieldLeftConstraint = [NSLayoutConstraint 
    constraintWithItem:self.textfield attribute:NSLayoutAttributeLeft 
    relatedBy:NSLayoutRelationEqual toItem:superview attribute:
    NSLayoutAttributeLeft multiplier:1.0 constant:30.0f];
    NSLayoutConstraint *textFieldRightConstraint = [NSLayoutConstraint 
    constraintWithItem:self.textfield attribute:NSLayoutAttributeRight 
    relatedBy:NSLayoutRelationEqual toItem:superview attribute:
    NSLayoutAttributeRight multiplier:1.0 constant:-30.0f];
    [superview addConstraints:@[textFieldBottomConstraint ,
    textFieldLeftConstraint, textFieldRightConstraint, 
    textFieldTopConstraint]];   
}
- (void)didReceiveMemoryWarning
{
    [super didReceiveMemoryWarning];
    // Dispose of any resources that can be recreated.
}
@end

Output

Run the application, and you will see the following output on the iPhone simulator.

When we change the simulator to landscape orientation, the output is as follows:

When we run the same application on the iPhone 5 simulator, the output is as follows:

When we change the simulator to landscape orientation, the output is as follows:

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