How to Prevent a NestedScrollView from Scrolling to Top When Filtering in Android

Learn how to fix the issue where your `NestedScrollView` scrolls to the top upon filtering. This guide provides a step-by-step solution to keep your user's scroll position stable.
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How to Prevent a NestedScrollView from Scrolling to Top When Filtering in Android

When developing an Android application, one common issue developers may encounter is the unexpected scrolling behavior of a NestedScrollView when the content changes. In this guide, we will address a specific scenario where applying filters to a RecyclerView results in the NestedScrollView scrolling back to the top of the screen. Not only will we dive into understanding why this happens, but we'll also provide you with a straightforward solution to maintain the scroll position.

The Problem

Imagine you have a layout with a NestedScrollView that contains a RecyclerView, buttons for filtering, and some text. When you scroll down to view your items, and upon applying a filter, the NestedScrollView unexpectedly scrolls back to the top. This can disrupt the user experience, especially if the content is lengthy or if users need to re-scroll to where they were previously.

Example Layout Structure

Your layout might look something like this:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

The Solution

The reason your NestedScrollView scrolls to the top after filtering is primarily tied to the RecyclerView's height being set to wrap_content. When filtering is applied and the content reduces, the RecyclerView might not require the same scroll height, prompting the NestedScrollView to reset the scroll position.

Steps to Fix the Scrolling Issue

To ensure that the NestedScrollView maintains the current scroll position after filtering, you can follow these steps:

Adjust the RecyclerView's Parent Container: Instead of setting the RecyclerView directly, wrap it inside a parent container—like a FrameLayout—and set a minimum height that is larger than your NestedScrollView.

Update the Layout: Modify the layout to include a FrameLayout with a minHeight attribute.

Here's the modified layout code:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Key Points to Remember

minHeight is Crucial: By setting minHeight, you ensure the NestedScrollView retains enough space and can manage the scroll behavior correctly.

Use a Parent Container: Wrapping the RecyclerView allows for more flexibility in scroll content management.

Conclusion

In summary, if you find your NestedScrollView scrolling to the top after filtering the RecyclerView, adjusting the layout to include a parent container with a larger minimum height can resolve the issue effectively. Implementing this solution will enhance your application’s user experience, allowing users to interact with content seamlessly.

By following these guidelines, you'll ensure a more stable and user-friendly interface within your Android applications. Happy coding!