Module javafx.graphics
Package javafx.application

# Class Platform

java.lang.Object
javafx.application.Platform

public final class Platform extends Object
Application platform support class.

Since:
  JavaFX 2.0

- ## Property Summary

  Properties
  Type
  Property
  Description
  `static ReadOnlyBooleanProperty`
  `accessibilityActive`
  Indicates whether or not accessibility is active.

- ## Nested Class Summary

  Nested Classes
  Modifier and Type
  Class
  Description
  `static interface`
  `Platform.Preferences`
  Contains UI preferences of the current platform.

- ## Method Summary

  Modifier and Type
  Method
  Description
  `static ReadOnlyBooleanProperty`
  `accessibilityActiveProperty()`
  Indicates whether or not accessibility is active.
  `static boolean`
  `canStartNestedEventLoop()`
  Indicates whether a nested event loop can be started from the current thread in the current state.
  `static Object`
  `enterNestedEventLoop(Object key)`
  Enter a nested event loop and block until the corresponding exitNestedEventLoop call is made.
  `static void`
  `exit()`
  Causes the JavaFX application to terminate.
  `static void`
  `exitNestedEventLoop(Object key, Object rval)`
  Exit a nested event loop and unblock the caller of the corresponding enterNestedEventLoop.
  `static Platform.Preferences`
  `getPreferences()`
  Gets the preferences of the current platform.
  `static boolean`
  `isAccessibilityActive()`
  Gets the value of the `accessibilityActive` property.
  `static boolean`
  `isFxApplicationThread()`
  Returns true if the calling thread is the JavaFX Application Thread.
  `static boolean`
  `isImplicitExit()`
  Gets the value of the implicitExit attribute.
  `static Optional<Boolean>`
  `isKeyLocked(KeyCode keyCode)`
  Returns a flag indicating whether the key corresponding to `keyCode` is in the locked (or "on") state.
  `static boolean`
  `isNestedLoopRunning()`
  Checks whether a nested event loop is running, returning true to indicate that one is, and false if there are no nested event loops currently running.
  `static boolean`
  `isSupported(ConditionalFeature feature)`
  Queries whether a specific conditional feature is supported by the platform.
  `static void`
  `requestNextPulse()`
  Requests the Java Runtime to perform a pulse.
  `static void`
  `runLater(Runnable runnable)`
  Run the specified Runnable on the JavaFX Application Thread at some unspecified time in the future.
  `static void`
  `setImplicitExit(boolean implicitExit)`
  Sets the implicitExit attribute to the specified value.
  `static void`
  `startup(Runnable runnable)`
  This method starts the JavaFX runtime.

  ### Methods declared in class java.lang.Object

  `clone, equals, finalize, getClass, hashCode, notify, notifyAll, toString, wait, wait, wait`

- ## Property Details

  - ### accessibilityActive

    public static ReadOnlyBooleanProperty accessibilityActiveProperty
    Indicates whether or not accessibility is active. This property is typically set to true the first time an assistive technology, such as a screen reader, requests information about any JavaFX window or its children.

    This method may be called from any thread.

    Since:
      JavaFX 8u40
    See Also:
      - `isAccessibilityActive()`
      - `accessibilityActiveProperty()`

- ## Method Details

  - ### startup

    public static void startup(Runnable runnable)
    This method starts the JavaFX runtime. The specified Runnable will then be called on the JavaFX Application Thread. In general it is not necessary to explicitly call this method, since it is invoked as a consequence of how most JavaFX applications are built. However there are valid use cases for calling this method directly. Because this method starts the JavaFX runtime, there is not yet any JavaFX Application Thread, so it is normal that this method is called directly on the main thread of the application.

    This method may or may not return to the caller before the run method of the specified Runnable has been called. In any case, this method is not blocked on the specified Runnable being executed. Once this method returns, you may call `runLater(Runnable)` with additional Runnables. Those Runnables will be called, also on the JavaFX Application Thread, after the Runnable passed into this method has been called.

    As noted, it is normally the case that the JavaFX Application Thread is started automatically. It is important that this method only be called when the JavaFX runtime has not yet been initialized. Situations where the JavaFX runtime is started automatically include:

    - For standard JavaFX applications that extend `Application`, and use either the Java launcher or one of the launch methods in the Application class to launch the application, the FX runtime is initialized automatically by the launcher before the `Application` class is loaded.
    - For Swing applications that use `JFXPanel` to display FX content, the FX runtime is initialized when the first `JFXPanel` instance is constructed.
    - For SWT application that use `FXCanvas` to display FX content, the FX runtime is initialized when the first `FXCanvas` instance is constructed.

    When an application does not follow any of these common approaches, then it becomes the responsibility of the developer to manually start the JavaFX runtime by calling this startup method.

    Calling this method when the JavaFX runtime is already running will result in an `IllegalStateException` being thrown - it is only valid to request that the JavaFX runtime be started once.

    Note: The JavaFX classes must be loaded from a set of named `javafx.*` modules on the module path. Loading the JavaFX classes from the classpath is not supported. A warning is logged when the JavaFX runtime is started if the JavaFX classes are not loaded from the expected named module. This warning is logged regardless of whether the JavaFX runtime was started by calling this method or automatically as described above.

    Parameters:
      `runnable` - the Runnable whose run method will be executed on the JavaFX Application Thread once it has been started
    Throws:
      `IllegalStateException` - if the JavaFX runtime is already running
    Since:
      9
    See Also:
      - `Application`

  - ### runLater

    public static void runLater(Runnable runnable)
    Run the specified Runnable on the JavaFX Application Thread at some unspecified time in the future. This method, which may be called from any thread, will post the Runnable to an event queue and then return immediately to the caller. The Runnables are executed in the order they are posted. A runnable passed into the runLater method will be executed before any Runnable passed into a subsequent call to runLater. If this method is called after the JavaFX runtime has been shutdown, the call will be ignored: the Runnable will not be executed and no exception will be thrown.

    NOTE: applications should avoid flooding JavaFX with too many pending Runnables. Otherwise, the application may become unresponsive. Applications are encouraged to batch up multiple operations into fewer runLater calls. Additionally, long-running operations should be done on a background thread where possible, freeing up the JavaFX Application Thread for GUI operations.

    This method must not be called before the FX runtime has been initialized. For standard JavaFX applications that extend `Application`, and use either the Java launcher or one of the launch methods in the Application class to launch the application, the FX runtime is initialized by the launcher before the Application class is loaded. For Swing applications that use JFXPanel to display FX content, the FX runtime is initialized when the first JFXPanel instance is constructed. For SWT application that use FXCanvas to display FX content, the FX runtime is initialized when the first FXCanvas instance is constructed. For applications that do not follow any of these approaches, then it is necessary to manually start the JavaFX runtime by calling `startup(Runnable)` once.

    Memory consistency effects: Actions in a thread prior to submitting a `runnable` to this method happen-before actions performed by the runnable in the JavaFX Application Thread.

    Parameters:
      `runnable` - the Runnable whose run method will be executed on the JavaFX Application Thread
    Throws:
      `IllegalStateException` - if the FX runtime has not been initialized
    See Also:
      - `Application`

  - ### requestNextPulse

    public static void requestNextPulse()
    Requests the Java Runtime to perform a pulse. This will run a pulse even if there are no animation timers, scene graph modifications, or window events that would otherwise cause the pulse to run. If no pulse is in progress, then one will be scheduled to run the next time the pulse timer fires. If there is already a pulse running, then at least one more pulse after the current pulse will be scheduled. This method may be called on any thread.
    Since:
      9

  - ### isFxApplicationThread

    public static boolean isFxApplicationThread()
    Returns true if the calling thread is the JavaFX Application Thread. Use this call to ensure that a given task is being executed (or not being executed) on the JavaFX Application Thread.
    Returns:
      true if running on the JavaFX Application Thread

  - ### exit

    public static void exit()
    Causes the JavaFX application to terminate. If this method is called after the Application start method is called, then the JavaFX launcher will call the Application stop method and terminate the JavaFX application thread. The launcher thread will then shutdown. If there are no other non-daemon threads that are running, the Java VM will exit. If this method is called from the Preloader or the Application init method, then the Application stop method may not be called.

    This method may be called from any thread.

  - ### setImplicitExit

    public static void setImplicitExit(boolean implicitExit)
    Sets the implicitExit attribute to the specified value. If this attribute is true, the JavaFX runtime will implicitly shutdown when the last window is closed; the JavaFX launcher will call the `Application.stop()` method and terminate the JavaFX application thread. If this attribute is false, the application will continue to run normally even after the last window is closed, until the application calls `exit()`. The default value is true.

    This method may be called from any thread.

    Parameters:
      `implicitExit` - a flag indicating whether or not to implicitly exit when the last window is closed.
    Since:
      JavaFX 2.2

  - ### isImplicitExit

    public static boolean isImplicitExit()
    Gets the value of the implicitExit attribute.

    This method may be called from any thread.

    Returns:
      the implicitExit attribute
    Since:
      JavaFX 2.2

  - ### isSupported

    public static boolean isSupported(ConditionalFeature feature)
    Queries whether a specific conditional feature is supported by the platform.

    For example:

         // Query whether filter effects are supported
         if (Platform.isSupported(ConditionalFeature.EFFECT)) {
            // use effects
         }

    Parameters:
      `feature` - the conditional feature in question.
    Returns:
      true if a specific conditional feature is supported by the platform, otherwise false

  - ### enterNestedEventLoop

    public static Object enterNestedEventLoop(Object key)
    Enter a nested event loop and block until the corresponding exitNestedEventLoop call is made. The key passed into this method is used to uniquely identify the matched enter/exit pair. This method creates a new nested event loop and blocks until the corresponding exitNestedEventLoop method is called with the same key. The return value of this method will be the `rval` object supplied to the exitNestedEventLoop method call that unblocks it.

    This method must either be called from an input event handler or from the run method of a Runnable passed to `Platform.runLater`. It must not be called during animation or layout processing.

    Parameters:
      `key` - the Object that identifies the nested event loop, which must not be null
    Returns:
      the value passed into the corresponding call to exitEventLoop
    Throws:
      `IllegalArgumentException` - if the specified key is associated with a nested event loop that has not yet returned
      `NullPointerException` - if the key is null
      `IllegalStateException` - if this method is called during animation or layout processing.
      `IllegalStateException` - if this method is called on a thread other than the JavaFX Application Thread.
    Since:
      9

  - ### exitNestedEventLoop

    public static void exitNestedEventLoop(Object key, Object rval)
    Exit a nested event loop and unblock the caller of the corresponding enterNestedEventLoop. The key passed into this method is used to uniquely identify the matched enter/exit pair. This method causes the nested event loop that was previously created with the key to exit and return control to the caller. If the specified nested event loop is not the inner-most loop then it will not return until all other inner loops also exit.
    Parameters:
      `key` - the Object that identifies the nested event loop, which must not be null
      `rval` - an Object that is returned to the caller of the corresponding enterNestedEventLoop. This may be null.
    Throws:
      `IllegalArgumentException` - if the specified key is not associated with an active nested event loop
      `NullPointerException` - if the key is null
      `IllegalStateException` - if this method is called on a thread other than the FX Application thread
    Since:
      9

  - ### isKeyLocked

    public static Optional<Boolean> isKeyLocked(KeyCode keyCode)
    Returns a flag indicating whether the key corresponding to `keyCode` is in the locked (or "on") state. `keyCode` must be one of: `KeyCode.CAPS` or `KeyCode.NUM_LOCK`. If the underlying system is not able to determine the state of the specified `keyCode`, an empty `Optional` is returned. If the keyboard attached to the system doesn't have the specified key, an `Optional` containing `false` is returned. This method must be called on the JavaFX Application thread.
    Parameters:
      `keyCode` - the `KeyCode` of the lock state to query
    Returns:
      the lock state of the key corresponding to `keyCode`, or an empty `Optional` if the system cannot determine its state
    Throws:
      `IllegalArgumentException` - if `keyCode` is not one of the valid `KeyCode` values
      `IllegalStateException` - if this method is called on a thread other than the JavaFX Application Thread
    Since:
      17

  - ### isNestedLoopRunning

    public static boolean isNestedLoopRunning()
    Checks whether a nested event loop is running, returning true to indicate that one is, and false if there are no nested event loops currently running. This method must be called on the JavaFX Application thread.
    Returns:
      true if there is a nested event loop running, and false otherwise.
    Throws:
      `IllegalStateException` - if this method is called on a thread other than the JavaFX Application Thread.
    Since:
      9

  - ### canStartNestedEventLoop

    public static boolean canStartNestedEventLoop()
    Indicates whether a nested event loop can be started from the current thread in the current state. A nested event loop can be started from an event handler or from a `Runnable` passed to `runLater(Runnable)`. This method must be called on the JavaFX Application thread.
    Returns:
      `true` if a nested event loop can be started, and `false` otherwise.
    Throws:
      `IllegalStateException` - if this method is called on a thread other than the JavaFX Application Thread.
    Since:
      21

  - ### isAccessibilityActive

    public static boolean isAccessibilityActive()
    Gets the value of the `accessibilityActive` property.
    Property description:
      Indicates whether or not accessibility is active. This property is typically set to true the first time an assistive technology, such as a screen reader, requests information about any JavaFX window or its children.

      This method may be called from any thread.

    Returns:
      the value of the `accessibilityActive` property
    Since:
      JavaFX 8u40
    See Also:
      - `accessibilityActiveProperty()`

  - ### accessibilityActiveProperty

    public static ReadOnlyBooleanProperty accessibilityActiveProperty()
    Indicates whether or not accessibility is active. This property is typically set to true the first time an assistive technology, such as a screen reader, requests information about any JavaFX window or its children.

    This method may be called from any thread.

    Returns:
      the read-only boolean property indicating if accessibility is active
    Since:
      JavaFX 8u40
    See Also:
      - `isAccessibilityActive()`

  - ### getPreferences

    public static Platform.Preferences getPreferences()
    Gets the preferences of the current platform.

    The map returned from this method is unmodifiable, which means that keys and values cannot be added, removed, or updated. Calling any mutator method on the map will always cause `UnsupportedOperationException` to be thrown. However, the mappings will be updated by JavaFX when the operating system reports that a platform preference has changed.

    Returns:
      the `Preferences` instance
    Since:
      22
    See Also:
      - Windows preferences
      - macOS preferences
      - Linux preferences