Create scrollable layouts for TV

For TV apps, the browsing experience relies on efficient focus-based navigation. Using standard Compose Foundation lazy layouts, you can create performant vertical and horizontal lists that automatically handle focus-driven scrolling to keep active items in view.

Default scroll behavior optimized for TV

Starting with Compose Foundation 1.7.0, standard lazy layouts (like LazyRow and LazyColumn) include built-in support for focus-positioning features. This is the recommended way to build catalogs for TV apps as it helps keep focused items remain visible and positioned intuitively for the user.

To implement a basic scrollable list, use the standard lazy components. These components automatically handle D-pad navigation and bring the focused item into view.

import androidx.compose.foundation.lazy.LazyRow
import androidx.compose.foundation.lazy.items

@Composable
fun MovieCatalog(movies: List<Movie>) {
    LazyRow {
        items(movies) { movie ->
            MovieCard(
                movie = movie,
                onClick = { /* Handle click */ }
            )
        }
    }
}

Customize scroll behavior with BringIntoViewSpec

If your design requires a specific "pivot" point (for example, keeping the focused item exactly 30% from the left edge), you can customize the scrolling behavior using a BringIntoViewSpec. This replaces the older pivotOffsets functionality by allowing you to define exactly how the viewport should scroll to accommodate a focused item.

1. Define a custom BringIntoViewSpec

The following helper composable lets you define a "pivot" based on parent and child fractions. The parentFraction determines where in the container the item should land, and the childFraction determines which part of the item aligns with that point.

@OptIn(ExperimentalFoundationApi::class)
@Composable
fun PositionFocusedItemInLazyLayout(
    parentFraction: Float = 0.3f,
    childFraction: Float = 0f,
    content: @Composable () -> Unit,
) {
    val bringIntoViewSpec = remember(parentFraction, childFraction) {
        object : BringIntoViewSpec {
            override fun calculateScrollDistance(
                offset: Float,       // Item's initial position
                size: Float,         // Item's size
                containerSize: Float // Container's size
            ): Float {
                // Calculate the offset position of the item's leading edge.
                val initialTargetForLeadingEdge =
                    parentFraction * containerSize - (childFraction * size)
                // If the item fits in the container, and scrolling would cause
                // its trailing edge to be clipped, adjust targetForLeadingEdge
                // to prevent over-scrolling near the end of list.
                val targetForLeadingEdge = if (size <= containerSize &&
                    (containerSize - initialTargetForLeadingEdge) < size) {
                    // If clipped, align the item's trailing edge with the
                    // container's trailing edge.
                    containerSize - size
                } else {
                    initialTargetForLeadingEdge
                }
                // Return scroll distance relative to initial item position.
                return offset - targetForLeadingEdge
            }
        }
    }

    // Apply the spec to all scrollables in the hierarchy
    CompositionLocalProvider(
        LocalBringIntoViewSpec provides bringIntoViewSpec,
        content = content,
    )
}

2. Apply the custom spec

Wrap your layouts with the helper to apply the positioning. This is useful for creating a "consistent focus line" across different rows of your catalog.

PositionFocusedItemInLazyLayout(
    parentFraction = 0.3f, // Pivot 30% from the edge
    childFraction = 0.5f   // Center of the item aligns with the pivot
) {
    LazyColumn {
        items(sectionList) { section ->
            // This row and its items will respect the 30% pivot
            LazyRow { ... }
        }
    }
}

3. Opt-out for specific nested layouts

If you have a specific nested layout that should use standard scrolling behavior instead of your custom pivot, provide the DefaultBringIntoViewSpec:

private val DefaultBringIntoViewSpec = object : BringIntoViewSpec {}

PositionFocusedItemInLazyLayout {
    LazyColumn {
        item {
            // This row will ignore the custom pivot and use default behavior
            CompositionLocalProvider(LocalBringIntoViewSpec provides DefaultBringIntoViewSpec) {
                LazyRow { ... }
            }
        }
    }
}

In effect, by passing an empty BringIntoViewSpec enables the framework's default behavior to take over.

Migration from TV Foundation to Compose Foundation

The TV-specific lazy layouts in androidx.tv.foundation are deprecated in favor of the standard Compose Foundation layouts.

Dependency updates

Verify that your build.gradle uses version 1.7.0 or higher for:

  • androidx.compose.foundation
  • androidx.compose.runtime

Component mapping

To migrate, update your imports and remove the Tv prefix from your components:

Deprecated TV component Compose Foundation replacement
TvLazyRow LazyRow
TvLazyColumn LazyColumn
TvLazyHorizontalGrid LazyHorizontalGrid
TvLazyVerticalGrid LazyVerticalGrid
pivotOffsets BringIntoViewSpec (via LocalBringIntoViewSpec)
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