JSeparator (Java Platform SE 8 )
Keywords: javax.swing.JSeparator class
Date: 2026-04-17

javax.swing

## Class JSeparator

- java.lang.Object
- - java.awt.Component
  - - java.awt.Container
    - - javax.swing.JComponent
      - - javax.swing.JSeparator

- All Implemented Interfaces:
    ImageObserver, MenuContainer, Serializable, Accessible, SwingConstants
  Direct Known Subclasses:
    JPopupMenu.Separator, JToolBar.Separator

      public class JSeparator
      extends JComponent
      implements SwingConstants, Accessible

  `JSeparator` provides a general purpose component for implementing divider lines - most commonly used as a divider between menu items that breaks them up into logical groupings. Instead of using `JSeparator` directly, you can use the `JMenu` or `JPopupMenu` `addSeparator` method to create and add a separator. `JSeparator`s may also be used elsewhere in a GUI wherever a visual divider is useful.

  For more information and examples see How to Use Menus, a section in The Java Tutorial.

  Warning: Swing is not thread safe. For more information see Swing's Threading Policy.

  Warning: Serialized objects of this class will not be compatible with future Swing releases. The current serialization support is appropriate for short term storage or RMI between applications running the same version of Swing. As of 1.4, support for long term storage of all JavaBeans™ has been added to the `java.beans` package. Please see `XMLEncoder`.

- - ### Nested Class Summary

    Nested Classes
    Modifier and Type | Class and Description
    --- | ---
    `protected class` | `JSeparator.AccessibleJSeparator` This class implements accessibility support for the `JSeparator` class.

    - ### Nested classes/interfaces inherited from class javax.swing.JComponent

      `JComponent.AccessibleJComponent`

    - ### Nested classes/interfaces inherited from class java.awt.Container

      `Container.AccessibleAWTContainer`

    - ### Nested classes/interfaces inherited from class java.awt.Component

      `Component.AccessibleAWTComponent, Component.BaselineResizeBehavior, Component.BltBufferStrategy, Component.FlipBufferStrategy`

  - ### Field Summary

    - ### Fields inherited from class javax.swing.JComponent

      `listenerList, TOOL_TIP_TEXT_KEY, ui, UNDEFINED_CONDITION, WHEN_ANCESTOR_OF_FOCUSED_COMPONENT, WHEN_FOCUSED, WHEN_IN_FOCUSED_WINDOW`

    - ### Fields inherited from class java.awt.Component

      `accessibleContext, BOTTOM_ALIGNMENT, CENTER_ALIGNMENT, LEFT_ALIGNMENT, RIGHT_ALIGNMENT, TOP_ALIGNMENT`

    - ### Fields inherited from interface javax.swing.SwingConstants

      `BOTTOM, CENTER, EAST, HORIZONTAL, LEADING, LEFT, NEXT, NORTH, NORTH_EAST, NORTH_WEST, PREVIOUS, RIGHT, SOUTH, SOUTH_EAST, SOUTH_WEST, TOP, TRAILING, VERTICAL, WEST`

    - ### Fields inherited from interface java.awt.image.ImageObserver

      `ABORT, ALLBITS, ERROR, FRAMEBITS, HEIGHT, PROPERTIES, SOMEBITS, WIDTH`

  - ### Constructor Summary

    Constructors
    Constructor and Description
    `JSeparator()` Creates a new horizontal separator.
    `JSeparator(int orientation)` Creates a new separator with the specified horizontal or vertical orientation.

  - ### Method Summary

    All Methods Instance Methods Concrete Methods
    Modifier and Type | Method and Description
    --- | ---
    `AccessibleContext` | `getAccessibleContext()` Gets the AccessibleContext associated with this JSeparator.
    `int` | `getOrientation()` Returns the orientation of this separator.
    `SeparatorUI` | `getUI()` Returns the L&F object that renders this component.
    `String` | `getUIClassID()` Returns the name of the L&F class that renders this component.
    `protected String` | `paramString()` Returns a string representation of this `JSeparator`.
    `void` | `setOrientation(int orientation)` Sets the orientation of the separator.
    `void` | `setUI(SeparatorUI ui)` Sets the L&F object that renders this component.
    `void` | `updateUI()` Resets the UI property to a value from the current look and feel.

    - ### Methods inherited from class javax.swing.JComponent

      `addAncestorListener, addNotify, addVetoableChangeListener, computeVisibleRect, contains, createToolTip, disable, enable, firePropertyChange, firePropertyChange, firePropertyChange, fireVetoableChange, getActionForKeyStroke, getActionMap, getAlignmentX, getAlignmentY, getAncestorListeners, getAutoscrolls, getBaseline, getBaselineResizeBehavior, getBorder, getBounds, getClientProperty, getComponentGraphics, getComponentPopupMenu, getConditionForKeyStroke, getDebugGraphicsOptions, getDefaultLocale, getFontMetrics, getGraphics, getHeight, getInheritsPopupMenu, getInputMap, getInputMap, getInputVerifier, getInsets, getInsets, getListeners, getLocation, getMaximumSize, getMinimumSize, getNextFocusableComponent, getPopupLocation, getPreferredSize, getRegisteredKeyStrokes, getRootPane, getSize, getToolTipLocation, getToolTipText, getToolTipText, getTopLevelAncestor, getTransferHandler, getVerifyInputWhenFocusTarget, getVetoableChangeListeners, getVisibleRect, getWidth, getX, getY, grabFocus, hide, isDoubleBuffered, isLightweightComponent, isManagingFocus, isOpaque, isOptimizedDrawingEnabled, isPaintingForPrint, isPaintingOrigin, isPaintingTile, isRequestFocusEnabled, isValidateRoot, paint, paintBorder, paintChildren, paintComponent, paintImmediately, paintImmediately, print, printAll, printBorder, printChildren, printComponent, processComponentKeyEvent, processKeyBinding, processKeyEvent, processMouseEvent, processMouseMotionEvent, putClientProperty, registerKeyboardAction, registerKeyboardAction, removeAncestorListener, removeNotify, removeVetoableChangeListener, repaint, repaint, requestDefaultFocus, requestFocus, requestFocus, requestFocusInWindow, requestFocusInWindow, resetKeyboardActions, reshape, revalidate, scrollRectToVisible, setActionMap, setAlignmentX, setAlignmentY, setAutoscrolls, setBackground, setBorder, setComponentPopupMenu, setDebugGraphicsOptions, setDefaultLocale, setDoubleBuffered, setEnabled, setFocusTraversalKeys, setFont, setForeground, setInheritsPopupMenu, setInputMap, setInputVerifier, setMaximumSize, setMinimumSize, setNextFocusableComponent, setOpaque, setPreferredSize, setRequestFocusEnabled, setToolTipText, setTransferHandler, setUI, setVerifyInputWhenFocusTarget, setVisible, unregisterKeyboardAction, update`

    - ### Methods inherited from class java.awt.Container

      `add, add, add, add, add, addContainerListener, addImpl, addPropertyChangeListener, addPropertyChangeListener, applyComponentOrientation, areFocusTraversalKeysSet, countComponents, deliverEvent, doLayout, findComponentAt, findComponentAt, getComponent, getComponentAt, getComponentAt, getComponentCount, getComponents, getComponentZOrder, getContainerListeners, getFocusTraversalKeys, getFocusTraversalPolicy, getLayout, getMousePosition, insets, invalidate, isAncestorOf, isFocusCycleRoot, isFocusCycleRoot, isFocusTraversalPolicyProvider, isFocusTraversalPolicySet, layout, list, list, locate, minimumSize, paintComponents, preferredSize, printComponents, processContainerEvent, processEvent, remove, remove, removeAll, removeContainerListener, setComponentZOrder, setFocusCycleRoot, setFocusTraversalPolicy, setFocusTraversalPolicyProvider, setLayout, transferFocusDownCycle, validate, validateTree`

    - ### Methods inherited from class java.awt.Component

      `action, add, addComponentListener, addFocusListener, addHierarchyBoundsListener, addHierarchyListener, addInputMethodListener, addKeyListener, addMouseListener, addMouseMotionListener, addMouseWheelListener, bounds, checkImage, checkImage, coalesceEvents, contains, createImage, createImage, createVolatileImage, createVolatileImage, disableEvents, dispatchEvent, enable, enableEvents, enableInputMethods, firePropertyChange, firePropertyChange, firePropertyChange, firePropertyChange, firePropertyChange, firePropertyChange, getBackground, getBounds, getColorModel, getComponentListeners, getComponentOrientation, getCursor, getDropTarget, getFocusCycleRootAncestor, getFocusListeners, getFocusTraversalKeysEnabled, getFont, getForeground, getGraphicsConfiguration, getHierarchyBoundsListeners, getHierarchyListeners, getIgnoreRepaint, getInputContext, getInputMethodListeners, getInputMethodRequests, getKeyListeners, getLocale, getLocation, getLocationOnScreen, getMouseListeners, getMouseMotionListeners, getMousePosition, getMouseWheelListeners, getName, getParent, getPeer, getPropertyChangeListeners, getPropertyChangeListeners, getSize, getToolkit, getTreeLock, gotFocus, handleEvent, hasFocus, imageUpdate, inside, isBackgroundSet, isCursorSet, isDisplayable, isEnabled, isFocusable, isFocusOwner, isFocusTraversable, isFontSet, isForegroundSet, isLightweight, isMaximumSizeSet, isMinimumSizeSet, isPreferredSizeSet, isShowing, isValid, isVisible, keyDown, keyUp, list, list, list, location, lostFocus, mouseDown, mouseDrag, mouseEnter, mouseExit, mouseMove, mouseUp, move, nextFocus, paintAll, postEvent, prepareImage, prepareImage, processComponentEvent, processFocusEvent, processHierarchyBoundsEvent, processHierarchyEvent, processInputMethodEvent, processMouseWheelEvent, remove, removeComponentListener, removeFocusListener, removeHierarchyBoundsListener, removeHierarchyListener, removeInputMethodListener, removeKeyListener, removeMouseListener, removeMouseMotionListener, removeMouseWheelListener, removePropertyChangeListener, removePropertyChangeListener, repaint, repaint, repaint, resize, resize, setBounds, setBounds, setComponentOrientation, setCursor, setDropTarget, setFocusable, setFocusTraversalKeysEnabled, setIgnoreRepaint, setLocale, setLocation, setLocation, setName, setSize, setSize, show, show, size, toString, transferFocus, transferFocusBackward, transferFocusUpCycle`

    - ### Methods inherited from class java.lang.Object

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

- - ### Constructor Detail

    - #### JSeparator

          public JSeparator()

      Creates a new horizontal separator.

    - #### JSeparator

          public JSeparator(int orientation)

      Creates a new separator with the specified horizontal or vertical orientation.
      Parameters:
        `orientation` - an integer specifying `SwingConstants.HORIZONTAL` or `SwingConstants.VERTICAL`
      Throws:
        `IllegalArgumentException` - if `orientation` is neither `SwingConstants.HORIZONTAL` nor `SwingConstants.VERTICAL`

  - ### Method Detail

    - #### getUI

          public SeparatorUI getUI()

      Returns the L&F object that renders this component.
      Returns:
        the SeparatorUI object that renders this component

    - #### setUI

          public void setUI(SeparatorUI ui)

      Sets the L&F object that renders this component.
      Parameters:
        `ui` - the SeparatorUI L&F object
      See Also:
        `UIDefaults.getUI(javax.swing.JComponent)`

    - #### updateUI

          public void updateUI()

      Resets the UI property to a value from the current look and feel.
      Overrides:
        `updateUI` in class `JComponent`
      See Also:
        `JComponent.updateUI()`

    - #### getUIClassID

          public String getUIClassID()

      Returns the name of the L&F class that renders this component.
      Overrides:
        `getUIClassID` in class `JComponent`
      Returns:
        the string "SeparatorUI"
      See Also:
        `JComponent.getUIClassID()`, `UIDefaults.getUI(javax.swing.JComponent)`

    - #### getOrientation

          public int getOrientation()

      Returns the orientation of this separator.
      Returns:
        The value of the orientation property, one of the following constants defined in `SwingConstants`: `VERTICAL`, or `HORIZONTAL`.
      See Also:
        `SwingConstants`, `setOrientation(int)`

    - #### setOrientation

          public void setOrientation(int orientation)

      Sets the orientation of the separator. The default value of this property is HORIZONTAL.
      Parameters:
        `orientation` - either `SwingConstants.HORIZONTAL` or `SwingConstants.VERTICAL`
      Throws:
        `IllegalArgumentException` - if `orientation` is neither `SwingConstants.HORIZONTAL` nor `SwingConstants.VERTICAL`
      See Also:
        `SwingConstants`, `getOrientation()`

    - #### paramString

          protected String paramString()

      Returns a string representation of this `JSeparator`. This method is intended to be used only for debugging purposes, and the content and format of the returned string may vary between implementations. The returned string may be empty but may not be `null`.
      Overrides:
        `paramString` in class `JComponent`
      Returns:
        a string representation of this `JSeparator`

    - #### getAccessibleContext

          public AccessibleContext getAccessibleContext()

      Gets the AccessibleContext associated with this JSeparator. For separators, the AccessibleContext takes the form of an AccessibleJSeparator. A new AccessibleJSeparator instance is created if necessary.
      Specified by:
        `getAccessibleContext` in interface `Accessible`
      Overrides:
        `getAccessibleContext` in class `Component`
      Returns:
        an AccessibleJSeparator that serves as the AccessibleContext of this JSeparator

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