🚀 Build a Simple Web Browser in Android Using WebView in Java – Full Guide with Source Code

Looking to create a Simple Web Browser in Android Using WebView in Java that mimics Google Chrome? In this tutorial, we’ll walk you through building a full-featured, modern web browser in Java using Android Studio. This browser includes essential features like web page loading, navigation buttons, progress bar, and URL input with “GO” button support — all wrapped in a sleek UI similar to Chrome.

🔧 Features of This Android Web Browser

• URL input bar with IME GO button handling
• Full WebView support with JavaScript enabled
• Progress bar to indicate page loading status
• Back and Forward navigation buttons
• Proper back press handling using OnBackPressedDispatcher

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📱 MainActivity.java – Complete Code Overview

The heart of our browser lies in the MainActivity.java. Here’s what each component does:

public class MainActivity extends AppCompatActivity {

    private WebView webView;
    private EditText urlInput;
    private ProgressBar progressBar;
    private ImageButton backButton, forwardButton;

    @Override
    protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
        setContentView(R.layout.activity_main);
        getOnBackPressedDispatcher().addCallback(this, backPressedCallback);

        urlInput = findViewById(R.id.urlInput);
        webView = findViewById(R.id.webView);
        progressBar = findViewById(R.id.progressBar);
        backButton = findViewById(R.id.backButton);
        forwardButton = findViewById(R.id.forwardButton);

        // Enable JavaScript
        webView.getSettings().setJavaScriptEnabled(true);

        // Handle page load progress
        webView.setWebChromeClient(new WebChromeClient() {
            public void onProgressChanged(WebView view, int progress) {
                progressBar.setProgress(progress);
                progressBar.setVisibility(progress == 100 ? View.GONE : View.VISIBLE);
            }
        });

        // Load initial page
        webView.setWebViewClient(new WebViewClient());
        webView.loadUrl("https://www.google.com");

        // Handle "GO" key in soft keyboard
        urlInput.setOnEditorActionListener((v, actionId, event) -> {
            if (actionId == EditorInfo.IME_ACTION_GO || actionId == EditorInfo.IME_ACTION_DONE) {
                loadUrlFromInput();
                return true;
            }
            return false;
        });

        // Navigation buttons
        backButton.setOnClickListener(v -> {
            if (webView.canGoBack()) webView.goBack();
        });

        forwardButton.setOnClickListener(v -> {
            if (webView.canGoForward()) webView.goForward();
        });
    }

    private void loadUrlFromInput() {
        String url = urlInput.getText().toString().trim();
        if (!url.startsWith("http")) {
            url = "https://" + url;
        }
        webView.loadUrl(url);
    }

    // Handle back press using OnBackPressedDispatcher
    private final OnBackPressedCallback backPressedCallback = new OnBackPressedCallback(true) {
        @Override
        public void handleOnBackPressed() {
            if (webView.canGoBack()) {
                webView.goBack();
            } else {
                finish();
            }
        }
    };
}

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🧱 activity_main.xml – Layout Code

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="match_parent"
    android:orientation="vertical">

    <LinearLayout
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:orientation="horizontal"
        android:padding="8dp">

        <ImageButton
            android:id="@+id/backButton"
            android:layout_width="40dp"
            android:layout_height="40dp"
            android:background="@android:color/transparent"
            android:contentDescription="Back"
            android:src="@android:drawable/ic_media_previous" />

        <EditText
            android:id="@+id/urlInput"
            android:layout_width="0dp"
            android:layout_height="40dp"
            android:layout_weight="1"
            android:background="@drawable/et_bg"
            android:hint="Enter URL"
            android:imeOptions="actionGo"
            android:inputType="textUri"
            android:lines="1"
            android:layout_marginStart="3dp"
            android:layout_marginEnd="3dp"
            android:paddingStart="8dp"
            android:paddingEnd="8dp" />

        <ImageButton
            android:id="@+id/forwardButton"
            android:layout_width="40dp"
            android:layout_height="40dp"
            android:background="@android:color/transparent"
            android:contentDescription="Forward"
            android:src="@android:drawable/ic_media_next" />

    </LinearLayout>

    <ProgressBar
        android:id="@+id/progressBar"
        style="?android:attr/progressBarStyleHorizontal"
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="4dp"
        android:indeterminate="false"
        android:max="100" />

    <WebView
        android:id="@+id/webView"
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="0dp"
        android:layout_weight="1" />

</LinearLayout>

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🎨 UI Design Tips

• Use a clean layout with a URL input bar on top.
• Keep navigation buttons intuitive with back/forward arrows.
• Use a small progress bar under the input to show load progress.

📥
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the source code or ask questions in the comments below!