# Channel
You can set up a self-contained chat screen that displays a list of messages and gives users the ability to send messages by using one of the following components:
- `MessageListFragment`: A Fragment that represents a self-contained chat screen.
- `MessageListActivity`: An Activity that is just a thin wrapper around `MessageListFragment`.
The `MessageListFragment` contains these three inner components:
- [`MessageListHeaderView`](/chat/docs/sdk/android/v6/ui/message-components/message-list-header/): Displays a navigation icon, the name of the channel or thread and the channel avatar.
- [`MessageListView`](/chat/docs/sdk/android/v6/ui/message-components/message-list/): Shows a list of paginated messages, with threads, replies, reactions and deleted messages.
- [`MessageComposerView`](/chat/docs/sdk/android/v6/ui/message-components/message-composer/): Allows users to participate in the chat by sending messages and attachments.
Fragments and Activities representing self-contained screens are easy to use. They allow you to explore the features of our SDK quickly; however, they offer limited customization.
## Usage
To use the message list screen, you can simply start `MessageListActivity` from the SDK:
```kotlin
context.startActivity(MessageListActivity.createIntent(context, cid = "messaging:123"))
```
```java
context.startActivity(MessageListActivity.createIntent(context, "messaging:123"));
```
This single line of code will produce a fully working solution, as shown in the image below.
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| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
Alternatively, you can achieve the same result by adding `MessageListFragment` from the SDK to your Fragment or Activity:
```xml
```
```kotlin
class MyMessageListActivity : AppCompatActivity(R.layout.fragment_container) {
override fun onCreate(savedInstanceState: Bundle?) {
super.onCreate(savedInstanceState)
if (savedInstanceState == null) {
val fragment = MessageListFragment.newInstance(cid = "messaging:123") {
showHeader(true)
}
supportFragmentManager.beginTransaction()
.replace(R.id.container, fragment)
.commit()
}
}
}
```
```java
public final class MyMessageListActivity extends AppCompatActivity {
public MyMessageListActivity() {
super(R.layout.fragment_container);
}
@Override
protected void onCreate(@Nullable Bundle savedInstanceState) {
super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
if (savedInstanceState == null) {
MessageListFragment fragment = MessageListFragment.newInstance("messaging:123", builder -> {
builder.showHeader(true);
return Unit.INSTANCE;
});
getSupportFragmentManager().beginTransaction()
.replace(R.id.container, fragment)
.commit();
}
}
}
```
Next, let's see how to handle actions on the screen.
## Handling Actions
To handle actions supported by `MessageListFragment`, you need to implement corresponding click listeners in the parent Fragment or Activity:
```kotlin
class MyMessageListActivity : AppCompatActivity(R.layout.fragment_container), MessageListFragment.BackPressListener {
override fun onCreate(savedInstanceState: Bundle?) {
super.onCreate(savedInstanceState)
// Add MessageListFragment to the layout
}
override fun onBackPress() {
// Handle back press
}
}
```
```java
public final class MyMessageListActivity extends AppCompatActivity implements MessageListFragment.BackPressListener {
public MyMessageListActivity() {
super(R.layout.fragment_container);
}
@Override
protected void onCreate(@Nullable Bundle savedInstanceState) {
super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
// Add MessageListFragment to the layout
}
@Override
public void onBackPress() {
// Handle back press
}
}
```
Currently, there is only a single click listener you can use with the `MessageListFragment`:
- `BackPressListener`: Click listener for the navigation button in the header. Finishes Activity by default.
## Customization
The message list screen component offers limited customization. The `MessageListFragment` exposes a builder with the following methods:
- `setFragment`: Sets custom message list Fragment. The Fragment must be a subclass of `MessageListFragment`.
- `customTheme`: Custom theme for the screen.
- `showHeader`: Whether the header is shown or hidden.
- `messageId`: The ID of the message to highlight.
Additionally, you can use inheritance for further customization as shown in the example below:
```kotlin
class CustomMessageListFragment : MessageListFragment() {
override fun setupMessageListHeader(messageListHeaderView: MessageListHeaderView) {
super.setupMessageListHeader(messageListHeaderView)
// Customize message list header view
// For example, set a custom listener for the back button
messageListHeaderView.setBackButtonClickListener {
// Handle back press
}
}
override fun setupMessageList(messageListView: MessageListView) {
super.setupMessageList(messageListView)
// Customize message list view
}
override fun setupMessageComposer(messageComposerView: MessageComposerView) {
super.setupMessageComposer(messageComposerView)
// Customize message composer view
}
}
class CustomMessageListActivity : MessageListActivity() {
override fun createMessageListFragment(cid: String, messageId: String?): MessageListFragment {
return MessageListFragment.newInstance(cid) {
setFragment(CustomMessageListFragment())
customTheme(R.style.StreamUiTheme)
showHeader(true)
messageId(messageId)
}
}
}
```
```java
public final class CustomMessageListFragment extends MessageListFragment {
@Override
protected void setupMessageListHeader(@NonNull MessageListHeaderView messageListHeaderView) {
super.setupMessageListHeader(messageListHeaderView);
// Customize message list header view
// For example, set a custom listener for the back button
messageListHeaderView.setBackButtonClickListener(() -> {
// Handle back press
});
}
@Override
protected void setupMessageList(@NonNull MessageListView messageListView) {
super.setupMessageList(messageListView);
// Customize message list view
}
@Override
protected void setupMessageComposer(@NonNull MessageComposerView messageComposerView) {
super.setupMessageComposer(messageComposerView);
// Customize message composer view
}
}
public final class CustomMessageListActivity extends MessageListActivity {
@NonNull
@Override
protected MessageListFragment createMessageListFragment(@NonNull String cid, @Nullable String messageId) {
return MessageListFragment.newInstance(cid, builder -> {
builder.setFragment(new CustomMessageListFragment());
builder.customTheme(R.style.StreamUiTheme);
builder.showHeader(true);
builder.messageId(messageId);
return Unit.INSTANCE;
});
}
}
```
Then you need to add `CustomMessageListActivity` to your `AndroidManifest.xml`, create an Intent for it using the `MessageListActivity.createIntent()` method, and finally start the Activity:
```kotlin
context.startActivity(
MessageListActivity.createIntent(
context = context,
cid = "messaging:123",
activityClass = CustomMessageListActivity::class.java
)
)
```
```java
context.startActivity(MessageListActivity.createIntent(context, "messaging:123", null, CustomMessageListActivity.class));
```
Fragments and Activities representing self-contained screens can be styled using the options described in the [theming](/chat/docs/sdk/android/v6/ui/general-customization/theming/) guide.
---
This page was last updated at 2026-04-17T17:33:30.141Z.
For the most recent version of this documentation, visit [https://getstream.io/chat/docs/sdk/android/v6/ui/message-components/message-list-screen/](https://getstream.io/chat/docs/sdk/android/v6/ui/message-components/message-list-screen/).