Adapters - CometChat Docs

List-based components like CometChatConversations use a RecyclerView.Adapter to bind data to list items. You can access the default adapter to manipulate data, or replace it entirely with a custom implementation.

Accessing the Adapter

Kotlin
Java

val conversations = CometChatConversations(context)
val adapter: ConversationsAdapter = conversations.getConversationsAdapter()

CometChatConversations conversations = new CometChatConversations(context);
ConversationsAdapter adapter = conversations.getConversationsAdapter();

Replacing the Adapter

Use setAdapter to replace the default adapter with a custom implementation:

Kotlin
Java

val customAdapter = ConversationsAdapter(context)
// Configure your custom adapter...
conversations.setAdapter(customAdapter)

ConversationsAdapter customAdapter = new ConversationsAdapter(context);
// Configure your custom adapter...
conversations.setAdapter(customAdapter);

Data Manipulation API

The adapter provides methods to programmatically manage the list data:

Method	Description
`setList(List<Conversation>)`	Replace the entire list
`addList(List<Conversation>)`	Append conversations to the end
`add(Conversation)`	Add a single conversation to the end
`add(int position, Conversation)`	Insert a conversation at a specific position
`remove(int position)`	Remove a conversation by position
`remove(Conversation)`	Remove a specific conversation
`clear()`	Remove all conversations
`updateConversation(Conversation)`	Update an existing conversation in place
`getConversationsList()`	Get the current list of conversations

Kotlin
Java

val adapter = conversations.getConversationsAdapter()

// Get the current list
val currentList = adapter.getConversationsList()

// Add a conversation at the top
adapter.add(0, newConversation)

// Remove a conversation
adapter.remove(conversation)

// Replace the entire list
adapter.setList(filteredConversations)

ConversationsAdapter adapter = conversations.getConversationsAdapter();

// Get the current list
List<Conversation> currentList = adapter.getConversationsList();

// Add a conversation at the top
adapter.add(0, newConversation);

// Remove a conversation
adapter.remove(conversation);

// Replace the entire list
adapter.setList(filteredConversations);

View Slots on the Adapter

The adapter exposes the same view slot setters as the View layer. When you set a view slot on the View (e.g., conversations.setSubtitleView(...)), it delegates to the adapter internally. You can also set view slots directly on the adapter:

Adapter Method	Equivalent View Method
`adapter.setLeadingView(...)`	`conversations.setLeadingView(...)`
`adapter.setTitleView(...)`	`conversations.setTitleView(...)`
`adapter.setSubtitleView(...)`	`conversations.setSubtitleView(...)`
`adapter.setTrailingView(...)`	`conversations.setTrailingView(...)`
`adapter.setItemView(...)`	`conversations.setItemView(...)`

Setting view slots directly on the adapter is useful when you’ve replaced the adapter with setAdapter and need to configure it before attaching.

Adapter Style Propagation

The adapter has its own style setter methods. These are typically called internally by the View layer, but you can use them directly when working with a custom adapter:

Method	Applies To
`setConversationsAvatarStyle(@StyleRes int)`	Avatar style for list items
`setConversationsBadgeStyle(@StyleRes int)`	Unread badge style
`setConversationsReceiptStyle(@StyleRes int)`	Message receipt icon style
`setConversationsDateStyle(@StyleRes int)`	Date/time label style
`setConversationsTypingIndicatorStyle(@StyleRes int)`	Typing indicator style
`setConversationsStatusIndicatorStyle(@StyleRes int)`	Online/offline status indicator style

View Slots — Learn the ViewHolderListener pattern used by adapter view slots.
ViewModel & Data — Manage data at the ViewModel level instead of the adapter.
Customization Overview — See all customization categories.

​Accessing the Adapter

​Replacing the Adapter

​Data Manipulation API

​View Slots on the Adapter

​Adapter Style Propagation

​Related

Accessing the Adapter

Replacing the Adapter

Data Manipulation API

View Slots on the Adapter

Adapter Style Propagation

Related