---
title: "What is the difference between match_parent and fill_parent?"  
description: "What is the difference between match_parent and fill_parent?"  
author: "Royce Roy"  
published: 2015-05-19  
updated: 2015-05-19  
canonical: https://www.mindstick.com/forum/23239/what-is-the-difference-between-match_parent-and-fill_parent  
category: "android"  
tags: ["android", "android layout"]  
reading_time: 1 minute  

---

# What is the difference between match_parent and fill_parent?

I'm a little confused about two [XML](https://www.mindstick.com/blog/203/working-with-xml-data-in-sql-server) [properties](https://www.mindstick.com/articles/23331/nootropics-7-different-types-and-their-unique-properties): match_parent and fill_parent. It seems that both are the same. Is there any [difference between them](https://www.mindstick.com/forum/23342/what-are-jsf-servlet-and-jsp-and-what-is-difference-between-them)?\

## Replies

### Reply by Anonymous User

They're the same thing (in API Level 8+). Use match_parent.\
FILL_PARENT (renamed MATCH_PARENT in API Level 8 and higher), which means that the view wants to be as big as its parent (minus padding)...\
fill_parent: The view should be as big as its parent (minus padding). This constant is deprecated starting from API Level 8 and is replaced by match_parent.\
http://developer.android.com/reference/android/view/ViewGroup.LayoutParams.html\


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Original Source: https://www.mindstick.com/forum/23239/what-is-the-difference-between-match_parent-and-fill_parent

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