Message Bubble Styling

Configure and style incoming, outgoing, and specific message bubbles in your Android UI Kit.

Overview

Message bubbles are the core visual element in chat applications. Customizing them allows you to create a consistent user experience that aligns with your app’s theme.

This guide covers how to style Base Message Bubbles (the container) and Specific Message Types (Text, Image, Audio, etc.). Customization options include adjusting the background color, text appearance, and bubble shape to differentiate between incoming and outgoing messages.

Styling Architecture

To style message bubbles effectively without duplicating code, understand this inheritance hierarchy.

All code in this guide belongs in res/values/themes.xml.

1. AppTheme: The root theme of your application.
2. Message Bubble Styles: Acts as a central hub for all incoming/outgoing message styles. Linked directly to the AppTheme.
3. Specific Bubble Styles: Targets specific message types (e.g., Text, Video, Audio). These are linked inside the Message Bubble Styles.

Global Setup

Define this once in your res/values/themes.xml. All subsequent custom bubble styles will be routed through these hubs.

themes.xml

<!-- 1. Central Hub for Incoming Messages -->
<style name="CustomIncomingMessageBubbleStyle" parent="CometChatIncomingMessageBubbleStyle">
    <item name="cometchatMessageBubbleBackgroundColor">#FEEDE1</item>
    <!-- Specific Incoming styles (Text, Image, etc.) will be added here -->
</style>

<!-- 2. Central Hub for Outgoing Messages -->
<style name="CustomOutgoingMessageBubbleStyle" parent="CometChatOutgoingMessageBubbleStyle">
    <item name="cometchatMessageBubbleBackgroundColor">#F76808</item>
    <!-- Specific Outgoing styles (Text, Image, etc.) will be added here -->
</style>

<!-- 3. Connect the Hubs to your App Theme -->
<style name="AppTheme" parent="CometChatTheme.DayNight">
   <item name="cometchatIncomingMessageBubbleStyle">@style/CustomIncomingMessageBubbleStyle</item>
   <item name="cometchatOutgoingMessageBubbleStyle">@style/CustomOutgoingMessageBubbleStyle</item>
</style>

Attribute references:

• Message bubble attributes
• Incoming message bubble attributes
• Outgoing message bubble attributes

Core Message Bubbles

The following sections define how to style specific types of messages. Define the custom style, then link it to the central hubs (CustomIncomingMessageBubbleStyle or CustomOutgoingMessageBubbleStyle) established above.

Text Bubble

Text bubbles display plain text messages. These are the most common bubble type.

Default & Customization

themes.xml

<!-- INCOMING -->
<style name="CustomIncomingTextBubbleStyle" parent="CometChatIncomingTextBubbleStyle">
    <item name="cometchatTextBubbleBackgroundColor">#FEEDE1</item>
</style>

<!-- Link to Hub -->
<style name="CustomIncomingMessageBubbleStyle" parent="CometChatIncomingMessageBubbleStyle">
    <item name="cometchatTextBubbleStyle">@style/CustomIncomingTextBubbleStyle</item>
</style>

<!-- OUTGOING -->
<style name="CustomOutgoingTextBubbleStyle" parent="CometChatOutgoingTextBubbleStyle">
    <item name="cometchatTextBubbleBackgroundColor">#F76808</item>
</style>

<!-- Link to Hub -->
<style name="CustomOutgoingMessageBubbleStyle" parent="CometChatOutgoingMessageBubbleStyle">
    <item name="cometchatTextBubbleStyle">@style/CustomOutgoingTextBubbleStyle</item>
</style>

Attribute reference:

• Text bubble attributes

Link Preview Bubble

Displays a preview of links shared in messages, enriching the experience with titles, descriptions, and images.

Default & Customization

themes.xml

<!-- INCOMING -->
<style name="CustomIncomingTextBubbleStyle" parent="CometChatIncomingTextBubbleStyle">
    <item name="cometchatTextBubbleBackgroundColor">#FEEDE1</item>
    <item name="cometchatTextBubbleLinkPreviewBackgroundColor">#FBAA75</item>
</style>

<!-- OUTGOING -->
<style name="CustomOutgoingTextBubbleStyle" parent="CometChatOutgoingTextBubbleStyle">
    <item name="cometchatTextBubbleBackgroundColor">#F76808</item>
    <item name="cometchatTextBubbleLinkPreviewBackgroundColor">#FBAA75</item>
</style>

Image Bubble

Image bubbles display images shared within a conversation.

Default & Customization

themes.xml

<!-- INCOMING -->
<style name="CustomIncomingImageBubbleStyle" parent="CometChatIncomingImageBubbleStyle">
   <item name="cometchatImageBubbleBackgroundColor">#FEEDE1</item>
</style>

<style name="CustomIncomingMessageBubbleStyle" parent="CometChatIncomingMessageBubbleStyle">
    <item name="cometchatImageBubbleStyle">@style/CustomIncomingImageBubbleStyle</item>
</style>

<!-- OUTGOING -->
<style name="CustomOutgoingImageBubbleStyle" parent="CometChatOutgoingImageBubbleStyle">
    <item name="cometchatImageBubbleBackgroundColor">#F76808</item>
</style>

<style name="CustomOutgoingMessageBubbleStyle" parent="CometChatOutgoingMessageBubbleStyle">
    <item name="cometchatImageBubbleStyle">@style/CustomOutgoingImageBubbleStyle</item>
</style>

Attribute reference:

• Image bubble attributes

Video Bubble

Video bubbles display video messages or clips in a chat.

Customization

themes.xml

<!-- INCOMING -->
<style name="CustomIncomingVideoBubbleStyle" parent="CometChatIncomingVideoBubbleStyle">
    <item name="cometchatVideoBubbleBackgroundColor">#FEEDE1</item>
    <item name="cometchatVideoBubblePlayIconTint">#F76808</item>
</style>

<style name="CustomIncomingMessageBubbleStyle" parent="CometChatIncomingMessageBubbleStyle">
    <item name="cometchatVideoBubbleStyle">@style/CustomIncomingVideoBubbleStyle</item>
</style>

<!-- OUTGOING -->
<style name="CustomOutgoingVideoBubbleStyle" parent="CometChatOutgoingVideoBubbleStyle">
    <item name="cometchatVideoBubbleBackgroundColor">#F76808</item>
    <item name="cometchatVideoBubblePlayIconTint">#F76808</item>
</style>

<style name="CustomOutgoingMessageBubbleStyle" parent="CometChatOutgoingMessageBubbleStyle">
    <item name="cometchatVideoBubbleStyle">@style/CustomOutgoingVideoBubbleStyle</item>
</style>

Attribute reference:

• Video bubble attributes

Audio Bubble

Audio bubbles represent audio messages or voice recordings.

Default & Customization

themes.xml

<!-- INCOMING -->
<style name="CustomIncomingAudioBubbleStyle" parent="CometChatIncomingAudioBubbleStyle">
    <item name="cometchatAudioBubbleAudioWaveColor">#F76808</item>
    <item name="cometchatAudioBubblePlayIconTint">#F76808</item>
    <item name="cometchatAudioBubblePauseIconTint">#F76808</item>
    <item name="cometchatAudioBubbleBackgroundColor">#FEEDE1</item>
</style>

<style name="CustomIncomingMessageBubbleStyle" parent="CometChatIncomingMessageBubbleStyle">
    <item name="cometchatAudioBubbleStyle">@style/CustomIncomingAudioBubbleStyle</item>
</style>

<!-- OUTGOING -->
<style name="CustomOutgoingAudioBubbleStyle" parent="CometChatOutgoingAudioBubbleStyle">
    <item name="cometchatAudioBubblePlayIconTint">#F76808</item>
    <item name="cometchatAudioBubblePauseIconTint">#F76808</item>
    <item name="cometchatAudioBubbleBackgroundColor">#F76808</item>
 </style>

<style name="CustomOutgoingMessageBubbleStyle" parent="CometChatOutgoingMessageBubbleStyle">
    <item name="cometchatAudioBubbleStyle">@style/CustomOutgoingAudioBubbleStyle</item>
</style>

Attribute reference:

• Audio bubble attributes

File Bubble

Displays shared files, such as documents, PDFs, or spreadsheets.

Default & Customization

themes.xml

<!-- INCOMING -->
<style name="CustomIncomingFileBubbleStyle" parent="CometChatIncomingFileBubbleStyle">
    <item name="cometchatFileBubbleBackgroundColor">#FEEDE1</item>
    <item name="cometchatFileBubbleFileDownloadIconTint">#F76808</item>
</style>

<style name="CustomIncomingMessageBubbleStyle" parent="CometChatIncomingMessageBubbleStyle">
    <item name="cometchatFileBubbleStyle">@style/CustomIncomingFileBubbleStyle</item>
</style>

<!-- OUTGOING -->
<style name="CustomOutgoingFileBubbleStyle" parent="CometChatOutgoingFileBubbleStyle">
    <item name="cometchatFileBubbleBackgroundColor">#F76808</item>
</style>

<style name="CustomOutgoingMessageBubbleStyle" parent="CometChatOutgoingMessageBubbleStyle">
    <item name="cometchatFileBubbleStyle">@style/CustomOutgoingFileBubbleStyle</item>
</style>

Attribute reference:

• File bubble attributes

Sticker Bubble

Displays visual stickers shared in a conversation.

Default & Customization

themes.xml

<!-- INCOMING -->
<style name="CustomIncomingStickerBubbleStyle" parent="CometChatStickerBubbleStyle">
    <item name="cometchatStickerBubbleBackgroundColor">#FEEDE1</item>
</style>

<style name="CustomIncomingMessageBubbleStyle" parent="CometChatIncomingMessageBubbleStyle">
    <item name="cometchatStickerBubbleStyle">@style/CustomIncomingStickerBubbleStyle</item>
</style>

<!-- OUTGOING -->
<style name="CustomOutgoingStickerBubbleStyle" parent="CometChatStickerBubbleStyle">
    <item name="cometchatStickerBubbleBackgroundColor">#F76808</item>
</style>

<style name="CustomOutgoingMessageBubbleStyle" parent="CometChatOutgoingMessageBubbleStyle">
    <item name="cometchatStickerBubbleStyle">@style/CustomOutgoingStickerBubbleStyle</item>
</style>

Attribute reference:

• Sticker bubble attributes

Poll Bubble

Displays polls, options, and live results.

Default & Customization

themes.xml

<!-- INCOMING -->
<style name="CustomIncomingPollBubbleStyle" parent="CometChatIncomingPollBubbleStyle">
    <item name="cometchatPollBubbleBackgroundColor">#FEEDE1</item>
</style>

<style name="CustomIncomingMessageBubbleStyle" parent="CometChatIncomingMessageBubbleStyle">
    <item name="cometchatPollBubbleStyle">@style/CustomIncomingPollBubbleStyle</item>
</style>

<!-- OUTGOING -->
<style name="CustomOutgoingPollBubbleStyle" parent="CometChatOutgoingPollBubbleStyle">
    <item name="cometchatPollBubbleBackgroundColor">#F76808</item>
    <item name="cometchatPollBubbleProgressBackgroundColor">#FBAA75</item>
</style>

<style name="CustomOutgoingMessageBubbleStyle" parent="CometChatOutgoingMessageBubbleStyle">
    <item name="cometchatPollBubbleStyle">@style/CustomOutgoingPollBubbleStyle</item>
</style>

Attribute reference:

• Poll bubble attributes

Collaborative Bubble

Displays collaborative content, such as shared documents or tasks.

Default & Customization

themes.xml

<!-- INCOMING -->
<style name="CustomIncomingCollaborativeBubbleStyle" parent="CometChatIncomingCollaborativeBubbleStyle">
    <item name="cometchatCollaborativeBubbleBackgroundColor">#F76808</item>
</style>

<style name="CustomIncomingMessageBubbleStyle" parent="CometChatIncomingMessageBubbleStyle">
    <item name="cometchatCollaborativeBubbleStyle">@style/CustomIncomingCollaborativeBubbleStyle</item>
</style>

<!-- OUTGOING -->
<style name="CustomOutgoingCollaborativeBubbleStyle" parent="CometChatOutgoingCollaborativeBubbleStyle">
    <item name="cometchatCollaborativeBubbleBackgroundColor">#F76808</item>
    <item name="cometchatCollaborativeBubbleSeparatorColor">#FBAA75</item>
</style>

<style name="CustomOutgoingMessageBubbleStyle" parent="CometChatOutgoingMessageBubbleStyle">
    <item name="cometchatCollaborativeBubbleStyle">@style/CustomOutgoingCollaborativeBubbleStyle</item>
</style>

Attribute reference:

• Collaborative bubble attributes

Meet Call Bubble

Displays call-related actions and statuses in the chat interface.

Default & Customization

themes.xml

<!-- INCOMING -->
<style name="CustomIncomingMeetCallBubbleStyle" parent="CometChatIncomingMeetCallBubbleStyle">
    <item name="cometchatMeetCallBubbleBackgroundColor">#FBAA75</item>
    <item name="cometchatMeetCallBubbleCallIconTint">#F76808</item>
</style>

<style name="CustomIncomingMessageBubbleStyle" parent="CometChatIncomingMessageBubbleStyle">
    <item name="cometchatMeetCallBubbleStyle">@style/CustomIncomingMeetCallBubbleStyle</item>
</style>

<!-- OUTGOING -->
<style name="CustomOutgoingMeetCallBubbleStyle" parent="CometChatOutgoingMeetCallBubbleStyle">
    <item name="cometchatMeetCallBubbleBackgroundColor">#F76808</item>
    <item name="cometchatMeetCallBubbleSeparatorColor">#FBAA75</item>
    <item name="cometchatMeetCallBubbleCallIconTint">#F76808</item>
</style>

<style name="CustomOutgoingMessageBubbleStyle" parent="CometChatOutgoingMessageBubbleStyle">
    <item name="cometchatMeetCallBubbleStyle">@style/CustomOutgoingMeetCallBubbleStyle</item>
</style>

Attribute reference:

• Meet call bubble attributes

Delete Bubble

Indicates a message that has been removed by the sender.

Default & Customization

themes.xml

<!-- INCOMING -->
<style name="CustomIncomingDeleteBubbleStyle" parent="CometChatIncomingDeleteBubbleStyle">
    <item name="cometchatMessageBubbleBackgroundColor">#FBAA75</item>
</style>

<style name="CustomIncomingMessageBubbleStyle" parent="CometChatIncomingMessageBubbleStyle">
    <item name="cometchatDeleteBubbleStyle">@style/CustomIncomingDeleteBubbleStyle</item>
</style>

<!-- OUTGOING -->
<style name="CustomOutgoingDeleteBubbleStyle" parent="CometChatOutgoingDeleteBubbleStyle">
    <item name="cometchatMessageBubbleBackgroundColor">#F76808</item>
</style>

<style name="CustomOutgoingMessageBubbleStyle" parent="CometChatOutgoingMessageBubbleStyle">
    <item name="cometchatDeleteBubbleStyle">@style/CustomOutgoingDeleteBubbleStyle</item>
</style>

Attribute reference:

• Delete bubble attributes

List-Level Bubbles & Special Features

Unlike standard messages, Call Action and Action bubbles are tied to the Message List Style, not the Incoming/Outgoing Hubs. AI Assistants and Quoted Replies have specialized formatting.

Call Action Bubble

Displays call actions like missed calls within the message list.

Default & Customization

themes.xml

<!-- 1. Define the Style -->
<style name="CustomCallActionBubbleStyle" parent="CometChatCallActionBubbleStyle">
    <item name="cometchatCallActionBubbleBackgroundColor">#FEEDE1</item>
    <item name="cometchatCallActionBubbleStrokeWidth">@dimen/cometchat_1dp</item>
    <item name="cometchatCallActionBubbleStrokeColor">#F76808</item>
    <item name="cometchatCallActionBubbleTextColor">#F76808</item>
    <item name="cometchatCallActionBubbleIconTint">#F76808</item>
    <item name="cometchatCallActionBubbleMissedCallBackgroundColor">#FEEDE1</item>
    <item name="cometchatCallActionBubbleMissedCallIconTint">#F76808</item>
    <item name="cometchatCallActionBubbleMissedCallTextColor">#F76808</item>
</style>

<!-- 2. Apply it to the Message List Style -->
<style name="CustomCometChatMessageListStyle" parent="CometChatMessageListStyle">
    <item name="cometchatMessageListCallActionBubbleStyle">@style/CustomCallActionBubbleStyle</item>
</style>

<!-- 3. Connect to AppTheme -->
<style name="AppTheme" parent="CometChatTheme.DayNight">
    <item name="cometchatMessageListStyle">@style/CustomCometChatMessageListStyle</item>
</style>

Attribute references:

• Call action bubble attributes
• Message list attributes

Action Bubble

Displays global group actions (e.g., “User joined the chat”).

Default & Customization

themes.xml

<!-- 1. Define the Style -->
<style name="CustomActionBubbleStyle" parent="CometChatActionBubbleStyle">
    <item name="cometchatActionBubbleBackgroundColor">#FEEDE1</item>
    <item name="cometchatActionBubbleStrokeWidth">@dimen/cometchat_1dp</item>
    <item name="cometchatActionBubbleStrokeColor">#F76808</item>
    <item name="cometchatActionBubbleTextColor">#F76808</item>
</style>

<!-- 2. Apply it to the Message List Style -->
<style name="CustomCometChatMessageListStyle" parent="CometChatMessageListStyle">
    <item name="cometchatMessageListActionBubbleStyle">@style/CustomActionBubbleStyle</item>
</style>

<!-- 3. Connect to AppTheme -->
<style name="AppTheme" parent="CometChatTheme.DayNight">
    <item name="cometchatMessageListStyle">@style/CustomCometChatMessageListStyle</item>
</style>

Attribute reference:

• Action bubble attributes

AI Assistant Bubble

Styles interactions generated by the AI assistant. These are anchored to the IncomingMessageBubbleStyle.

Default & Customization

themes.xml

<!-- Define AI Font (Optional) -->
<style name="TextStyleTimesNewRoman">
    <item name="android:fontFamily">@font/times_new_roman_regular</item>
</style>

<!-- Define AI Bubble -->
<style name="CustomAIAssistantBubbleStyle">
    <item name="cometChatAIAssistantBubbleBackgroundColor">@color/cometchat_color_transparent</item>
    <item name="cometChatAIAssistantBubbleTextAppearance">@style/TextStyleTimesNewRoman</item>
    <item name="cometChatAIAssistantBubbleTextColor">?attr/cometchatTextColorPrimary</item>
</style>

<!-- Link to Hub -->
<style name="CustomIncomingMessageBubbleStyle" parent="CometChatIncomingMessageBubbleStyle">
    <item name="cometchatAIAssistantBubbleStyle">@style/CustomAIAssistantBubbleStyle</item>
</style>

Attribute reference:

• AI assistant bubble attributes

Quoted Reply

Styles the preview block when a user replies to a specific message.

themes.xml

<!-- Define Reply Fonts -->
<style name="TimesNewRoman">
    <item name="android:fontFamily">@font/times_new_roman_regular</item>
</style>

<style name="CustomOutgoingMessageDateStyle">
    <item name="cometchatDateTextAppearance">@style/TimesNewRoman</item>
    <item name="cometchatDateTextColor">@color/white</item>
</style>

<!-- Define Message Preview (The Quote itself) -->
<style name="CustomMessagePreviewStyle">
    <item name="cometChatMessagePreviewBackgroundColor">#ea6d71</item>
    <item name="cometChatMessagePreviewTitleTextAppearance">@style/TimesNewRoman</item>
    <item name="cometChatMessagePreviewSubtitleTextAppearance">@style/TimesNewRoman</item>
</style>

<!-- Define Text Style inside the Reply -->
<style name="CustomTextBubbleStyle">
    <item name="cometchatTextBubbleTextColor">@color/white</item>
    <item name="cometchatTextBubbleTextAppearance">@style/TimesNewRoman</item>
</style>

<!-- Define Wrapper Attributes & Link Preview to Outgoing Hub -->
<style name="CustomOutgoingMessageBubbleStyle" parent="CometChatOutgoingMessageBubbleStyle">
    <item name="cometchatMessageBubbleBackgroundColor">#e54a4b</item>
    <item name="cometchatMessageBubbleCornerRadius">@dimen/cometchat_radius_3</item>
    <item name="cometchatTextBubbleStyle">@style/CustomTextBubbleStyle</item>
    <item name="cometchatMessageBubbleDateStyle">@style/CustomOutgoingMessageDateStyle</item>
    <item name="cometChatMessagePreviewStyle">@style/CustomMessagePreviewStyle</item>
</style>

Attribute reference:

• Message preview attributes