> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://cometchat-22654f5b-feature-card-builder.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Message Bubble Styling

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

<Accordion title="AI Integration Quick Reference">
  | Field            | Value                                                                                                                                                                     |
  | ---------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
  | Kotlin XML Views | Override XML styles extending `CometChatIncomingMessageBubbleStyle` / `CometChatOutgoingMessageBubbleStyle` in `themes.xml`                                               |
  | Jetpack Compose  | Pass `CometChatMessageListStyle.default().copy()` with nested bubble styles to `CometChatMessageList`                                                                     |
  | Hub styles       | Incoming and Outgoing bubble styles act as central hubs for per-type bubble customization                                                                                 |
  | Per-type styles  | Text, Image, Audio, Video, File, Sticker, Poll, Collaborative, Meet Call, Delete, Action, Call Action                                                                     |
  | Related          | [Theme Introduction](/ui-kit/android/v6/theme-introduction) · [Component Styling](/ui-kit/android/v6/component-styling) · [Message List](/ui-kit/android/v6/message-list) |
</Accordion>

Configure and style incoming, outgoing, and specific message bubbles.

***

## Styling Architecture

Message bubbles follow a hub-and-spoke pattern:

1. **Hub styles** — `IncomingMessageBubbleStyle` and `OutgoingMessageBubbleStyle` control the base bubble appearance
2. **Per-type styles** — Text, Image, Audio, etc. are nested inside the hub styles

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/cometchat-22654f5b-feature-card-builder/E5DbhavBfTmsHVE7/images/90e70e8b-incoming_outgoing_bubble-534f3104b6c087d0b2db810b9e69e216.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=E5DbhavBfTmsHVE7&q=85&s=ad6f6d81b38b470cef9ea7e3d7d96675" width="724" height="164" data-path="images/90e70e8b-incoming_outgoing_bubble-534f3104b6c087d0b2db810b9e69e216.png" />
</Frame>

### Global Setup

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Kotlin (XML Views)">
    ```xml themes.xml lines theme={null}
    <!-- Hub for Incoming Messages -->
    <style name="CustomIncomingBubble" parent="CometChatIncomingMessageBubbleStyle">
        <item name="cometchatMessageBubbleBackgroundColor">#FEEDE1</item>
    </style>

    <!-- Hub for Outgoing Messages -->
    <style name="CustomOutgoingBubble" parent="CometChatOutgoingMessageBubbleStyle">
        <item name="cometchatMessageBubbleBackgroundColor">#F76808</item>
    </style>

    <!-- Connect to AppTheme -->
    <style name="AppTheme" parent="CometChatTheme.DayNight">
        <item name="cometchatIncomingMessageBubbleStyle">@style/CustomIncomingBubble</item>
        <item name="cometchatOutgoingMessageBubbleStyle">@style/CustomOutgoingBubble</item>
    </style>
    ```
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Jetpack Compose">
    ```kotlin lines theme={null}
    CometChatMessageList(
        style = CometChatMessageListStyle.default().copy(
            incomingMessageBubbleStyle = CometChatIncomingMessageBubbleStyle.default().copy(
                backgroundColor = Color(0xFFFEEDE1)
            ),
            outgoingMessageBubbleStyle = CometChatOutgoingMessageBubbleStyle.default().copy(
                backgroundColor = Color(0xFFF76808)
            )
        )
    )
    ```
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/cometchat-22654f5b-feature-card-builder/eLHw5QGTFIHJKVut/images/68dfc288-incoming_bubble_styling-41b09e86811d02c5b9c62cd135e23188.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=eLHw5QGTFIHJKVut&q=85&s=55963378f91a9116b57ba4b76a689dde" width="1203" height="1321" data-path="images/68dfc288-incoming_bubble_styling-41b09e86811d02c5b9c62cd135e23188.png" />
</Frame>

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/cometchat-22654f5b-feature-card-builder/Sa9o3dFd0TJV05JN/images/40b99d2c-outgoing_bubble_styling-3762ae90255a5e762e4d5efad2465cf6.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=Sa9o3dFd0TJV05JN&q=85&s=ccd6886640624c73f2deaa1b99992662" width="1203" height="1321" data-path="images/40b99d2c-outgoing_bubble_styling-3762ae90255a5e762e4d5efad2465cf6.png" />
</Frame>

***

## Core Message Bubbles

### Text Bubble

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/cometchat-22654f5b-feature-card-builder/E5DbhavBfTmsHVE7/images/94f47151-custom_text_bubble-31254c676ff87f3e25ecb4f89f5f5ffc.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=E5DbhavBfTmsHVE7&q=85&s=5a87c9dd63bdf6ad862f4a50e51d90f2" width="1200" height="396" data-path="images/94f47151-custom_text_bubble-31254c676ff87f3e25ecb4f89f5f5ffc.png" />
</Frame>

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Kotlin (XML Views)">
    ```xml themes.xml lines theme={null}
    <style name="CustomIncomingTextBubble" parent="CometChatIncomingTextMessageBubbleStyle">
        <item name="cometchatTextBubbleBackgroundColor">#FEEDE1</item>
    </style>

    <style name="CustomOutgoingTextBubble" parent="CometChatOutgoingTextBubbleStyle">
        <item name="cometchatTextBubbleBackgroundColor">#F76808</item>
    </style>

    <style name="CustomIncomingBubble" parent="CometChatIncomingMessageBubbleStyle">
        <item name="cometchatTextBubbleStyle">@style/CustomIncomingTextBubble</item>
    </style>

    <style name="CustomOutgoingBubble" parent="CometChatOutgoingMessageBubbleStyle">
        <item name="cometchatTextBubbleStyle">@style/CustomOutgoingTextBubble</item>
    </style>
    ```
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Jetpack Compose">
    ```kotlin lines theme={null}
    // Inside CometChatMessageListStyle
    incomingMessageBubbleStyle = CometChatIncomingMessageBubbleStyle.default().copy(
        textBubbleStyle = CometChatTextBubbleStyle.default().copy(
            backgroundColor = Color(0xFFFEEDE1)
        )
    ),
    outgoingMessageBubbleStyle = CometChatOutgoingMessageBubbleStyle.default().copy(
        textBubbleStyle = CometChatTextBubbleStyle.default().copy(
            backgroundColor = Color(0xFFF76808)
        )
    )
    ```
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

### Image Bubble

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/cometchat-22654f5b-feature-card-builder/tKDtB3xjE6jATqmt/images/050d471a-custom_image_bubble-cbf84ceb47eb0f7b6a0c27689fc911b9.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=tKDtB3xjE6jATqmt&q=85&s=07b19dc884ed0e3b30f93061a5c767d1" width="1200" height="1392" data-path="images/050d471a-custom_image_bubble-cbf84ceb47eb0f7b6a0c27689fc911b9.png" />
</Frame>

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Kotlin (XML Views)">
    ```xml themes.xml lines theme={null}
    <style name="CustomIncomingImageBubble" parent="CometChatIncomingImageMessageBubbleStyle">
        <item name="cometchatImageBubbleBackgroundColor">#FEEDE1</item>
    </style>

    <style name="CustomIncomingBubble" parent="CometChatIncomingMessageBubbleStyle">
        <item name="cometchatImageBubbleStyle">@style/CustomIncomingImageBubble</item>
    </style>
    ```
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Jetpack Compose">
    ```kotlin lines theme={null}
    incomingMessageBubbleStyle = CometChatIncomingMessageBubbleStyle.default().copy(
        imageBubbleStyle = CometChatImageBubbleStyle.default().copy(
            backgroundColor = Color(0xFFFEEDE1)
        )
    )
    ```
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

### Audio Bubble

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/cometchat-22654f5b-feature-card-builder/BeS0cj3AlwGwbqBl/images/a1a5851e-custom_audio_bubble-7435f7e797b4c409156bc0df3c0bc077.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=BeS0cj3AlwGwbqBl&q=85&s=06587b4398e9868739e40df3f9019fc0" width="1200" height="640" data-path="images/a1a5851e-custom_audio_bubble-7435f7e797b4c409156bc0df3c0bc077.png" />
</Frame>

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Kotlin (XML Views)">
    ```xml themes.xml lines theme={null}
    <style name="CustomIncomingAudioBubble" parent="CometChatIncomingAudioBubbleStyle">
        <item name="cometchatAudioBubbleAudioWaveColor">#F76808</item>
        <item name="cometchatAudioBubblePlayIconTint">#F76808</item>
        <item name="cometchatAudioBubbleBackgroundColor">#FEEDE1</item>
    </style>

    <style name="CustomIncomingBubble" parent="CometChatIncomingMessageBubbleStyle">
        <item name="cometchatAudioBubbleStyle">@style/CustomIncomingAudioBubble</item>
    </style>
    ```
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Jetpack Compose">
    ```kotlin lines theme={null}
    incomingMessageBubbleStyle = CometChatIncomingMessageBubbleStyle.default().copy(
        audioBubbleStyle = CometChatAudioBubbleStyle.default().copy(
            playIconTint = Color(0xFFF76808),
            backgroundColor = Color(0xFFFEEDE1)
        )
    )
    ```
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

### Video Bubble

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/cometchat-22654f5b-feature-card-builder/DVsmmwOU2QxMA-Wv/images/b4e3e6a4-custom_video_bubble-105a5b18f4021eafdf4266bedce930d7.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=DVsmmwOU2QxMA-Wv&q=85&s=5896313522c1ad344ff754809781851c" width="1200" height="1016" data-path="images/b4e3e6a4-custom_video_bubble-105a5b18f4021eafdf4266bedce930d7.png" />
</Frame>

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Kotlin (XML Views)">
    ```xml themes.xml lines theme={null}
    <style name="CustomIncomingVideoBubble" parent="CometChatIncomingVideoBubbleStyle">
        <item name="cometchatVideoBubbleBackgroundColor">#FEEDE1</item>
        <item name="cometchatVideoBubblePlayIconTint">#F76808</item>
    </style>

    <style name="CustomIncomingBubble" parent="CometChatIncomingMessageBubbleStyle">
        <item name="cometchatVideoBubbleStyle">@style/CustomIncomingVideoBubble</item>
    </style>
    ```
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Jetpack Compose">
    ```kotlin lines theme={null}
    incomingMessageBubbleStyle = CometChatIncomingMessageBubbleStyle.default().copy(
        videoBubbleStyle = CometChatVideoBubbleStyle.default().copy(
            backgroundColor = Color(0xFFFEEDE1),
            playIconTint = Color(0xFFF76808)
        )
    )
    ```
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

### File Bubble

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/cometchat-22654f5b-feature-card-builder/Sa9o3dFd0TJV05JN/images/3dffd2e7-custom_file_bubble-08f741eb4ad1e4a5098a5b65431f895b.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=Sa9o3dFd0TJV05JN&q=85&s=52aeff5a43a7b8584ba70389ce354f2b" width="1200" height="632" data-path="images/3dffd2e7-custom_file_bubble-08f741eb4ad1e4a5098a5b65431f895b.png" />
</Frame>

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Kotlin (XML Views)">
    ```xml themes.xml lines theme={null}
    <style name="CustomIncomingFileBubble" parent="CometChatIncomingFileBubbleStyle">
        <item name="cometchatFileBubbleBackgroundColor">#FEEDE1</item>
        <item name="cometchatFileBubbleFileDownloadIconTint">#F76808</item>
    </style>

    <style name="CustomIncomingBubble" parent="CometChatIncomingMessageBubbleStyle">
        <item name="cometchatFileBubbleStyle">@style/CustomIncomingFileBubble</item>
    </style>
    ```
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Jetpack Compose">
    ```kotlin lines theme={null}
    incomingMessageBubbleStyle = CometChatIncomingMessageBubbleStyle.default().copy(
        fileBubbleStyle = CometChatFileBubbleStyle.default().copy(
            backgroundColor = Color(0xFFFEEDE1),
            downloadIconTint = Color(0xFFF76808)
        )
    )
    ```
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

### Sticker Bubble

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/cometchat-22654f5b-feature-card-builder/qyfJptTKpJBV4TKk/images/8d48d80f-custom_sticker_bubble-5fac9a1c34cbecfeb3b4015755805309.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=qyfJptTKpJBV4TKk&q=85&s=23f5320ea07ace0f42f937a1d626a382" width="1200" height="1128" data-path="images/8d48d80f-custom_sticker_bubble-5fac9a1c34cbecfeb3b4015755805309.png" />
</Frame>

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Kotlin (XML Views)">
    ```xml themes.xml lines theme={null}
    <style name="CustomStickerBubble" parent="CometChatStickerBubbleStyle">
        <item name="cometchatStickerBubbleBackgroundColor">#FEEDE1</item>
    </style>

    <style name="CustomIncomingBubble" parent="CometChatIncomingMessageBubbleStyle">
        <item name="cometchatStickerBubbleStyle">@style/CustomStickerBubble</item>
    </style>
    ```
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Jetpack Compose">
    ```kotlin lines theme={null}
    incomingMessageBubbleStyle = CometChatIncomingMessageBubbleStyle.default().copy(
        stickerBubbleStyle = CometChatStickerBubbleStyle.default().copy(
            backgroundColor = Color(0xFFFEEDE1)
        )
    )
    ```
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

### Poll Bubble

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/cometchat-22654f5b-feature-card-builder/3ouLMA4YsO-gmlOS/images/6c80d571-custom_poll_bubble-02042749c5c6030498163b51be103658.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=3ouLMA4YsO-gmlOS&q=85&s=c150c4002fa567706c2a0d3b6b8471b6" width="1200" height="1412" data-path="images/6c80d571-custom_poll_bubble-02042749c5c6030498163b51be103658.png" />
</Frame>

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Kotlin (XML Views)">
    ```xml themes.xml lines theme={null}
    <style name="CustomOutgoingPollBubble" parent="CometChatOutgoingPollBubbleStyle">
        <item name="cometchatPollBubbleBackgroundColor">#F76808</item>
        <item name="cometchatPollBubbleProgressBackgroundColor">#FBAA75</item>
    </style>

    <style name="CustomOutgoingBubble" parent="CometChatOutgoingMessageBubbleStyle">
        <item name="cometchatPollBubbleStyle">@style/CustomOutgoingPollBubble</item>
    </style>
    ```
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Jetpack Compose">
    ```kotlin lines theme={null}
    outgoingMessageBubbleStyle = CometChatOutgoingMessageBubbleStyle.default().copy(
        pollBubbleStyle = CometChatPollBubbleStyle.default().copy(
            backgroundColor = Color(0xFFF76808),
            progressBackgroundColor = Color(0xFFFBAA75)
        )
    )
    ```
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

### Collaborative Bubble

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/cometchat-22654f5b-feature-card-builder/GQCy4V9W9Tf76kX8/images/4a4f308c-custom_collaborative_bubble-882924e176c97b69879fc4a4db812be4.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=GQCy4V9W9Tf76kX8&q=85&s=ad1846cf6b0d5feda7251a6ddcef0460" width="1200" height="1336" data-path="images/4a4f308c-custom_collaborative_bubble-882924e176c97b69879fc4a4db812be4.png" />
</Frame>

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Kotlin (XML Views)">
    ```xml themes.xml lines theme={null}
    <style name="CustomCollaborativeBubble" parent="CometChatOutgoingCollaborativeBubbleStyle">
        <item name="cometchatCollaborativeBubbleBackgroundColor">#F76808</item>
        <item name="cometchatCollaborativeBubbleSeparatorColor">#FBAA75</item>
    </style>

    <style name="CustomOutgoingBubble" parent="CometChatOutgoingMessageBubbleStyle">
        <item name="cometchatCollaborativeBubbleStyle">@style/CustomCollaborativeBubble</item>
    </style>
    ```
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Jetpack Compose">
    ```kotlin lines theme={null}
    outgoingMessageBubbleStyle = CometChatOutgoingMessageBubbleStyle.default().copy(
        collaborativeBubbleStyle = CometChatCollaborativeBubbleStyle.default().copy(
            backgroundColor = Color(0xFFF76808),
            separatorColor = Color(0xFFFBAA75)
        )
    )
    ```
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

### Meet Call Bubble

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/cometchat-22654f5b-feature-card-builder/v-eSvFFm_r_istSu/images/2c71f1e5-custom_meet_call_bubble-ea1e86f24d9572d4f32e9d07df84c004.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=v-eSvFFm_r_istSu&q=85&s=9b29fb34bd834e2af5ac1e45883f5fb2" width="1200" height="600" data-path="images/2c71f1e5-custom_meet_call_bubble-ea1e86f24d9572d4f32e9d07df84c004.png" />
</Frame>

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Kotlin (XML Views)">
    ```xml themes.xml lines theme={null}
    <style name="CustomMeetCallBubble" parent="CometChatOutgoingMeetCallBubbleStyle">
        <item name="cometchatMeetCallBubbleBackgroundColor">#F76808</item>
        <item name="cometchatMeetCallBubbleCallIconTint">#F76808</item>
    </style>

    <style name="CustomOutgoingBubble" parent="CometChatOutgoingMessageBubbleStyle">
        <item name="cometchatMeetCallBubbleStyle">@style/CustomMeetCallBubble</item>
    </style>
    ```
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Jetpack Compose">
    ```kotlin lines theme={null}
    outgoingMessageBubbleStyle = CometChatOutgoingMessageBubbleStyle.default().copy(
        meetCallBubbleStyle = CometChatMeetCallBubbleStyle.default().copy(
            backgroundColor = Color(0xFFF76808),
            callIconTint = Color(0xFFF76808)
        )
    )
    ```
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

### Delete Bubble

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/cometchat-22654f5b-feature-card-builder/dQDh-qNy-2PyfeNi/images/d323f495-custom_delete_bubble-9504ef572fcf69ada7c0ae9c1025f468.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=dQDh-qNy-2PyfeNi&q=85&s=15cfb61b0f2e275fc8d4274ad5dcf59d" width="1200" height="396" data-path="images/d323f495-custom_delete_bubble-9504ef572fcf69ada7c0ae9c1025f468.png" />
</Frame>

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Kotlin (XML Views)">
    ```xml themes.xml lines theme={null}
    <style name="CustomDeleteBubble" parent="CometChatOutgoingDeleteBubbleStyle">
        <item name="cometchatMessageBubbleBackgroundColor">#F76808</item>
    </style>

    <style name="CustomOutgoingBubble" parent="CometChatOutgoingMessageBubbleStyle">
        <item name="cometchatDeleteBubbleStyle">@style/CustomDeleteBubble</item>
    </style>
    ```
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Jetpack Compose">
    ```kotlin lines theme={null}
    outgoingMessageBubbleStyle = CometChatOutgoingMessageBubbleStyle.default().copy(
        deleteBubbleStyle = CometChatDeleteBubbleStyle.default().copy(
            backgroundColor = Color(0xFFF76808)
        )
    )
    ```
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

***

## List-Level Bubbles

These bubbles are tied to the Message List style, not the Incoming/Outgoing hubs.

### Call Action Bubble

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/cometchat-22654f5b-feature-card-builder/p-BaO12CMdpnxKfV/images/2680816a-custom_call_action_bubble-273452145034c0846b211e2ed53bc6df.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=p-BaO12CMdpnxKfV&q=85&s=7b80ea635b27d041cc7c0ad371c032f6" width="1200" height="1304" data-path="images/2680816a-custom_call_action_bubble-273452145034c0846b211e2ed53bc6df.png" />
</Frame>

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Kotlin (XML Views)">
    ```xml themes.xml lines theme={null}
    <style name="CustomCallActionBubble" parent="CometChatCallActionBubbleStyle">
        <item name="cometchatCallActionBubbleBackgroundColor">#FEEDE1</item>
        <item name="cometchatCallActionBubbleTextColor">#F76808</item>
        <item name="cometchatCallActionBubbleIconTint">#F76808</item>
    </style>

    <style name="CustomMessageListStyle" parent="CometChatMessageListStyle">
        <item name="cometchatMessageListCallActionBubbleStyle">@style/CustomCallActionBubble</item>
    </style>

    <style name="AppTheme" parent="CometChatTheme.DayNight">
        <item name="cometchatMessageListStyle">@style/CustomMessageListStyle</item>
    </style>
    ```
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Jetpack Compose">
    ```kotlin lines theme={null}
    CometChatMessageList(
        style = CometChatMessageListStyle.default().copy(
            callActionBubbleStyle = CometChatCallActionBubbleStyle.default().copy(
                backgroundColor = Color(0xFFFEEDE1),
                textColor = Color(0xFFF76808),
                iconTint = Color(0xFFF76808)
            )
        )
    )
    ```
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

### Action Bubble

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/cometchat-22654f5b-feature-card-builder/POKce_Oe2FDpCjGg/images/5ef64cf9-custom_action_bubble-c026ed34c02477f513b78475818781bc.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=POKce_Oe2FDpCjGg&q=85&s=5e96d81ec69b3746b635f0365f6773f2" width="1200" height="476" data-path="images/5ef64cf9-custom_action_bubble-c026ed34c02477f513b78475818781bc.png" />
</Frame>

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Kotlin (XML Views)">
    ```xml themes.xml lines theme={null}
    <style name="CustomActionBubble" parent="CometChatActionBubbleStyle">
        <item name="cometchatActionBubbleBackgroundColor">#FEEDE1</item>
        <item name="cometchatActionBubbleTextColor">#F76808</item>
    </style>

    <style name="CustomMessageListStyle" parent="CometChatMessageListStyle">
        <item name="cometchatMessageListActionBubbleStyle">@style/CustomActionBubble</item>
    </style>

    <style name="AppTheme" parent="CometChatTheme.DayNight">
        <item name="cometchatMessageListStyle">@style/CustomMessageListStyle</item>
    </style>
    ```
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Jetpack Compose">
    ```kotlin lines theme={null}
    CometChatMessageList(
        style = CometChatMessageListStyle.default().copy(
            actionBubbleStyle = CometChatActionBubbleStyle.default().copy(
                backgroundColor = Color(0xFFFEEDE1),
                textColor = Color(0xFFF76808)
            )
        )
    )
    ```
  </Tab>
</Tabs>
