Back

GUI Components in Tkinter (Message Box, Combobox, CheckBox, RadioButton)

Definition

Tkinter provides several GUI widgets to create interactive applications.

These widgets help users:

  • View messages (Message Box)
  • Select options from a list (Combobox)
  • Choose true/false options (CheckBox)
  • Select one option among many (RadioButton)

Key Points

1. Message Box in Tkinter

A Message Box is used to display popup messages to users.

Examples:

  • Information messages
  • Warning messages
  • Error messages

To use message boxes, import:

from tkinter import messagebox

or

import tkinter.messagebox

Example / Code

from tkinter import *
from tkinter import messagebox

def show_message():
    messagebox.showinfo(
        "Success",
        "Account Created Successfully"
    )

window = Tk()

window.title("Bank Account")
window.geometry("400x350")

button1 = Button(
    window,
    text="Click Me",
    command=show_message
)

button1.pack()

window.mainloop()

Explanation

messagebox.showinfo()

Used to display information.

Syntax:

messagebox.showinfo(title, message)

Example:

messagebox.showinfo(
    "Success",
    "Account Created Successfully"
)

When the button is clicked, a popup appears.

command=show_message

Connects the button to a function.

When button is clicked:

show_message()

runs automatically.

Output (if any)

A popup window appears:

Success
Account Created Successfully

2. Assigning Actions to Buttons

Buttons become useful when they perform actions.

To assign actions:

  1. Create a function
  2. Pass it inside command=

Example / Code

from tkinter import *

def say_hello():
    print("Hello User")

window = Tk()

window.geometry("400x350")

button1 = Button(
    window,
    text="Click",
    command=say_hello
)

button1.pack()

window.mainloop()

Explanation

Step 1: Create a function

def say_hello():
    print("Hello User")

This function runs some action.

Step 2: Connect button

command=say_hello

Important:

Do not write:

command=say_hello()

because it runs immediately.

Correct:

command=say_hello

Output (if any)

When button is clicked:

Hello User

prints in terminal.

3. Combobox

A Combobox is an Entry widget with a drop-down menu.

Users can choose one item from a list.

To use Combobox:

from tkinter.ttk import *

Example / Code

from tkinter import *
from tkinter.ttk import *

window = Tk()

window.title("City Selection")
window.geometry("400x350")

cities = ["Kabul", "Herat", "Balkh"]

combo = Combobox(
    window,
    values=cities
)

combo.place(x=120, y=100)

window.mainloop()

Explanation

values=

Stores list items.

Example:

cities = [
    "Kabul",
    "Herat",
    "Balkh"
]

These appear in the dropdown menu.

Combobox()

Creates a dropdown selection box.

Output (if any)

A dropdown menu appears with:

  • Kabul
  • Herat
  • Balkh

4. CheckBox (Checkbutton)

A CheckBox is used for Boolean data.

Meaning:

  • Checked = True
  • Unchecked = False

Users can select multiple checkboxes.

Example / Code

from tkinter import *

window = Tk()

window.geometry("400x350")

python_var = IntVar()

check1 = Checkbutton(
    window,
    text="Python",
    variable=python_var
)

check1.pack()

window.mainloop()

Explanation

Checkbutton()

Creates a checkbox.

IntVar()

Stores checkbox value.

Values:

1 = Checked
0 = Unchecked

Example:

python_var.get()

Gets current value.

Output (if any)

A checkbox appears:

☑ Python

or

☐ Python

5. RadioButton

Radio Buttons are used when users must choose only one option among multiple choices.

Example:

Choose gender:

  • Male
  • Female

Only one can be selected.

Example / Code

from tkinter import *

window = Tk()

window.geometry("400x350")

gender = StringVar()

radio1 = Radiobutton(
    window,
    text="Male",
    variable=gender,
    value="Male"
)

radio2 = Radiobutton(
    window,
    text="Female",
    variable=gender,
    value="Female"
)

radio1.pack()
radio2.pack()

window.mainloop()

Explanation

variable=

Connects radio buttons together.

value=

Stores selected option.

Example:

If user selects:

Male

then:

gender.get()

returns:

Male

Output (if any)

User sees:

○ Male
○ Female

Only one can be selected at a time.

Practice 3

Create a Student Registration Window

Requirements:

  • Window size: 400 × 350
  • Add:
    • Name Entry
    • City Combobox
    • Subject CheckBox
    • Gender RadioButton
    • Submit Button
    • Message Box

Example / Code

from tkinter import *
from tkinter import messagebox
from tkinter.ttk import *

def submit():

    name = entry_name.get()
    city = city_combo.get()
    gender_value = gender.get()

    messagebox.showinfo(
        "Student Information",
        f"Name: {name}\n"
        f"City: {city}\n"
        f"Gender: {gender_value}"
    )

window = Tk()

window.title("Student Form")
window.geometry("400x350")

# Name
Label(window, text="Name").place(x=50, y=50)

entry_name = Entry(window)
entry_name.place(x=150, y=50)

# City
Label(window, text="City").place(x=50, y=100)

city_combo = Combobox(
    window,
    values=["Kabul", "Herat", "Balkh"]
)
city_combo.place(x=150, y=100)

# Checkbox
python_var = IntVar()

Checkbutton(
    window,
    text="Python",
    variable=python_var
).place(x=150, y=140)

# Gender
gender = StringVar()

Radiobutton(
    window,
    text="Male",
    variable=gender,
    value="Male"
).place(x=150, y=180)

Radiobutton(
    window,
    text="Female",
    variable=gender,
    value="Female"
).place(x=220, y=180)

# Submit button
Button(
    window,
    text="Submit",
    command=submit
).place(x=150, y=240)

window.mainloop()

Common Mistakes

1. Forgetting to import messagebox

Wrong:

messagebox.showinfo()

Correct:

from tkinter import messagebox

2. Writing function with brackets

Wrong:

command=myFunction()

Correct:

command=myFunction

3. Forgetting ttk import for Combobox

Wrong:

Combobox()

Correct:

from tkinter.ttk import *

4. Using different variables for radio buttons

Wrong:

variable=a
variable=b

Correct:

All radio buttons must use same variable.

variable=gender

Short Exam Notes (very concise revision points)

  • messagebox → popup messages
  • Import:
from tkinter import messagebox
  • command=functionName → button action
  • Combobox() → dropdown menu
  • Import:
from tkinter.ttk import *
  • Checkbutton() → true/false selection
  • Radiobutton() → one selection only
  • IntVar() → stores integer value
  • StringVar() → stores text value
  • .get() → gets user input