Arduino ST7735 1.8" TFT display example

This post shows how to connect the Arduino with ST7735 160×128 SPI TFT module. This type of TFT is a small size, low cost and easy to use. In this example I used the TFT shown below (ST7735S):

Generally it has 8 pins: RST (reset), CS (chip select), D/C (data/command), DIN (data in), CLK (clock), VCC, BL (backlight) and GND.
The ST7735 TFT uses SPI (serial peripheral interface) protocol to communicate with the master device which is in this example the Arduino board microcontroller.

Components Required:

Arduino board
ST7735 TFT screen
5 x 1K ohm resistor
Breadboard
Jumper wires

The circuit:
Circuit schematic diagram is shown below.

The ST7735 TFT works with 3.3V and the Arduino uno works with 5V, supplying the TFT control lines directly with 5V my damage it, so we have to add the five 1K ohm resistors. The ST7735 board is supplied with 5V which comes from the Arduino board (the TFT board contains AMS1117 3V3 voltage regulator which steps down the 5V to 3.3V).

Arduino code:
We need 2 libraries (Adafruit_ST7735 and Adafruit_GFX) from Adafruit industries in order to compile the Arduino code below, these libraries can be downloaded from the link below:
Download

Place both libraries in Arduino IDE libraries folder.

// Arduino ST7735 1.8" TFT example

#include <Adafruit_GFX.h>    // Core graphics library
#include <Adafruit_ST7735.h> // Hardware-specific library
#include <SPI.h>

#define TFT_CS     9         // TFT CS pin is connected to arduino pin 9
#define TFT_DC     10        // TFT DC pin is connected to arduino pin 10

Adafruit_ST7735 tft = Adafruit_ST7735(TFT_CS,  TFT_DC);

float p = 3.1415926;

void setup(void) {
  tft.initR(INITR_BLACKTAB);   // initialize a ST7735S chip, black tab

  uint16_t time = millis();
  tft.fillScreen(ST7735_BLACK);
  time = millis() - time;
  
  delay(500);

  // large block of text
  tft.fillScreen(ST7735_BLACK);
  testdrawtext("Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Curabitur adipiscing ante sed nibh tincidunt feugiat. Maecenas enim massa, fringilla sed malesuada et, malesuada sit amet turpis. Sed porttitor neque ut ante pretium vitae malesuada nunc bibendum. Nullam aliquet ultrices massa eu hendrerit. Ut sed nisi lorem. In vestibulum purus a tortor imperdiet posuere. ", ST7735_WHITE);
  delay(1000);

  // tft print function!
  tftPrintTest();
  delay(4000);

  // a single pixel
  tft.drawPixel(tft.width()/2, tft.height()/2, ST7735_GREEN);
  delay(500);

  // line draw test
  testlines(ST7735_YELLOW);
  delay(500);

  // optimized lines
  testfastlines(ST7735_RED, ST7735_BLUE);
  delay(500);

  testdrawrects(ST7735_GREEN);
  delay(500);

  testfillrects(ST7735_YELLOW, ST7735_MAGENTA);
  delay(500);

  tft.fillScreen(ST7735_BLACK);
  testfillcircles(10, ST7735_BLUE);
  testdrawcircles(10, ST7735_WHITE);
  delay(500);

  testroundrects();
  delay(500);

  testtriangles();
  delay(500);

  mediabuttons();
  delay(500);

  delay(1000);
}

void loop() {
  tft.invertDisplay(true);
  delay(500);
  tft.invertDisplay(false);
  delay(500);
}

void testlines(uint16_t color) {
  tft.fillScreen(ST7735_BLACK);
  for (int16_t x=0; x < tft.width(); x+=6) {
    tft.drawLine(0, 0, x, tft.height()-1, color);
  }
  for (int16_t y=0; y < tft.height(); y+=6) {
    tft.drawLine(0, 0, tft.width()-1, y, color);
  }

  tft.fillScreen(ST7735_BLACK);
  for (int16_t x=0; x < tft.width(); x+=6) {
    tft.drawLine(tft.width()-1, 0, x, tft.height()-1, color);
  }
  for (int16_t y=0; y < tft.height(); y+=6) {
    tft.drawLine(tft.width()-1, 0, 0, y, color);
  }

  tft.fillScreen(ST7735_BLACK);
  for (int16_t x=0; x < tft.width(); x+=6) {
    tft.drawLine(0, tft.height()-1, x, 0, color);
  }
  for (int16_t y=0; y < tft.height(); y+=6) {
    tft.drawLine(0, tft.height()-1, tft.width()-1, y, color);
  }

  tft.fillScreen(ST7735_BLACK);
  for (int16_t x=0; x < tft.width(); x+=6) {
    tft.drawLine(tft.width()-1, tft.height()-1, x, 0, color);
  }
  for (int16_t y=0; y < tft.height(); y+=6) {
    tft.drawLine(tft.width()-1, tft.height()-1, 0, y, color);
  }
}

void testdrawtext(char *text, uint16_t color) {
  tft.setCursor(0, 0);
  tft.setTextColor(color);
  tft.setTextWrap(true);
  tft.print(text);
}

void testfastlines(uint16_t color1, uint16_t color2) {
  tft.fillScreen(ST7735_BLACK);
  for (int16_t y=0; y < tft.height(); y+=5) {
    tft.drawFastHLine(0, y, tft.width(), color1);
  }
  for (int16_t x=0; x < tft.width(); x+=5) {
    tft.drawFastVLine(x, 0, tft.height(), color2);
  }
}

void testdrawrects(uint16_t color) {
  tft.fillScreen(ST7735_BLACK);
  for (int16_t x=0; x < tft.width(); x+=6) {
    tft.drawRect(tft.width()/2 -x/2, tft.height()/2 -x/2 , x, x, color);
  }
}

void testfillrects(uint16_t color1, uint16_t color2) {
  tft.fillScreen(ST7735_BLACK);
  for (int16_t x=tft.width()-1; x > 6; x-=6) {
    tft.fillRect(tft.width()/2 -x/2, tft.height()/2 -x/2 , x, x, color1);
    tft.drawRect(tft.width()/2 -x/2, tft.height()/2 -x/2 , x, x, color2);
  }
}

void testfillcircles(uint8_t radius, uint16_t color) {
  for (int16_t x=radius; x < tft.width(); x+=radius*2) {
    for (int16_t y=radius; y < tft.height(); y+=radius*2) {
      tft.fillCircle(x, y, radius, color);
    }
  }
}

void testdrawcircles(uint8_t radius, uint16_t color) {
  for (int16_t x=0; x < tft.width()+radius; x+=radius*2) {
    for (int16_t y=0; y < tft.height()+radius; y+=radius*2) {
      tft.drawCircle(x, y, radius, color);
    }
  }
}

void testtriangles() {
  tft.fillScreen(ST7735_BLACK);
  int color = 0xF800;
  int t;
  int w = tft.width()/2;
  int x = tft.height()-1;
  int y = 0;
  int z = tft.width();
  for(t = 0 ; t <= 15; t++) {
    tft.drawTriangle(w, y, y, x, z, x, color);
    x-=4;
    y+=4;
    z-=4;
    color+=100;
  }
}

void testroundrects() {
  tft.fillScreen(ST7735_BLACK);
  int color = 100;
  int i;
  int t;
  for(t = 0 ; t <= 4; t+=1) {
    int x = 0;
    int y = 0;
    int w = tft.width()-2;
    int h = tft.height()-2;
    for(i = 0 ; i <= 16; i+=1) {
      tft.drawRoundRect(x, y, w, h, 5, color);
      x+=2;
      y+=3;
      w-=4;
      h-=6;
      color+=1100;
    }
    color+=100;
  }
}

void tftPrintTest() {
  tft.setTextWrap(false);
  tft.fillScreen(ST7735_BLACK);
  tft.setCursor(0, 30);
  tft.setTextColor(ST7735_RED);
  tft.setTextSize(1);
  tft.println("Hello World!");
  tft.setTextColor(ST7735_YELLOW);
  tft.setTextSize(2);
  tft.println("Hello World!");
  tft.setTextColor(ST7735_GREEN);
  tft.setTextSize(3);
  tft.println("Hello World!");
  tft.setTextColor(ST7735_BLUE);
  tft.setTextSize(4);
  tft.print(1234.567);
  delay(1500);
  tft.setCursor(0, 0);
  tft.fillScreen(ST7735_BLACK);
  tft.setTextColor(ST7735_WHITE);
  tft.setTextSize(0);
  tft.println("Hello World!");
  tft.setTextSize(1);
  tft.setTextColor(ST7735_GREEN);
  tft.print(p, 6);
  tft.println(" Want pi?");
  tft.println(" ");
  tft.print(8675309, HEX); // print 8,675,309 out in HEX!
  tft.println(" Print HEX!");
  tft.println(" ");
  tft.setTextColor(ST7735_WHITE);
  tft.println("Sketch has been");
  tft.println("running for: ");
  tft.setTextColor(ST7735_MAGENTA);
  tft.print(millis() / 1000);
  tft.setTextColor(ST7735_WHITE);
  tft.print(" seconds.");
}

void mediabuttons() {
  // play
  tft.fillScreen(ST7735_BLACK);
  tft.fillRoundRect(25, 10, 78, 60, 8, ST7735_WHITE);
  tft.fillTriangle(42, 20, 42, 60, 90, 40, ST7735_RED);
  delay(500);
  // pause
  tft.fillRoundRect(25, 90, 78, 60, 8, ST7735_WHITE);
  tft.fillRoundRect(39, 98, 20, 45, 5, ST7735_GREEN);
  tft.fillRoundRect(69, 98, 20, 45, 5, ST7735_GREEN);
  delay(500);
  // play color
  tft.fillTriangle(42, 20, 42, 60, 90, 40, ST7735_BLUE);
  delay(50);
  // pause color
  tft.fillRoundRect(39, 98, 20, 45, 5, ST7735_RED);
  tft.fillRoundRect(69, 98, 20, 45, 5, ST7735_RED);
  // play color
  tft.fillTriangle(42, 20, 42, 60, 90, 40, ST7735_GREEN);
}

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// Arduino ST7735 1.8" TFT example

#include <Adafruit_GFX.h> // Core graphics library

#include <Adafruit_ST7735.h> // Hardware-specific library

#include <SPI.h>

#define TFT_CS 9 // TFT CS pin is connected to arduino pin 9

#define TFT_DC 10 // TFT DC pin is connected to arduino pin 10

Adafruit_ST7735 tft = Adafruit_ST7735(TFT_CS, TFT_DC);

float p = 3.1415926;

void setup(void) {

tft.initR(INITR_BLACKTAB); // initialize a ST7735S chip, black tab

uint16_t time = millis();

tft.fillScreen(ST7735_BLACK);

time = millis() - time;

delay(500);

// large block of text

tft.fillScreen(ST7735_BLACK);

testdrawtext("Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Curabitur adipiscing ante sed nibh tincidunt feugiat. Maecenas enim massa, fringilla sed malesuada et, malesuada sit amet turpis. Sed porttitor neque ut ante pretium vitae malesuada nunc bibendum. Nullam aliquet ultrices massa eu hendrerit. Ut sed nisi lorem. In vestibulum purus a tortor imperdiet posuere. ", ST7735_WHITE);

delay(1000);

// tft print function!

tftPrintTest();

delay(4000);

// a single pixel

tft.drawPixel(tft.width()/2, tft.height()/2, ST7735_GREEN);

delay(500);

// line draw test

testlines(ST7735_YELLOW);

delay(500);

// optimized lines

testfastlines(ST7735_RED, ST7735_BLUE);

delay(500);

testdrawrects(ST7735_GREEN);

delay(500);

testfillrects(ST7735_YELLOW, ST7735_MAGENTA);

delay(500);

tft.fillScreen(ST7735_BLACK);

testfillcircles(10, ST7735_BLUE);

testdrawcircles(10, ST7735_WHITE);

delay(500);

testroundrects();

delay(500);

testtriangles();

delay(500);

mediabuttons();

delay(500);

delay(1000);

}

void loop() {

tft.invertDisplay(true);

delay(500);

tft.invertDisplay(false);

delay(500);

}

void testlines(uint16_t color) {

tft.fillScreen(ST7735_BLACK);

for (int16_t x=0; x < tft.width(); x+=6) {

tft.drawLine(0, 0, x, tft.height()-1, color);

}

for (int16_t y=0; y < tft.height(); y+=6) {

tft.drawLine(0, 0, tft.width()-1, y, color);

}

tft.fillScreen(ST7735_BLACK);

for (int16_t x=0; x < tft.width(); x+=6) {

tft.drawLine(tft.width()-1, 0, x, tft.height()-1, color);

}

for (int16_t y=0; y < tft.height(); y+=6) {

tft.drawLine(tft.width()-1, 0, 0, y, color);

}

tft.fillScreen(ST7735_BLACK);

for (int16_t x=0; x < tft.width(); x+=6) {

tft.drawLine(0, tft.height()-1, x, 0, color);

}

for (int16_t y=0; y < tft.height(); y+=6) {

tft.drawLine(0, tft.height()-1, tft.width()-1, y, color);

}

tft.fillScreen(ST7735_BLACK);

for (int16_t x=0; x < tft.width(); x+=6) {

tft.drawLine(tft.width()-1, tft.height()-1, x, 0, color);

}

for (int16_t y=0; y < tft.height(); y+=6) {

tft.drawLine(tft.width()-1, tft.height()-1, 0, y, color);

}

void testdrawtext(char *text, uint16_t color) {

tft.setCursor(0, 0);

tft.setTextColor(color);

tft.setTextWrap(true);

tft.print(text);

}

void testfastlines(uint16_t color1, uint16_t color2) {

tft.fillScreen(ST7735_BLACK);

for (int16_t y=0; y < tft.height(); y+=5) {

tft.drawFastHLine(0, y, tft.width(), color1);

}

for (int16_t x=0; x < tft.width(); x+=5) {

tft.drawFastVLine(x, 0, tft.height(), color2);

}

void testdrawrects(uint16_t color) {

tft.fillScreen(ST7735_BLACK);

for (int16_t x=0; x < tft.width(); x+=6) {

tft.drawRect(tft.width()/2 -x/2, tft.height()/2 -x/2 , x, x, color);

}

void testfillrects(uint16_t color1, uint16_t color2) {

tft.fillScreen(ST7735_BLACK);

for (int16_t x=tft.width()-1; x > 6; x-=6) {

tft.fillRect(tft.width()/2 -x/2, tft.height()/2 -x/2 , x, x, color1);

tft.drawRect(tft.width()/2 -x/2, tft.height()/2 -x/2 , x, x, color2);

}

void testfillcircles(uint8_t radius, uint16_t color) {

for (int16_t x=radius; x < tft.width(); x+=radius*2) {

for (int16_t y=radius; y < tft.height(); y+=radius*2) {

tft.fillCircle(x, y, radius, color);

}

void testdrawcircles(uint8_t radius, uint16_t color) {

for (int16_t x=0; x < tft.width()+radius; x+=radius*2) {

for (int16_t y=0; y < tft.height()+radius; y+=radius*2) {

tft.drawCircle(x, y, radius, color);

}

void testtriangles() {

tft.fillScreen(ST7735_BLACK);

int color = 0xF800;

int t;

int w = tft.width()/2;

int x = tft.height()-1;

int y = 0;

int z = tft.width();

for(t = 0 ; t <= 15; t++) {

tft.drawTriangle(w, y, y, x, z, x, color);

x-=4;

y+=4;

z-=4;

color+=100;

}

void testroundrects() {

tft.fillScreen(ST7735_BLACK);

int color = 100;

int i;

int t;

for(t = 0 ; t <= 4; t+=1) {

int x = 0;

int y = 0;

int w = tft.width()-2;

int h = tft.height()-2;

for(i = 0 ; i <= 16; i+=1) {

tft.drawRoundRect(x, y, w, h, 5, color);

x+=2;

y+=3;

w-=4;

h-=6;

color+=1100;

}

color+=100;

}

void tftPrintTest() {

tft.setTextWrap(false);

tft.fillScreen(ST7735_BLACK);

tft.setCursor(0, 30);

tft.setTextColor(ST7735_RED);

tft.setTextSize(1);

tft.println("Hello World!");

tft.setTextColor(ST7735_YELLOW);

tft.setTextSize(2);

tft.println("Hello World!");

tft.setTextColor(ST7735_GREEN);

tft.setTextSize(3);

tft.println("Hello World!");

tft.setTextColor(ST7735_BLUE);

tft.setTextSize(4);

tft.print(1234.567);

delay(1500);

tft.setCursor(0, 0);

tft.fillScreen(ST7735_BLACK);

tft.setTextColor(ST7735_WHITE);

tft.setTextSize(0);

tft.println("Hello World!");

tft.setTextSize(1);

tft.setTextColor(ST7735_GREEN);

tft.print(p, 6);

tft.println(" Want pi?");

tft.println(" ");

tft.print(8675309, HEX); // print 8,675,309 out in HEX!

tft.println(" Print HEX!");

tft.println(" ");

tft.setTextColor(ST7735_WHITE);

tft.println("Sketch has been");

tft.println("running for: ");

tft.setTextColor(ST7735_MAGENTA);

tft.print(millis() / 1000);

tft.setTextColor(ST7735_WHITE);

tft.print(" seconds.");

}

void mediabuttons() {

// play

tft.fillScreen(ST7735_BLACK);

tft.fillRoundRect(25, 10, 78, 60, 8, ST7735_WHITE);

tft.fillTriangle(42, 20, 42, 60, 90, 40, ST7735_RED);

delay(500);

// pause

tft.fillRoundRect(25, 90, 78, 60, 8, ST7735_WHITE);

tft.fillRoundRect(39, 98, 20, 45, 5, ST7735_GREEN);

tft.fillRoundRect(69, 98, 20, 45, 5, ST7735_GREEN);

delay(500);

// play color

tft.fillTriangle(42, 20, 42, 60, 90, 40, ST7735_BLUE);

delay(50);

// pause color

tft.fillRoundRect(39, 98, 20, 45, 5, ST7735_RED);

tft.fillRoundRect(69, 98, 20, 45, 5, ST7735_RED);

// play color

tft.fillTriangle(42, 20, 42, 60, 90, 40, ST7735_GREEN);

}

Example small video:

Arduino projects with ST7735 TFT display:
Arduino and ST7735R TFT Proteus simulation
Arduino with DS3231 and ST7735 color TFT
Interfacing Arduino with ST7735 display and DS18B20 temperature sensor
Arduino with LM35 temperature sensor and ST7735 color display
Interfacing Arduino with DHT11 sensor and ST7735 TFT display
Arduino Interface with ST7735 TFT and DHT22 sensor
Arduino Real time clock with ST7735 color TFT and DS1307
Arduino clock with DS3231 and ST7735 color display
Interfacing Arduino with BMP280 sensor & ST7735 TFT
Arduino weather station with ST7735 color TFT display

Reference:
Adafruit industries

Arduino ST7735 1.8″ TFT display example

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