|
<topic_start> |
|
Introduction to Flutter: Building Beautiful Cross-Platform Apps |
|
|
|
Flutter is an open-source UI software development toolkit created by Google. |
|
It is designed to build natively compiled applications for mobile, web, and desktop from a single codebase. |
|
Flutter provides a fast, expressive, and flexible way to develop visually stunning |
|
applications with high performance. |
|
It is a powerful framework for building cross-platform applications with beautiful, |
|
highly-customizable UIs. By leveraging Flutter's rich set of widgets, hot reload feature, and platform-specific integrations, |
|
developers can create high-quality apps that run smoothly on multiple platforms with minimal effort. |
|
<topic_end> |
|
<topic_start> |
|
Why Choose Flutter? |
|
|
|
One of the primary advantages of Flutter is its ability to create beautiful, |
|
highly-customized user interfaces (UI) quickly and efficiently. Here's why Flutter stands out: |
|
|
|
1- Single Codebase: With Flutter, you write one codebase that runs on multiple platforms, including iOS, |
|
Android, web, and desktop. This means you can reach a broader audience with less effort. |
|
|
|
2- Expressive UI: Flutter uses a declarative approach to building UI, meaning you describe what you want your UI to look like, |
|
and Flutter handles the rendering. This allows for highly expressive and customizable UI designs. |
|
|
|
3- Fast Development: Flutter's hot reload feature allows developers to instantly see changes they make |
|
to the code reflected on the app UI, speeding up the development process significantly. |
|
|
|
4- Native Performance: Flutter apps are compiled directly to native machine code, |
|
providing near-native performance on each platform. |
|
|
|
5- Rich Set of Widgets: Flutter comes with an extensive collection of pre-designed widgets for |
|
building UI elements such as buttons, text inputs, sliders, and more. These widgets are highly |
|
customizable and can be combined to create complex UI layouts. |
|
<topic_end> |
|
<topic_start> |
|
Widgets: The Building Blocks of Flutter |
|
|
|
In Flutter, everything is a widget. A widget is a lightweight, |
|
reusable component that represents a part of the UI. Flutter provides two types of widgets: |
|
|
|
1- Stateless Widgets: These widgets are immutable and do not have any internal state. |
|
Stateless widgets are used for UI elements that do not change over time, such as buttons, icons, or static text. |
|
|
|
2- Stateful Widgets: Stateful widgets maintain internal state that can change over time. |
|
They are used for UI elements that need to update dynamically, such as input fields, animations, or lists. |
|
<topic_end> |
|
<topic_start> |
|
How Flutter Works |
|
|
|
At the heart of Flutter's architecture is the Flutter Engine, |
|
which is written primarily in C++. |
|
The Flutter Engine provides low-level rendering support through Google's Skia graphics library. |
|
Here's a simplified overview of how Flutter works: |
|
|
|
1- UI Rendering: Flutter uses a custom rendering engine to draw UI elements directly to the screen, |
|
bypassing the platform's native UI components. This allows for consistent UI across different platforms. |
|
|
|
2- Dart Programming Language: Flutter apps are written in the Dart programming language, |
|
which was also developed by Google. Dart provides features such as a just-in-time (JIT) compiler for rapid development and a ahead-of-time (AOT) compiler for producing highly optimized native code. |
|
|
|
3- Widgets Layer: Developers use Flutter's extensive widget library to compose the UI of their applications. |
|
Widgets are arranged in a tree hierarchy, with each widget responsible for rendering a specific part of the UI. |
|
|
|
4- Hot Reload: Flutter's hot reload feature allows developers to make changes to the code and see the results instantly without restarting the app. |
|
This greatly speeds up the development process and enables iterative UI design |
|
|
|
5- Platform Channels: Flutter provides platform channels that allow communication between Flutter code and platform-specific code written in Java (for Android) or Objective-C/Swift (for iOS). |
|
This enables developers to access platform-specific features and APIs when needed. |
|
<topic_end> |
|
<topic_start> |
|
Understanding constraints in Flutter |
|
info Note |
|
If you are experiencing specific layout errors, |
|
you might check out Common Flutter errors. |
|
When someone learning Flutter asks you why some widget |
|
with width: 100 isn’t 100 pixels wide, |
|
the default answer is to tell them to put that widget |
|
inside of a Center, right? |
|
Don’t do that. |
|
If you do, they’ll come back again and again, |
|
asking why some FittedBox isn’t working, |
|
why that Column is overflowing, or what |
|
IntrinsicWidth is supposed to be doing. |
|
Instead, first tell them that Flutter layout is very different |
|
from HTML layout (which is probably where they’re coming from), |
|
and then make them memorize the following rule: |
|
Flutter layout can’t really be understood without knowing |
|
this rule, so Flutter developers should learn it early on. |
|
In more detail: |
|
For example, if a composed widget contains a column |
|
with some padding, and wants to lay out its two children |
|
as follows: |
|
|
|
The negotiation goes something like this: |
|
Widget: “Hey parent, what are my constraints?” |
|
Parent: “You must be from 0 to 300 pixels wide, |
|
and 0 to 85 tall.” |
|
Widget: “Hmmm, since I want to have 5 pixels of padding, |
|
then my children can have at most 290 pixels of width |
|
and 75 pixels of height.” |
|
Widget: “Hey first child, You must be from 0 to 290 |
|
pixels wide, and 0 to 75 tall.” |
|
First child: “OK, then I wish to be 290 pixels wide, |
|
and 20 pixels tall.” |
|
Widget: “Hmmm, since I want to put my second child below the |
|
first one, this leaves only 55 pixels of height for |
|
my second child.” |
|
Widget: “Hey second child, You must be from 0 to 290 wide, |
|
and 0 to 55 tall.” |
|
Second child: “OK, I wish to be 140 pixels wide, |
|
and 30 pixels tall.” |
|
Widget: “Very well. My first child has position x: 5 and y: 5, |
|
and my second child has x: 80 and y: 25.” |
|
Widget: “Hey parent, I’ve decided that my size is going to be 300 |
|
pixels wide, and 60 pixels tall.” |
|
<topic_end> |
|
<topic_start> |
|
Limitations |
|
Flutter’s layout engine is designed to be a one-pass process. |
|
This means that Flutter lays out its widgets very efficiently, |
|
but does result in a few limitations: |
|
A widget can decide its own size only within the |
|
constraints given to it by its parent. |
|
This means a widget usually |
|
can’t have any size it wants. |
|
A widget can’t know and doesn’t decide its own position |
|
in the screen, since it’s the widget’s parent who decides |
|
the position of the widget. |
|
Since the parent’s size and position, in its turn, |
|
also depends on its own parent, it’s impossible to |
|
precisely define the size and position of any widget |
|
without taking into consideration the tree as a whole. |
|
If a child wants a different size from its parent and |
|
the parent doesn’t have enough information to align it, |
|
then the child’s size might be ignored. |
|
Be specific when defining alignment. |
|
In Flutter, widgets are rendered by their underlying |
|
RenderBox objects. Many boxes in Flutter, |
|
especially those that just take a single child, |
|
pass their constraint on to their children. |
|
Generally, there are three kinds of boxes, |
|
in terms of how they handle their constraints: |
|
Some widgets, for example Container, |
|
vary from type to type based on their constructor arguments. |
|
The Container constructor defaults |
|
to trying to be as big as possible, but if you give it a width, |
|
for instance, it tries to honor that and be that particular size. |
|
Others, for example Row and Column (flex boxes) |
|
vary based on the constraints they are given, |
|
as described in the Flex section. |
|
<topic_end> |
|
<topic_start> |
|
Examples |
|
For an interactive experience, use the following DartPad. |
|
Use the numbered horizontal scrolling bar to switch between |
|
29 different examples. |
|
<code_start> |
|
import 'package:flutter/material.dart'; |
|
|
|
void main() => runApp(const HomePage()); |
|
|
|
const red = Colors.red; |
|
const green = Colors.green; |
|
const blue = Colors.blue; |
|
const big = TextStyle(fontSize: 30); |
|
|
|
|
|
class HomePage extends StatelessWidget { |
|
const HomePage({super.key}); |
|
|
|
@override |
|
Widget build(BuildContext context) { |
|
return const FlutterLayoutArticle([ |
|
Example1(), |
|
Example2(), |
|
Example3(), |
|
Example4(), |
|
Example5(), |
|
Example6(), |
|
Example7(), |
|
Example8(), |
|
Example9(), |
|
Example10(), |
|
Example11(), |
|
Example12(), |
|
Example13(), |
|
Example14(), |
|
Example15(), |
|
Example16(), |
|
Example17(), |
|
Example18(), |
|
Example19(), |
|
Example20(), |
|
Example21(), |
|
Example22(), |
|
Example23(), |
|
Example24(), |
|
Example25(), |
|
Example26(), |
|
Example27(), |
|
Example28(), |
|
Example29(), |
|
]); |
|
} |
|
} |
|
|
|
|
|
abstract class Example extends StatelessWidget { |
|
const Example({super.key}); |
|
|
|
String get code; |
|
|
|
String get explanation; |
|
} |
|
|
|
|
|
class FlutterLayoutArticle extends StatefulWidget { |
|
const FlutterLayoutArticle( |
|
this.examples, { |
|
super.key, |
|
}); |
|
|
|
final List<Example> examples; |
|
|
|
@override |
|
State<FlutterLayoutArticle> createState() => _FlutterLayoutArticleState(); |
|
} |
|
|
|
|
|
class _FlutterLayoutArticleState extends State<FlutterLayoutArticle> { |
|
late int count; |
|
late Widget example; |
|
late String code; |
|
late String explanation; |
|
|
|
@override |
|
void initState() { |
|
count = 1; |
|
code = const Example1().code; |
|
explanation = const Example1().explanation; |
|
|
|
super.initState(); |
|
} |
|
|
|
@override |
|
void didUpdateWidget(FlutterLayoutArticle oldWidget) { |
|
super.didUpdateWidget(oldWidget); |
|
var example = widget.examples[count - 1]; |
|
code = example.code; |
|
explanation = example.explanation; |
|
} |
|
|
|
@override |
|
Widget build(BuildContext context) { |
|
return MaterialApp( |
|
debugShowCheckedModeBanner: false, |
|
title: 'Flutter Layout Article', |
|
home: SafeArea( |
|
child: Material( |
|
color: Colors.black, |
|
child: FittedBox( |
|
child: Container( |
|
width: 400, |
|
height: 670, |
|
color: const Color(0xFFCCCCCC), |
|
child: Column( |
|
crossAxisAlignment: CrossAxisAlignment.center, |
|
children: [ |
|
Expanded( |
|
child: ConstrainedBox( |
|
constraints: const BoxConstraints.tightFor( |
|
width: double.infinity, height: double.infinity), |
|
child: widget.examples[count - 1])), |
|
Container( |
|
height: 50, |
|
width: double.infinity, |
|
color: Colors.black, |
|
child: SingleChildScrollView( |
|
scrollDirection: Axis.horizontal, |
|
child: Row( |
|
mainAxisSize: MainAxisSize.min, |
|
children: [ |
|
for (int i = 0; i < widget.examples.length; i++) |
|
Container( |
|
width: 58, |
|
padding: const EdgeInsets.only(left: 4, right: 4), |
|
child: button(i + 1), |
|
), |
|
], |
|
), |
|
), |
|
), |
|
Container( |
|
height: 273, |
|
color: Colors.grey[50], |
|
child: Scrollbar( |
|
child: SingleChildScrollView( |
|
key: ValueKey(count), |
|
child: Padding( |
|
padding: const EdgeInsets.all(10), |
|
child: Column( |
|
children: [ |
|
Center(child: Text(code)), |
|
const SizedBox(height: 15), |
|
Text( |
|
explanation, |
|
style: TextStyle( |
|
color: Colors.blue[900], |
|
fontStyle: FontStyle.italic), |
|
), |
|
], |
|
), |
|
), |
|
), |
|
), |
|
), |
|
], |
|
), |
|
), |
|
), |
|
), |
|
), |
|
); |
|
} |
|
|
|
Widget button(int exampleNumber) { |
|
return Button( |
|
key: ValueKey('button$exampleNumber'), |
|
isSelected: count == exampleNumber, |
|
exampleNumber: exampleNumber, |
|
onPressed: () { |
|
showExample( |
|
exampleNumber, |
|
widget.examples[exampleNumber - 1].code, |
|
widget.examples[exampleNumber - 1].explanation, |
|
); |
|
}, |
|
); |
|
} |
|
|
|
void showExample(int exampleNumber, String code, String explanation) { |
|
setState(() { |
|
count = exampleNumber; |
|
this.code = code; |
|
this.explanation = explanation; |
|
}); |
|
} |
|
} |
|
|
|
|
|
class Button extends StatelessWidget { |
|
final bool isSelected; |
|
final int exampleNumber; |
|
final VoidCallback onPressed; |
|
|
|
const Button({ |
|
super.key, |
|
required this.isSelected, |
|
required this.exampleNumber, |
|
required this.onPressed, |
|
}); |
|
|
|
@override |
|
Widget build(BuildContext context) { |
|
return TextButton( |
|
style: TextButton.styleFrom( |
|
foregroundColor: Colors.white, |
|
backgroundColor: isSelected ? Colors.grey : Colors.grey[800], |
|
), |
|
child: Text(exampleNumber.toString()), |
|
onPressed: () { |
|
Scrollable.ensureVisible( |
|
context, |
|
duration: const Duration(milliseconds: 350), |
|
curve: Curves.easeOut, |
|
alignment: 0.5, |
|
); |
|
onPressed(); |
|
}, |
|
); |
|
} |
|
} |
|
|
|
class Example1 extends Example { |
|
const Example1({super.key}); |
|
|
|
@override |
|
final code = 'Container(color: red)'; |
|
|
|
@override |
|
final explanation = 'The screen is the parent of the Container, ' |
|
'and it forces the Container to be exactly the same size as the screen.' |
|
'\n\n' |
|
'So the Container fills the screen and paints it red.'; |
|
|
|
@override |
|
Widget build(BuildContext context) { |
|
return Container(color: red); |
|
} |
|
} |
|
|
|
|
|
class Example2 extends Example { |
|
const Example2({super.key}); |
|
|
|
@override |
|
final code = 'Container(width: 100, height: 100, color: red)'; |
|
@override |
|
final String explanation = |
|
'The red Container wants to be 100x100, but it can\'t, ' |
|
'because the screen forces it to be exactly the same size as the screen.' |
|
'\n\n' |
|
'So the Container fills the screen.'; |
|
|
|
@override |
|
Widget build(BuildContext context) { |
|
return Container(width: 100, height: 100, color: red); |
|
} |
|
} |
|
|
|
|
|
class Example3 extends Example { |
|
const Example3({super.key}); |
|
|
|
@override |
|
final code = 'Center(\n' |
|
' child: Container(width: 100, height: 100, color: red))'; |
|
@override |
|
final String explanation = |
|
'The screen forces the Center to be exactly the same size as the screen, ' |
|
'so the Center fills the screen.' |
|
'\n\n' |
|
'The Center tells the Container that it can be any size it wants, but not bigger than the screen.' |
|
'Now the Container can indeed be 100x100.'; |
|
|
|
@override |
|
Widget build(BuildContext context) { |
|
return Center( |
|
child: Container(width: 100, height: 100, color: red), |
|
); |
|
} |
|
} |
|
|
|
|
|
class Example4 extends Example { |
|
const Example4({super.key}); |
|
|
|
@override |
|
final code = 'Align(\n' |
|
' alignment: Alignment.bottomRight,\n' |
|
' child: Container(width: 100, height: 100, color: red))'; |
|
@override |
|
final String explanation = |
|
'This is different from the previous example in that it uses Align instead of Center.' |
|
'\n\n' |
|
'Align also tells the Container that it can be any size it wants, but if there is empty space it won\'t center the Container. ' |
|
'Instead, it aligns the Container to the bottom-right of the available space.'; |
|
|
|
@override |
|
Widget build(BuildContext context) { |
|
return Align( |
|
alignment: Alignment.bottomRight, |
|
child: Container(width: 100, height: 100, color: red), |
|
); |
|
} |
|
} |
|
|
|
|
|
class Example5 extends Example { |
|
const Example5({super.key}); |
|
|
|
@override |
|
final code = 'Center(\n' |
|
' child: Container(\n' |
|
' color: red,\n' |
|
' width: double.infinity,\n' |
|
' height: double.infinity))'; |
|
@override |
|
final String explanation = |
|
'The screen forces the Center to be exactly the same size as the screen, ' |
|
'so the Center fills the screen.' |
|
'\n\n' |
|
'The Center tells the Container that it can be any size it wants, but not bigger than the screen.' |
|
'The Container wants to be of infinite size, but since it can\'t be bigger than the screen, it just fills the screen.'; |
|
|
|
@override |
|
Widget build(BuildContext context) { |
|
return Center( |
|
child: Container( |
|
width: double.infinity, height: double.infinity, color: red), |
|
); |
|
} |
|
} |
|
|
|
|
|
class Example6 extends Example { |
|
const Example6({super.key}); |
|
|
|
@override |
|
final code = 'Center(child: Container(color: red))'; |
|
@override |
|
final String explanation = |
|
'The screen forces the Center to be exactly the same size as the screen, ' |
|
'so the Center fills the screen.' |
|
'\n\n' |
|
'The Center tells the Container that it can be any size it wants, but not bigger than the screen.' |
|
'\n\n' |
|
'Since the Container has no child and no fixed size, it decides it wants to be as big as possible, so it fills the whole screen.' |
|
'\n\n' |
|
'But why does the Container decide that? ' |
|
'Simply because that\'s a design decision by those who created the Container widget. ' |
|
'It could have been created differently, and you have to read the Container documentation to understand how it behaves, depending on the circumstances. '; |
|
|
|
@override |
|
Widget build(BuildContext context) { |
|
return Center( |
|
child: Container(color: red), |
|
); |
|
} |
|
} |
|
|
|
|
|
class Example7 extends Example { |
|
const Example7({super.key}); |
|
|
|
@override |
|
final code = 'Center(\n' |
|
' child: Container(color: red\n' |
|
' child: Container(color: green, width: 30, height: 30)))'; |
|
@override |
|
final String explanation = |
|
'The screen forces the Center to be exactly the same size as the screen, ' |
|
'so the Center fills the screen.' |
|
'\n\n' |
|
'The Center tells the red Container that it can be any size it wants, but not bigger than the screen.' |
|
'Since the red Container has no size but has a child, it decides it wants to be the same size as its child.' |
|
'\n\n' |
|
'The red Container tells its child that it can be any size it wants, but not bigger than the screen.' |
|
'\n\n' |
|
'The child is a green Container that wants to be 30x30.' |
|
'\n\n' |
|
'Since the red `Container` has no size but has a child, it decides it wants to be the same size as its child. ' |
|
'The red color isn\'t visible, since the green Container entirely covers all of the red Container.'; |
|
|
|
@override |
|
Widget build(BuildContext context) { |
|
return Center( |
|
child: Container( |
|
color: red, |
|
child: Container(color: green, width: 30, height: 30), |
|
), |
|
); |
|
} |
|
} |
|
|
|
|
|
class Example8 extends Example { |
|
const Example8({super.key}); |
|
|
|
@override |
|
final code = 'Center(\n' |
|
' child: Container(color: red\n' |
|
' padding: const EdgeInsets.all(20),\n' |
|
' child: Container(color: green, width: 30, height: 30)))'; |
|
@override |
|
final String explanation = |
|
'The red Container sizes itself to its children size, but it takes its own padding into consideration. ' |
|
'So it is also 30x30 plus padding. ' |
|
'The red color is visible because of the padding, and the green Container has the same size as in the previous example.'; |
|
|
|
@override |
|
Widget build(BuildContext context) { |
|
return Center( |
|
child: Container( |
|
padding: const EdgeInsets.all(20), |
|
color: red, |
|
child: Container(color: green, width: 30, height: 30), |
|
), |
|
); |
|
} |
|
} |
|
|
|
|
|
class Example9 extends Example { |
|
const Example9({super.key}); |
|
|
|
@override |
|
final code = 'ConstrainedBox(\n' |
|
' constraints: BoxConstraints(\n' |
|
' minWidth: 70, minHeight: 70,\n' |
|
' maxWidth: 150, maxHeight: 150),\n' |
|
' child: Container(color: red, width: 10, height: 10)))'; |
|
@override |
|
final String explanation = |
|
'You might guess that the Container has to be between 70 and 150 pixels, but you would be wrong. ' |
|
'The ConstrainedBox only imposes ADDITIONAL constraints from those it receives from its parent.' |
|
'\n\n' |
|
'Here, the screen forces the ConstrainedBox to be exactly the same size as the screen, ' |
|
'so it tells its child Container to also assume the size of the screen, ' |
|
'thus ignoring its \'constraints\' parameter.'; |
|
|
|
@override |
|
Widget build(BuildContext context) { |
|
return ConstrainedBox( |
|
constraints: const BoxConstraints( |
|
minWidth: 70, |
|
minHeight: 70, |
|
maxWidth: 150, |
|
maxHeight: 150, |
|
), |
|
child: Container(color: red, width: 10, height: 10), |
|
); |
|
} |
|
} |
|
|
|
|
|
class Example10 extends Example { |
|
const Example10({super.key}); |
|
|
|
@override |
|
final code = 'Center(\n' |
|
' child: ConstrainedBox(\n' |
|
' constraints: BoxConstraints(\n' |
|
' minWidth: 70, minHeight: 70,\n' |
|
' maxWidth: 150, maxHeight: 150),\n' |
|
' child: Container(color: red, width: 10, height: 10))))'; |
|
@override |
|
final String explanation = |
|
'Now, Center allows ConstrainedBox to be any size up to the screen size.' |
|
'\n\n' |
|
'The ConstrainedBox imposes ADDITIONAL constraints from its \'constraints\' parameter onto its child.' |
|
'\n\n' |
|
'The Container must be between 70 and 150 pixels. It wants to have 10 pixels, so it will end up having 70 (the MINIMUM).'; |
|
|
|
@override |
|
Widget build(BuildContext context) { |
|
return Center( |
|
child: ConstrainedBox( |
|
constraints: const BoxConstraints( |
|
minWidth: 70, |
|
minHeight: 70, |
|
maxWidth: 150, |
|
maxHeight: 150, |
|
), |
|
child: Container(color: red, width: 10, height: 10), |
|
), |
|
); |
|
} |
|
} |
|
|
|
|
|
class Example11 extends Example { |
|
const Example11({super.key}); |
|
|
|
@override |
|
final code = 'Center(\n' |
|
' child: ConstrainedBox(\n' |
|
' constraints: BoxConstraints(\n' |
|
' minWidth: 70, minHeight: 70,\n' |
|
' maxWidth: 150, maxHeight: 150),\n' |
|
' child: Container(color: red, width: 1000, height: 1000))))'; |
|
@override |
|
final String explanation = |
|
'Center allows ConstrainedBox to be any size up to the screen size.' |
|
'The ConstrainedBox imposes ADDITIONAL constraints from its \'constraints\' parameter onto its child' |
|
'\n\n' |
|
'The Container must be between 70 and 150 pixels. It wants to have 1000 pixels, so it ends up having 150 (the MAXIMUM).'; |
|
|
|
@override |
|
Widget build(BuildContext context) { |
|
return Center( |
|
child: ConstrainedBox( |
|
constraints: const BoxConstraints( |
|
minWidth: 70, |
|
minHeight: 70, |
|
maxWidth: 150, |
|
maxHeight: 150, |
|
), |
|
child: Container(color: red, width: 1000, height: 1000), |
|
), |
|
); |
|
} |
|
} |
|
|
|
|
|
class Example12 extends Example { |
|
const Example12({super.key}); |
|
|
|
@override |
|
final code = 'Center(\n' |
|
' child: ConstrainedBox(\n' |
|
' constraints: BoxConstraints(\n' |
|
' minWidth: 70, minHeight: 70,\n' |
|
' maxWidth: 150, maxHeight: 150),\n' |
|
' child: Container(color: red, width: 100, height: 100))))'; |
|
@override |
|
final String explanation = |
|
'Center allows ConstrainedBox to be any size up to the screen size.' |
|
'ConstrainedBox imposes ADDITIONAL constraints from its \'constraints\' parameter onto its child.' |
|
'\n\n' |
|
'The Container must be between 70 and 150 pixels. It wants to have 100 pixels, and that\'s the size it has, since that\'s between 70 and 150.'; |
|
|
|
@override |
|
Widget build(BuildContext context) { |
|
return Center( |
|
child: ConstrainedBox( |
|
constraints: const BoxConstraints( |
|
minWidth: 70, |
|
minHeight: 70, |
|
maxWidth: 150, |
|
maxHeight: 150, |
|
), |
|
child: Container(color: red, width: 100, height: 100), |
|
), |
|
); |
|
} |
|
} |
|
|
|
|
|
class Example13 extends Example { |
|
const Example13({super.key}); |
|
|
|
@override |
|
final code = 'UnconstrainedBox(\n' |
|
' child: Container(color: red, width: 20, height: 50));'; |
|
@override |
|
final String explanation = |
|
'The screen forces the UnconstrainedBox to be exactly the same size as the screen.' |
|
'However, the UnconstrainedBox lets its child Container be any size it wants.'; |
|
|
|
@override |
|
Widget build(BuildContext context) { |
|
return UnconstrainedBox( |
|
child: Container(color: red, width: 20, height: 50), |
|
); |
|
} |
|
} |
|
|
|
|
|
class Example14 extends Example { |
|
const Example14({super.key}); |
|
|
|
@override |
|
final code = 'UnconstrainedBox(\n' |
|
' child: Container(color: red, width: 4000, height: 50));'; |
|
@override |
|
final String explanation = |
|
'The screen forces the UnconstrainedBox to be exactly the same size as the screen, ' |
|
'and UnconstrainedBox lets its child Container be any size it wants.' |
|
'\n\n' |
|
'Unfortunately, in this case the Container has 4000 pixels of width and is too big to fit in the UnconstrainedBox, ' |
|
'so the UnconstrainedBox displays the much dreaded "overflow warning".'; |
|
|
|
@override |
|
Widget build(BuildContext context) { |
|
return UnconstrainedBox( |
|
child: Container(color: red, width: 4000, height: 50), |
|
); |
|
} |
|
} |
|
|
|
|
|
class Example15 extends Example { |
|
const Example15({super.key}); |
|
|
|
@override |
|
final code = 'OverflowBox(\n' |
|
' minWidth: 0,' |
|
' minHeight: 0,' |
|
' maxWidth: double.infinity,' |
|
' maxHeight: double.infinity,' |
|
' child: Container(color: red, width: 4000, height: 50));'; |
|
@override |
|
final String explanation = |
|
'The screen forces the OverflowBox to be exactly the same size as the screen, ' |
|
'and OverflowBox lets its child Container be any size it wants.' |
|
'\n\n' |
|
'OverflowBox is similar to UnconstrainedBox, and the difference is that it won\'t display any warnings if the child doesn\'t fit the space.' |
|
'\n\n' |
|
'In this case the Container is 4000 pixels wide, and is too big to fit in the OverflowBox, ' |
|
'but the OverflowBox simply shows as much as it can, with no warnings given.'; |
|
|
|
@override |
|
Widget build(BuildContext context) { |
|
return OverflowBox( |
|
minWidth: 0, |
|
minHeight: 0, |
|
maxWidth: double.infinity, |
|
maxHeight: double.infinity, |
|
child: Container(color: red, width: 4000, height: 50), |
|
); |
|
} |
|
} |
|
|
|
|
|
class Example16 extends Example { |
|
const Example16({super.key}); |
|
|
|
@override |
|
final code = 'UnconstrainedBox(\n' |
|
' child: Container(color: Colors.red, width: double.infinity, height: 100));'; |
|
@override |
|
final String explanation = |
|
'This won\'t render anything, and you\'ll see an error in the console.' |
|
'\n\n' |
|
'The UnconstrainedBox lets its child be any size it wants, ' |
|
'however its child is a Container with infinite size.' |
|
'\n\n' |
|
'Flutter can\'t render infinite sizes, so it throws an error with the following message: ' |
|
'"BoxConstraints forces an infinite width."'; |
|
|
|
@override |
|
Widget build(BuildContext context) { |
|
return UnconstrainedBox( |
|
child: Container(color: Colors.red, width: double.infinity, height: 100), |
|
); |
|
} |
|
} |
|
|
|
|
|
class Example17 extends Example { |
|
const Example17({super.key}); |
|
|
|
@override |
|
final code = 'UnconstrainedBox(\n' |
|
' child: LimitedBox(maxWidth: 100,\n' |
|
' child: Container(color: Colors.red,\n' |
|
' width: double.infinity, height: 100));'; |
|
@override |
|
final String explanation = 'Here you won\'t get an error anymore, ' |
|
'because when the LimitedBox is given an infinite size by the UnconstrainedBox, ' |
|
'it passes a maximum width of 100 down to its child.' |
|
'\n\n' |
|
'If you swap the UnconstrainedBox for a Center widget, ' |
|
'the LimitedBox won\'t apply its limit anymore (since its limit is only applied when it gets infinite constraints), ' |
|
'and the width of the Container is allowed to grow past 100.' |
|
'\n\n' |
|
'This explains the difference between a LimitedBox and a ConstrainedBox.'; |
|
|
|
@override |
|
Widget build(BuildContext context) { |
|
return UnconstrainedBox( |
|
child: LimitedBox( |
|
maxWidth: 100, |
|
child: Container( |
|
color: Colors.red, |
|
width: double.infinity, |
|
height: 100, |
|
), |
|
), |
|
); |
|
} |
|
} |
|
|
|
|
|
class Example18 extends Example { |
|
const Example18({super.key}); |
|
|
|
@override |
|
final code = 'FittedBox(\n' |
|
' child: Text(\'Some Example Text.\'));'; |
|
@override |
|
final String explanation = |
|
'The screen forces the FittedBox to be exactly the same size as the screen.' |
|
'The Text has some natural width (also called its intrinsic width) that depends on the amount of text, its font size, and so on.' |
|
'\n\n' |
|
'The FittedBox lets the Text be any size it wants, ' |
|
'but after the Text tells its size to the FittedBox, ' |
|
'the FittedBox scales the Text until it fills all of the available width.'; |
|
|
|
@override |
|
Widget build(BuildContext context) { |
|
return const FittedBox( |
|
child: Text('Some Example Text.'), |
|
); |
|
} |
|
} |
|
|
|
|
|
class Example19 extends Example { |
|
const Example19({super.key}); |
|
|
|
@override |
|
final code = 'Center(\n' |
|
' child: FittedBox(\n' |
|
' child: Text(\'Some Example Text.\')));'; |
|
@override |
|
final String explanation = |
|
'But what happens if you put the FittedBox inside of a Center widget? ' |
|
'The Center lets the FittedBox be any size it wants, up to the screen size.' |
|
'\n\n' |
|
'The FittedBox then sizes itself to the Text, and lets the Text be any size it wants.' |
|
'\n\n' |
|
'Since both FittedBox and the Text have the same size, no scaling happens.'; |
|
|
|
@override |
|
Widget build(BuildContext context) { |
|
return const Center( |
|
child: FittedBox( |
|
child: Text('Some Example Text.'), |
|
), |
|
); |
|
} |
|
} |
|
|
|
class Example20 extends Example { |
|
const Example20({super.key}); |
|
|
|
@override |
|
final code = 'Center(\n' |
|
' child: FittedBox(\n' |
|
' child: Text(\'…\')));'; |
|
@override |
|
final String explanation = |
|
'However, what happens if FittedBox is inside of a Center widget, but the Text is too large to fit the screen?' |
|
'\n\n' |
|
'FittedBox tries to size itself to the Text, but it can\'t be bigger than the screen. ' |
|
'It then assumes the screen size, and resizes Text so that it fits the screen, too.'; |
|
|
|
@override |
|
Widget build(BuildContext context) { |
|
return const Center( |
|
child: FittedBox( |
|
child: Text( |
|
'This is some very very very large text that is too big to fit a regular screen in a single line.'), |
|
), |
|
); |
|
} |
|
} |
|
|
|
|
|
class Example21 extends Example { |
|
const Example21({super.key}); |
|
|
|
@override |
|
final code = 'Center(\n' |
|
' child: Text(\'…\'));'; |
|
@override |
|
final String explanation = 'If, however, you remove the FittedBox, ' |
|
'the Text gets its maximum width from the screen, ' |
|
'and breaks the line so that it fits the screen.'; |
|
|
|
@override |
|
Widget build(BuildContext context) { |
|
return const Center( |
|
child: Text( |
|
'This is some very very very large text that is too big to fit a regular screen in a single line.'), |
|
); |
|
} |
|
} |
|
|
|
|
|
class Example22 extends Example { |
|
const Example22({super.key}); |
|
|
|
@override |
|
final code = 'FittedBox(\n' |
|
' child: Container(\n' |
|
' height: 20, width: double.infinity));'; |
|
@override |
|
final String explanation = |
|
'FittedBox can only scale a widget that is BOUNDED (has non-infinite width and height).' |
|
'Otherwise, it won\'t render anything, and you\'ll see an error in the console.'; |
|
|
|
@override |
|
Widget build(BuildContext context) { |
|
return FittedBox( |
|
child: Container( |
|
height: 20, |
|
width: double.infinity, |
|
color: Colors.red, |
|
), |
|
); |
|
} |
|
} |
|
|
|
|
|
class Example23 extends Example { |
|
const Example23({super.key}); |
|
|
|
@override |
|
final code = 'Row(children:[\n' |
|
' Container(color: red, child: Text(\'Hello!\'))\n' |
|
' Container(color: green, child: Text(\'Goodbye!\'))]'; |
|
@override |
|
final String explanation = |
|
'The screen forces the Row to be exactly the same size as the screen.' |
|
'\n\n' |
|
'Just like an UnconstrainedBox, the Row won\'t impose any constraints onto its children, ' |
|
'and instead lets them be any size they want.' |
|
'\n\n' |
|
'The Row then puts them side-by-side, and any extra space remains empty.'; |
|
|
|
@override |
|
Widget build(BuildContext context) { |
|
return Row( |
|
children: [ |
|
Container(color: red, child: const Text('Hello!', style: big)), |
|
Container(color: green, child: const Text('Goodbye!', style: big)), |
|
], |
|
); |
|
} |
|
} |
|
|
|
|
|
class Example24 extends Example { |
|
const Example24({super.key}); |
|
|
|
@override |
|
final code = 'Row(children:[\n' |
|
' Container(color: red, child: Text(\'…\'))\n' |
|
' Container(color: green, child: Text(\'Goodbye!\'))]'; |
|
@override |
|
final String explanation = |
|
'Since the Row won\'t impose any constraints onto its children, ' |
|
'it\'s quite possible that the children might be too big to fit the available width of the Row.' |
|
'In this case, just like an UnconstrainedBox, the Row displays the "overflow warning".'; |
|
|
|
@override |
|
Widget build(BuildContext context) { |
|
return Row( |
|
children: [ |
|
Container( |
|
color: red, |
|
child: const Text( |
|
'This is a very long text that ' |
|
'won\'t fit the line.', |
|
style: big, |
|
), |
|
), |
|
Container(color: green, child: const Text('Goodbye!', style: big)), |
|
], |
|
); |
|
} |
|
} |
|
|
|
|
|
class Example25 extends Example { |
|
const Example25({super.key}); |
|
|
|
@override |
|
final code = 'Row(children:[\n' |
|
' Expanded(\n' |
|
' child: Container(color: red, child: Text(\'…\')))\n' |
|
' Container(color: green, child: Text(\'Goodbye!\'))]'; |
|
@override |
|
final String explanation = |
|
'When a Row\'s child is wrapped in an Expanded widget, the Row won\'t let this child define its own width anymore.' |
|
'\n\n' |
|
'Instead, it defines the Expanded width according to the other children, and only then the Expanded widget forces the original child to have the Expanded\'s width.' |
|
'\n\n' |
|
'In other words, once you use Expanded, the original child\'s width becomes irrelevant, and is ignored.'; |
|
|
|
@override |
|
Widget build(BuildContext context) { |
|
return Row( |
|
children: [ |
|
Expanded( |
|
child: Center( |
|
child: Container( |
|
color: red, |
|
child: const Text( |
|
'This is a very long text that won\'t fit the line.', |
|
style: big, |
|
), |
|
), |
|
), |
|
), |
|
Container(color: green, child: const Text('Goodbye!', style: big)), |
|
], |
|
); |
|
} |
|
} |
|
|
|
|
|
class Example26 extends Example { |
|
const Example26({super.key}); |
|
|
|
@override |
|
final code = 'Row(children:[\n' |
|
' Expanded(\n' |
|
' child: Container(color: red, child: Text(\'…\')))\n' |
|
' Expanded(\n' |
|
' child: Container(color: green, child: Text(\'Goodbye!\'))]'; |
|
@override |
|
final String explanation = |
|
'If all of Row\'s children are wrapped in Expanded widgets, each Expanded has a size proportional to its flex parameter, ' |
|
'and only then each Expanded widget forces its child to have the Expanded\'s width.' |
|
'\n\n' |
|
'In other words, Expanded ignores the preferred width of its children.'; |
|
|
|
@override |
|
Widget build(BuildContext context) { |
|
return Row( |
|
children: [ |
|
Expanded( |
|
child: Container( |
|
color: red, |
|
child: const Text( |
|
'This is a very long text that won\'t fit the line.', |
|
style: big, |
|
), |
|
), |
|
), |
|
Expanded( |
|
child: Container( |
|
color: green, |
|
child: const Text( |
|
'Goodbye!', |
|
style: big, |
|
), |
|
), |
|
), |
|
], |
|
); |
|
} |
|
} |
|
|
|
|
|
class Example27 extends Example { |
|
const Example27({super.key}); |
|
|
|
@override |
|
final code = 'Row(children:[\n' |
|
' Flexible(\n' |
|
' child: Container(color: red, child: Text(\'…\')))\n' |
|
' Flexible(\n' |
|
' child: Container(color: green, child: Text(\'Goodbye!\'))]'; |
|
@override |
|
final String explanation = |
|
'The only difference if you use Flexible instead of Expanded, ' |
|
'is that Flexible lets its child be SMALLER than the Flexible width, ' |
|
'while Expanded forces its child to have the same width of the Expanded.' |
|
'\n\n' |
|
'But both Expanded and Flexible ignore their children\'s width when sizing themselves.' |
|
'\n\n' |
|
'This means that it\'s IMPOSSIBLE to expand Row children proportionally to their sizes. ' |
|
'The Row either uses the exact child\'s width, or ignores it completely when you use Expanded or Flexible.'; |
|
|
|
@override |
|
Widget build(BuildContext context) { |
|
return Row( |
|
children: [ |
|
Flexible( |
|
child: Container( |
|
color: red, |
|
child: const Text( |
|
'This is a very long text that won\'t fit the line.', |
|
style: big, |
|
), |
|
), |
|
), |
|
Flexible( |
|
child: Container( |
|
color: green, |
|
child: const Text( |
|
'Goodbye!', |
|
style: big, |
|
), |
|
), |
|
), |
|
], |
|
); |
|
} |
|
} |
|
|
|
|
|
class Example28 extends Example { |
|
const Example28({super.key}); |
|
|
|
@override |
|
final code = 'Scaffold(\n' |
|
' body: Container(color: blue,\n' |
|
' child: Column(\n' |
|
' children: [\n' |
|
' Text(\'Hello!\'),\n' |
|
' Text(\'Goodbye!\')])))'; |
|
|
|
@override |
|
final String explanation = |
|
'The screen forces the Scaffold to be exactly the same size as the screen, ' |
|
'so the Scaffold fills the screen.' |
|
'\n\n' |
|
'The Scaffold tells the Container that it can be any size it wants, but not bigger than the screen.' |
|
'\n\n' |
|
'When a widget tells its child that it can be smaller than a certain size, ' |
|
'we say the widget supplies "loose" constraints to its child. More on that later.'; |
|
|
|
@override |
|
Widget build(BuildContext context) { |
|
return Scaffold( |
|
body: Container( |
|
color: blue, |
|
child: const Column( |
|
children: [ |
|
Text('Hello!'), |
|
Text('Goodbye!'), |
|
], |
|
), |
|
), |
|
); |
|
} |
|
} |
|
|
|
|
|
class Example29 extends Example { |
|
const Example29({super.key}); |
|
|
|
@override |
|
final code = 'Scaffold(\n' |
|
' body: Container(color: blue,\n' |
|
' child: SizedBox.expand(\n' |
|
' child: Column(\n' |
|
' children: [\n' |
|
' Text(\'Hello!\'),\n' |
|
' Text(\'Goodbye!\')]))))'; |
|
|
|
@override |
|
final String explanation = |
|
'If you want the Scaffold\'s child to be exactly the same size as the Scaffold itself, ' |
|
'you can wrap its child with SizedBox.expand.' |
|
'\n\n' |
|
'When a widget tells its child that it must be of a certain size, ' |
|
'we say the widget supplies "tight" constraints to its child. More on that later.'; |
|
|
|
@override |
|
Widget build(BuildContext context) { |
|
return Scaffold( |
|
body: SizedBox.expand( |
|
child: Container( |
|
color: blue, |
|
child: const Column( |
|
children: [ |
|
Text('Hello!'), |
|
Text('Goodbye!'), |
|
], |
|
), |
|
), |
|
), |
|
); |
|
} |
|
} |
|
|
|
<code_end> |
|
|
|
If you prefer, you can grab the code from |
|
this GitHub repo. |
|
The examples are explained in the following sections. |
|
<topic_end> |
|
<topic_start> |
|
Example 1 |
|
|
|
<code_start> |
|
Container(color: red) |
|
<code_end> |
|
|
|
The screen is the parent of the Container, and it |
|
forces the Container to be exactly the same size as the screen. |
|
So the Container fills the screen and paints it red. |
|
<topic_end> |
|
<topic_start> |
|
Example 2 |
|
|
|
<code_start> |
|
Container(width: 100, height: 100, color: red) |
|
<code_end> |
|
|
|
The red Container wants to be 100 × 100, |
|
but it can’t, because the screen forces it to be |
|
exactly the same size as the screen. |
|
So the Container fills the screen. |
|
<topic_end> |
|
<topic_start> |
|
Example 3 |
|
|
|
<code_start> |
|
Center( |
|
child: Container(width: 100, height: 100, color: red), |
|
) |
|
<code_end> |
|
|
|
The screen forces the Center to be exactly the same size |
|
as the screen, so the Center fills the screen. |
|
The Center tells the Container that it can be any size it |
|
wants, but not bigger than the screen. Now the Container |
|
can indeed be 100 × 100. |
|
<topic_end> |
|
<topic_start> |
|
Example 4 |
|
|
|
<code_start> |
|
Align( |
|
alignment: Alignment.bottomRight, |
|
child: Container(width: 100, height: 100, color: red), |
|
) |
|
<code_end> |
|
|
|
This is different from the previous example in that it uses |
|
Align instead of Center. |
|
Align also tells the Container that it can be any size it |
|
wants, but if there is empty space it won’t center the Container. |
|
Instead, it aligns the container to the bottom-right of the |
|
available space. |
|
<topic_end> |
|
<topic_start> |
|
Example 5 |
|
|
|
<code_start> |
|
Center( |
|
child: Container( |
|
width: double.infinity, height: double.infinity, color: red), |
|
) |
|
<code_end> |
|
|
|
The screen forces the Center to be exactly the |
|
same size as the screen, so the Center fills the screen. |
|
The Center tells the Container that it can be any size it wants, |
|
but not bigger than the screen. The Container wants to be |
|
of infinite size, but since it can’t be bigger than the screen, |
|
it just fills the screen. |
|
<topic_end> |
|
<topic_start> |
|
Example 6 |
|
|
|
<code_start> |
|
Center( |
|
child: Container(color: red), |
|
) |
|
<code_end> |
|
|
|
The screen forces the Center to be exactly the |
|
same size as the screen, so the Center fills the screen. |
|
The Center tells the Container that it can be any |
|
size it wants, but not bigger than the screen. |
|
Since the Container has no child and no fixed size, |
|
it decides it wants to be as big as possible, |
|
so it fills the whole screen. |
|
But why does the Container decide that? |
|
Simply because that’s a design decision by those who |
|
created the Container widget. It could have been |
|
created differently, and you have to read the |
|
Container API documentation to understand |
|
how it behaves, depending on the circumstances. |
|
<topic_end> |
|
<topic_start> |
|
Example 7 |
|
|
|
<code_start> |
|
Center( |
|
child: Container( |
|
color: red, |
|
child: Container(color: green, width: 30, height: 30), |
|
), |
|
) |
|
<code_end> |
|
|
|
The screen forces the Center to be exactly the same |
|
size as the screen, so the Center fills the screen. |
|
The Center tells the red Container that it can be any size |
|
it wants, but not bigger than the screen. Since the red |
|
Container has no size but has a child, |
|
it decides it wants to be the same size as its child. |
|
The red Container tells its child that it can be any size |
|
it wants, but not bigger than the screen. |
|
The child is a green Container that wants to |
|
be 30 × 30. Given that the red Container sizes itself to |
|
the size of its child, it is also 30 × 30. |
|
The red color isn’t visible because the green Container |
|
entirely covers the red Container. |
|
<topic_end> |
|
<topic_start> |
|
Example 8 |
|
|
|
<code_start> |
|
Center( |
|
child: Container( |
|
padding: const EdgeInsets.all(20), |
|
color: red, |
|
child: Container(color: green, width: 30, height: 30), |
|
), |
|
) |
|
<code_end> |
|
|
|
The red Container sizes itself to its children’s size, |
|
but it takes its own padding into consideration. |
|
So it is also 30 × 30 plus padding. |
|
The red color is visible because of the padding, |
|
and the green Container has the same size as |
|
in the previous example. |
|
<topic_end> |
|
<topic_start> |
|
Example 9 |
|
|
|
<code_start> |
|
ConstrainedBox( |
|
constraints: const BoxConstraints( |
|
minWidth: 70, |
|
minHeight: 70, |
|
maxWidth: 150, |
|
maxHeight: 150, |
|
), |
|
child: Container(color: red, width: 10, height: 10), |
|
) |
|
<code_end> |
|
|
|
You might guess that the Container has to be |
|
between 70 and 150 pixels, but you would be wrong. |
|
The ConstrainedBox only imposes additional constraints |
|
from those it receives from its parent. |
|
Here, the screen forces the ConstrainedBox to be exactly |
|
the same size as the screen, so it tells its child Container |
|
to also assume the size of the screen, thus ignoring its |
|
constraints parameter. |
|
<topic_end> |
|
<topic_start> |
|
Example 10 |
|
|
|
<code_start> |
|
Center( |
|
child: ConstrainedBox( |
|
constraints: const BoxConstraints( |
|
minWidth: 70, |
|
minHeight: 70, |
|
maxWidth: 150, |
|
maxHeight: 150, |
|
), |
|
child: Container(color: red, width: 10, height: 10), |
|
), |
|
) |
|
<code_end> |
|
|
|
Now, Center allows ConstrainedBox to be any size up to |
|
the screen size. The ConstrainedBox imposes additional |
|
constraints from its constraints parameter onto its child. |
|
The Container must be between 70 and 150 pixels. |
|
It wants to have 10 pixels, |
|
so it ends up having 70 (the minimum). |
|
<topic_end> |
|
<topic_start> |
|
Example 11 |
|
|
|
<code_start> |
|
Center( |
|
child: ConstrainedBox( |
|
constraints: const BoxConstraints( |
|
minWidth: 70, |
|
minHeight: 70, |
|
maxWidth: 150, |
|
maxHeight: 150, |
|
), |
|
child: Container(color: red, width: 1000, height: 1000), |
|
), |
|
) |
|
<code_end> |
|
|
|
Center allows ConstrainedBox to be any size up to the |
|
screen size. The ConstrainedBox imposes additional |
|
constraints from its constraints parameter onto its child. |
|
The Container must be between 70 and 150 pixels. |
|
It wants to have 1000 pixels, |
|
so it ends up having 150 (the maximum). |
|
<topic_end> |
|
<topic_start> |
|
Example 12 |
|
|
|
<code_start> |
|
Center( |
|
child: ConstrainedBox( |
|
constraints: const BoxConstraints( |
|
minWidth: 70, |
|
minHeight: 70, |
|
maxWidth: 150, |
|
maxHeight: 150, |
|
), |
|
child: Container(color: red, width: 100, height: 100), |
|
), |
|
) |
|
<code_end> |
|
|
|
Center allows ConstrainedBox to be any size up to the |
|
screen size. The ConstrainedBox imposes additional |
|
constraints from its constraints parameter onto its child. |
|
The Container must be between 70 and 150 pixels. |
|
It wants to have 100 pixels, and that’s the size it has, |
|
since that’s between 70 and 150. |
|
<topic_end> |
|
<topic_start> |
|
Example 13 |
|
|
|
<code_start> |
|
UnconstrainedBox( |
|
child: Container(color: red, width: 20, height: 50), |
|
) |
|
<code_end> |
|
|
|
The screen forces the UnconstrainedBox to be exactly |
|
the same size as the screen. However, the UnconstrainedBox |
|
lets its child Container be any size it wants. |
|
<topic_end> |
|
<topic_start> |
|
Example 14 |
|
|
|
<code_start> |
|
UnconstrainedBox( |
|
child: Container(color: red, width: 4000, height: 50), |
|
) |
|
<code_end> |
|
|
|
The screen forces the UnconstrainedBox to be exactly |
|
the same size as the screen, and UnconstrainedBox |
|
lets its child Container be any size it wants. |
|
Unfortunately, in this case the Container is |
|
4000 pixels wide and is too big to fit in |
|
the UnconstrainedBox, so the UnconstrainedBox displays |
|
the much dreaded “overflow warning”. |
|
<topic_end> |
|
<topic_start> |
|
Example 15 |
|
|
|
<code_start> |
|
OverflowBox( |
|
minWidth: 0, |
|
minHeight: 0, |
|
maxWidth: double.infinity, |
|
maxHeight: double.infinity, |
|
child: Container(color: red, width: 4000, height: 50), |
|
) |
|
<code_end> |
|
|
|
The screen forces the OverflowBox to be exactly the same |
|
size as the screen, and OverflowBox lets its child Container |
|
be any size it wants. |
|
OverflowBox is similar to UnconstrainedBox; |
|
the difference is that it won’t display any warnings |
|
if the child doesn’t fit the space. |
|
In this case, the Container has 4000 pixels of width, |
|
and is too big to fit in the OverflowBox, |
|
but the OverflowBox simply shows as much as it can, |
|
with no warnings given. |
|
<topic_end> |
|
<topic_start> |
|
Example 16 |
|
|
|
<code_start> |
|
UnconstrainedBox( |
|
child: Container(color: Colors.red, width: double.infinity, height: 100), |
|
) |
|
<code_end> |
|
|
|
This won’t render anything, and you’ll see an error in the console. |
|
The UnconstrainedBox lets its child be any size it wants, |
|
however its child is a Container with infinite size. |
|
Flutter can’t render infinite sizes, so it throws an error with |
|
the following message: BoxConstraints forces an infinite width. |
|
<topic_end> |
|
<topic_start> |
|
Example 17 |
|
|
|
<code_start> |
|
UnconstrainedBox( |
|
child: LimitedBox( |
|
maxWidth: 100, |
|
child: Container( |
|
color: Colors.red, |
|
width: double.infinity, |
|
height: 100, |
|
), |
|
), |
|
) |
|
<code_end> |
|
|
|
Here you won’t get an error anymore, |
|
because when the LimitedBox is given an |
|
infinite size by the UnconstrainedBox; |
|
it passes a maximum width of 100 down to its child. |
|
If you swap the UnconstrainedBox for a Center widget, |
|
the LimitedBox won’t apply its limit anymore |
|
(since its limit is only applied when it gets infinite |
|
constraints), and the width of the Container |
|
is allowed to grow past 100. |
|
This explains the difference between a LimitedBox |
|
and a ConstrainedBox. |
|
<topic_end> |
|
<topic_start> |
|
Example 18 |
|
|
|
<code_start> |
|
const FittedBox( |
|
child: Text('Some Example Text.'), |
|
) |
|
<code_end> |
|
|
|
The screen forces the FittedBox to be exactly the same |
|
size as the screen. The Text has some natural width |
|
(also called its intrinsic width) that depends on the |
|
amount of text, its font size, and so on. |
|
The FittedBox lets the Text be any size it wants, |
|
but after the Text tells its size to the FittedBox, |
|
the FittedBox scales the Text until it fills all of |
|
the available width. |
|
<topic_end> |
|
<topic_start> |
|
Example 19 |
|
|
|
<code_start> |
|
const Center( |
|
child: FittedBox( |
|
child: Text('Some Example Text.'), |
|
), |
|
) |
|
<code_end> |
|
|
|
But what happens if you put the FittedBox inside of a |
|
Center widget? The Center lets the FittedBox |
|
be any size it wants, up to the screen size. |
|
The FittedBox then sizes itself to the Text, |
|
and lets the Text be any size it wants. |
|
Since both FittedBox and the Text have the same size, |
|
no scaling happens. |
|
<topic_end> |
|
<topic_start> |
|
Example 20 |
|
|
|
<code_start> |
|
const Center( |
|
child: FittedBox( |
|
child: Text( |
|
'This is some very very very large text that is too big to fit a regular screen in a single line.'), |
|
), |
|
) |
|
<code_end> |
|
|
|
However, what happens if FittedBox is inside of a Center |
|
widget, but the Text is too large to fit the screen? |
|
FittedBox tries to size itself to the Text, |
|
but it can’t be bigger than the screen. |
|
It then assumes the screen size, |
|
and resizes Text so that it fits the screen, too. |
|
<topic_end> |
|
<topic_start> |
|
Example 21 |
|
|
|
<code_start> |
|
const Center( |
|
child: Text( |
|
'This is some very very very large text that is too big to fit a regular screen in a single line.'), |
|
) |
|
<code_end> |
|
|
|
If, however, you remove the FittedBox, the Text |
|
gets its maximum width from the screen, |
|
and breaks the line so that it fits the screen. |
|
<topic_end> |
|
<topic_start> |
|
Example 22 |
|
|
|
<code_start> |
|
FittedBox( |
|
child: Container( |
|
height: 20, |
|
width: double.infinity, |
|
color: Colors.red, |
|
), |
|
) |
|
<code_end> |
|
|
|
FittedBox can only scale a widget that is bounded |
|
(has non-infinite width and height). Otherwise, |
|
it won’t render anything, |
|
and you’ll see an error in the console. |
|
<topic_end> |
|
<topic_start> |
|
Example 23 |
|
|
|
<code_start> |
|
Row( |
|
children: [ |
|
Container(color: red, child: const Text('Hello!', style: big)), |
|
Container(color: green, child: const Text('Goodbye!', style: big)), |
|
], |
|
) |
|
<code_end> |
|
|
|
The screen forces the Row to be exactly the same size |
|
as the screen. |
|
Just like an UnconstrainedBox, the Row won’t |
|
impose any constraints onto its children, |
|
and instead lets them be any size they want. |
|
The Row then puts them side-by-side, |
|
and any extra space remains empty. |
|
<topic_end> |
|
<topic_start> |
|
Example 24 |
|
|
|
<code_start> |
|
Row( |
|
children: [ |
|
Container( |
|
color: red, |
|
child: const Text( |
|
'This is a very long text that ' |
|
'won\'t fit the line.', |
|
style: big, |
|
), |
|
), |
|
Container(color: green, child: const Text('Goodbye!', style: big)), |
|
], |
|
) |
|
<code_end> |
|
|
|
Since Row won’t impose any constraints onto its children, |
|
it’s quite possible that the children might be too big to fit |
|
the available width of the Row. In this case, just like an |
|
UnconstrainedBox, the Row displays the “overflow warning”. |
|
<topic_end> |
|
<topic_start> |
|
Example 25 |
|
|
|
<code_start> |
|
Row( |
|
children: [ |
|
Expanded( |
|
child: Center( |
|
child: Container( |
|
color: red, |
|
child: const Text( |
|
'This is a very long text that won\'t fit the line.', |
|
style: big, |
|
), |
|
), |
|
), |
|
), |
|
Container(color: green, child: const Text('Goodbye!', style: big)), |
|
], |
|
) |
|
<code_end> |
|
|
|
When a Row’s child is wrapped in an Expanded widget, |
|
the Row won’t let this child define its own width anymore. |
|
Instead, it defines the Expanded width according to the |
|
other children, and only then the Expanded widget forces |
|
the original child to have the Expanded’s width. |
|
In other words, once you use Expanded, |
|
the original child’s width becomes irrelevant, and is ignored. |
|
<topic_end> |
|
<topic_start> |
|
Example 26 |
|
|
|
<code_start> |
|
Row( |
|
children: [ |
|
Expanded( |
|
child: Container( |
|
color: red, |
|
child: const Text( |
|
'This is a very long text that won\'t fit the line.', |
|
style: big, |
|
), |
|
), |
|
), |
|
Expanded( |
|
child: Container( |
|
color: green, |
|
child: const Text( |
|
'Goodbye!', |
|
style: big, |
|
), |
|
), |
|
), |
|
], |
|
) |
|
<code_end> |
|
|
|
If all of Row’s children are wrapped in Expanded widgets, |
|
each Expanded has a size proportional to its flex parameter, |
|
and only then each Expanded widget forces its child to have |
|
the Expanded’s width. |
|
In other words, Expanded ignores the preferred width of |
|
its children. |
|
<topic_end> |
|
<topic_start> |
|
Example 27 |
|
|
|
<code_start> |
|
Row( |
|
children: [ |
|
Flexible( |
|
child: Container( |
|
color: red, |
|
child: const Text( |
|
'This is a very long text that won\'t fit the line.', |
|
style: big, |
|
), |
|
), |
|
), |
|
Flexible( |
|
child: Container( |
|
color: green, |
|
child: const Text( |
|
'Goodbye!', |
|
style: big, |
|
), |
|
), |
|
), |
|
], |
|
) |
|
<code_end> |
|
|
|
The only difference if you use Flexible instead of Expanded, |
|
is that Flexible lets its child have the same or smaller |
|
width than the Flexible itself, while Expanded forces |
|
its child to have the exact same width of the Expanded. |
|
But both Expanded and Flexible ignore their children’s width |
|
when sizing themselves. |
|
info Note |
|
This means that it’s impossible to expand Row children |
|
proportionally to their sizes. The Row either uses |
|
the exact child’s width, or ignores it completely |
|
when you use Expanded or Flexible. |
|
<topic_end> |
|
<topic_start> |
|
Example 28 |
|
|
|
<code_start> |
|
Scaffold( |
|
body: Container( |
|
color: blue, |
|
child: const Column( |
|
children: [ |
|
Text('Hello!'), |
|
Text('Goodbye!'), |
|
], |
|
), |
|
), |
|
) |
|
<code_end> |
|
|
|
The screen forces the Scaffold to be exactly the same size |
|
as the screen, so the Scaffold fills the screen. |
|
The Scaffold tells the Container that it can be any size it wants, |
|
but not bigger than the screen. |
|
info Note |
|
When a widget tells its child that it can be smaller than a |
|
certain size, we say the widget supplies loose constraints |
|
to its child. More on that later. |
|
<topic_end> |
|
<topic_start> |
|
Example 29 |
|
|
|
<code_start> |
|
Scaffold( |
|
body: SizedBox.expand( |
|
child: Container( |
|
color: blue, |
|
child: const Column( |
|
children: [ |
|
Text('Hello!'), |
|
Text('Goodbye!'), |
|
], |
|
), |
|
), |
|
), |
|
) |
|
<code_end> |
|
|
|
If you want the Scaffold’s child to be exactly the same size |
|
as the Scaffold itself, you can wrap its child with |
|
SizedBox.expand. |
|
<topic_end> |
|
<topic_start> |
|
Tight vs loose constraints |
|
It’s very common to hear that some constraint is |
|
“tight” or “loose”, so what does that mean? |
|
<topic_end> |
|
<topic_start> |
|
Tight constraints |
|
A tight constraint offers a single possibility, |
|
an exact size. In other words, a tight constraint |
|
has its maximum width equal to its minimum width; |
|
and has its maximum height equal to its minimum height. |
|
An example of this is the App widget, |
|
which is contained by the RenderView class: |
|
the box used by the child returned by the |
|
application’s build function is given a constraint |
|
that forces it to exactly fill the application’s content area |
|
(typically, the entire screen). |
|
Another example: if you nest a bunch of boxes inside |
|
each other at the root of your application’s render tree, |
|
they’ll all exactly fit in each other, |
|
forced by the box’s tight constraints. |
|
If you go to Flutter’s box.dart file and search for |
|
the BoxConstraints constructors, |
|
you’ll find the following: |
|
If you revisit Example 2, |
|
the screen forces the red Container to be |
|
exactly the same size as the screen. |
|
The screen achieves that, of course, by passing tight |
|
constraints to the Container. |
|
<topic_end> |
|
<topic_start> |
|
Loose constraints |
|
A loose constraint is one that has a minimum |
|
of zero and a maximum non-zero. |
|
Some boxes loosen the incoming constraints, |
|
meaning the maximum is maintained but the |
|
minimum is removed, so the widget can have |
|
a minimum width and height both equal to zero. |
|
Ultimately, Center’s purpose is to transform |
|
the tight constraints it received from its parent |
|
(the screen) to loose constraints for its child |
|
(the Container). |
|
If you revisit Example 3, |
|
the Center allows the red Container to be smaller, |
|
but not bigger than the screen. |
|
|
|
<topic_end> |
|
<topic_start> |
|
Unbounded constraints |
|
info Note |
|
You might be directed here if the framework |
|
detects a problem involving box constraints. |
|
The Flex section below might also apply. |
|
In certain situations, |
|
a box’s constraint is unbounded, or infinite. |
|
This means that either the maximum width or |
|
the maximum height is set to double.infinity. |
|
A box that tries to be as big as possible won’t |
|
function usefully when given an unbounded constraint and, |
|
in debug mode, throws an exception. |
|
The most common case where a render box ends up |
|
with an unbounded constraint is within a flex box |
|
(Row or Column), |
|
and within a scrollable region |
|
(such as ListView and other ScrollView subclasses). |
|
ListView, for example, |
|
tries to expand to fit the space available |
|
in its cross-direction |
|
(perhaps it’s a vertically-scrolling block and |
|
tries to be as wide as its parent). |
|
If you nest a vertically scrolling ListView |
|
inside a horizontally scrolling ListView, |
|
the inner list tries to be as wide as possible, |
|
which is infinitely wide, |
|
since the outer one is scrollable in that direction. |
|
The next section describes the error you might |
|
encounter with unbounded constraints in a Flex widget. |
|
<topic_end> |
|
<topic_start> |
|
Flex |
|
A flex box (Row and Column) behaves |
|
differently depending on whether its |
|
constraint is bounded or unbounded in |
|
its primary direction. |
|
A flex box with a bounded constraint in its |
|
primary direction tries to be as big as possible. |
|
A flex box with an unbounded constraint |
|
in its primary direction tries to fit its children |
|
in that space. Each child’s flex value must be |
|
set to zero, meaning that you can’t use |
|
Expanded when the flex box is inside |
|
another flex box or a scrollable; |
|
otherwise it throws an exception. |
|
The cross direction |
|
(width for Column or height for Row), |
|
must never be unbounded, |
|
or it can’t reasonably align its children. |
|
<topic_end> |
|
|