So far whenever I needed to use a conditional statement within a Widget I have done the following (Using Center and Containers as simplified dummy examples):
new Center(
child: condition == true ? new Container() : new Container()
)
Though when I tried using an if/else statement it would lead to an Dead code warning:
new Center(
child:
if(condition == true){
new Container();
}else{
new Container();
}
)
Interestingly enough I tried with a switch case statement and it gives me the same warning and thus I cannot run the code. Am I doing something wrong or is it so that one cannot use if/else or switch statements without flutter thinking there is dead code?
Actually you can use if/else
and switch
and any other statement inline in dart / flutter.
Use an immediate anonymous function
class StatmentExample extends StatelessWidget {
Widget build(BuildContext context) {
return Text((() {
if(true){
return "tis true";}
return "anything but true";
})());
}
}
ie wrap your statements in a function
(() {
// your code here
}())
I would heavily recommend against putting too much logic directly with your UI 'markup' but I found that type inference in Dart needs a little bit of work so it can be sometimes useful in scenarios like that.
Use the ternary operator
condition ? Text("True") : null,
Use If or For statements or spread operators in collections
children: [
...manyItems,
oneItem,
if(canIKickIt)
...kickTheCan
for (item in items)
Text(item)
Use a method
child: getWidget()
Widget getWidget() {
if (x > 5) ...
//more logic here and return a Widget
Redefine switch statement
As another alternative to the ternary operator, you could create a function version of the switch statement such as in the following post https://stackoverflow.com/a/57390589/1058292.
child: case2(myInput,
{
1: Text("Its one"),
2: Text("Its two"),
}, Text("Default"));
I personally use if/else statement in children with this kind of block statement. It only supports on Dart version 2.3.0 above.
if / else
Column(
children: [
if (_selectedIndex == 0) ...[
DayScreen(),
] else ...[
StatsScreen(),
],
],
),
if / else if
Column(
children: [
if (_selectedIndex == 0) ...[
DayScreen(),
] else if(_selectedIndex == 1)...[
StatsScreen(),
],
],
),
multiple widgets example
Column(
children: [
if (_selectedIndex == 0) ...[
DayScreen(),
AboutScreen(),
InfoScreen(),
] else if(_selectedIndex == 1)...[
HomeScreen(),
StatsScreen(),
],
],
),
...[]
trick is awesome. It's a detail that no other answer mentioned, but it's very useful if you want to add multiple widgets conditionally.
In Dart, if/else
and switch
are statements not expressions. They don't return a value so you can't pass them to constructor params. If you have a lot of conditional logic in your build method, then it is a good practice to try and simplify it. For example, you can move self-contained logic to methods, and use if/else
statements to initialize local variables which you can later use.
Using a method and if/else
Widget _buildChild() {
if (condition) {
return ...
}
return ...
}
Widget build(BuildContext context) {
return new Container(child: _buildChild());
}
Using an if/else
Widget build(BuildContext context) {
Widget child;
if (condition) {
child = ...
} else {
child = ...
}
return new Container(child: child);
}
In such a case I would recommand using the ternary operator:
child: condition ? Container() : Center()
and try to avoid code of the form:
if (condition) return A else return B
which is needlessly more verbose than the ternary operator.
But if more logic is needed you may also:
Use the Builder widget
The Builder widget is meant for allowing the use of a closure when a child widget is required:
A platonic widget that calls a closure to obtain its child widget.
It is convenient anytime you need logic to build a widget, it avoids the need to create a dedicated function.
You use the Builder widget as the child, you provide your logic in its builder
method:
Center(
child: Builder(
builder: (context) {
// any logic needed...
final condition = _whateverLogicNeeded();
return condition
? Container();
: Center();
}
)
)
The Builder provides a convenient place to hold the creational logic. It is more straightforward than the immediate anonymous function proposed by atreeon.
Also I agree that the logic should be extracted from the UI code, but when it's really UI logic it is sometimes more legible to keep it there.
For the record, Dart 2.3 added the ability to use if/else statements in Collection literals. This is now done the following way:
return Column(children: <Widget>[
Text("hello"),
if (condition)
Text("should not render if false"),
Text("world")
],);
Flutter Issue #28181 - Inline conditional rendering in list
AppBar -> leading:
or child:
I found out that an easy way to use conditional logic to build Flutter UI is to keep the logic outside of the UI. Here is a function to return two different colors:
Color getColor(int selector) {
if (selector % 2 == 0) {
return Colors.blue;
} else {
return Colors.blueGrey;
}
}
The function is used below to to set the background of the CircleAvatar.
new ListView.builder(
itemCount: users.length,
itemBuilder: (BuildContext context, int index) {
return new Column(
children: <Widget>[
new ListTile(
leading: new CircleAvatar(
backgroundColor: getColor(index),
child: new Text(users[index].name[0])
),
title: new Text(users[index].login),
subtitle: new Text(users[index].name),
),
new Divider(height: 2.0),
],
);
},
);
Very neat as you can reuse your color selector function in several widgets.
You can simply use a conditional statement a==b?c:d
For example :
Container(
color: Colors.white,
child: ('condition')
? Widget1(...)
: Widget2(...)
)
I hope you got the idea.
Suppose if there is no else condition you can use a SizedBox.shrink()
Container(
color: Colors.white,
child: ('condition')
? Widget1(...)
: SizedBox.shrink()
)
If it is a column no need to write ?:
operator
Column(
children: <Widget>[
if('condition')
Widget1(...),
],
)
Aside from the ternary operator, you can also use Builder
widget if you have operation needs to be performed before the condition statement.
Builder(builder: (context) {
/// some operation here ...
if(someCondition) {
return Text('A');
}
else {
return Text('B');
}
})
Lol after months of using ?: I just find out that I can use this:
Column(
children: [
if (true) Text('true') else Text('false'),
],
)
Here is the solution. I have fixed it. Here is the code
child: _status(data[index]["status"]),
Widget _status(status) {
if (status == "3") {
return Text('Process');
} else if(status == "1") {
return Text('Order');
} else {
return Text("Waiting");
}
}
if you use a list of widgets you can use this:
class HomePage extends StatelessWidget {
bool notNull(Object o) => o != null;
@override
Widget build(BuildContext context) {
var condition = true;
return Scaffold(
appBar: AppBar(
title: Text("Provider Demo"),
),
body: Center(
child: Column(
children: <Widget>[
condition? Text("True"): null,
Container(
height: 300,
width: MediaQuery.of(context).size.width,
child: Text("Test")
)
].where(notNull).toList(),
)),
);
}
}
Another alternative: for 'switch's
' like statements, with a lot of conditions, I like to use maps:
return Card(
elevation: 0,
margin: EdgeInsets.all(1),
child: conditions(widget.coupon)[widget.coupon.status] ??
(throw ArgumentError('invalid status')));
conditions(Coupon coupon) => {
Status.added_new: CheckableCouponTile(coupon.code),
Status.redeemed: SimpleCouponTile(coupon.code),
Status.invalid: SimpleCouponTile(coupon.code),
Status.valid_not_redeemed: SimpleCouponTile(coupon.code),
};
It's easier to add/remove elements to the condition list without touch the conditional statement.
Another example:
var condts = {
0: Container(),
1: Center(),
2: Row(),
3: Column(),
4: Stack(),
};
class WidgetByCondition extends StatelessWidget {
final int index;
WidgetByCondition(this.index);
@override
Widget build(BuildContext context) {
return condts[index];
}
}
****You can also use conditions by using this method** **
int _moneyCounter = 0;
void _rainMoney(){
setState(() {
_moneyCounter += 100;
});
}
new Expanded(
child: new Center(
child: new Text('\$$_moneyCounter',
style:new TextStyle(
color: _moneyCounter > 1000 ? Colors.blue : Colors.amberAccent,
fontSize: 47,
fontWeight: FontWeight.w800
)
),
)
),
With a button
bool _paused = false;
CupertinoButton(
child: _paused ? Text('Play') : Text('Pause'),
color: Colors.blue,
onPressed: () {
setState(() {
_paused = !_paused;
});
},
),
The simplest way:
// the ternary operator:
<conditon>
? Widget1(...)
: Widget2(...)
// Or:
if (condition)
Widget1(...)
// With else/ if else
if (condition1)
Widget1(...)
else if (condition2)
Widget2(...)
else
Widget3(...),
If you want to render MULTIPLE WIDGETS for one condition, you can use the spread operator:
if (condition) ...[
Widget1(...),
Widget2(...),
],
// with else / else if:
if (condition1) ...[
Widget1(...),
Widget2(...),
]
else if(condition2)...[
Widget3(...),
Widget4(...),
]
else ...[
Widget3(...),
Widget4(...),
],
This is great article and conversation. I tried to use the ternary operator as described. But the code didn't work resulting in an error as mentioned.
Column(children: [ condition? Text("True"): null,],);
The ternary example above is miss leading. Dart will respond with an error that a null was returned instead of widget. You can't return null. The correct way will be to return a widget:
Column(children: [ condition? Text("True"): Text("false"),],);
In order for the ternary to work you need to return a Widget. If you don't want to return anything you can return a empty container.
Column(children: [ condition? Text("True"): Container(),],);
Good luck.
You can use ternary operator for conditional statements in dart, It's use is simple
(condition) ? statement1 : statement2
if the condition
is true then the statement1
will be executed otherwise statement2
.
Taking a practical example
Center(child: condition ? Widget1() : Widget2())
Remember if you are going to use null
as Widget2
it is better to use SizedBox.shrink()
because some parent widgets will throw an exception after getting a null
child.
EDIT: I no longer recommend the solution I posted below because I realized that using this method, both the child for the true result and the child for the false result are built but only one is used, which unnecessarily slows the code.
PREVIOUS ANSWER:
In my app I created a WidgetChooser
widget so I can choose between widgets without conditional logic:
WidgetChooser(
condition: true,
trueChild: Text('This widget appears if the condition is true.'),
falseChild: Text('This widget appears if the condition is false.'),
);
This is the source for the WidgetChooser
widget:
import 'package:flutter/widgets.dart';
class WidgetChooser extends StatelessWidget {
final bool condition;
final Widget trueChild;
final Widget falseChild;
WidgetChooser({@required this.condition, @required this.trueChild, @required this.falseChild});
@override
Widget build(BuildContext context) {
if (condition) {
return trueChild;
} else {
return falseChild;
}
}
}
You can use builder in following manning: I have consider a condition where we can get image url as null, hence if null I show a shrink sizedbox as it has no property a completely void widget.
Builder(builder: (BuildContext context) {
if (iconPath != null) {
return ImageIcon(
AssetImage(iconPath!),
color: AppColors.kPrimaryColor,
);
} else {
return SizedBox.shrink();
}
})
Conditional rendering in Flutter can easily be done by proviso package. It has a comprehensive set of conditional widgets and builders to make a more readable and simpler conditional statement code.
The API & helpers consist of but not limited to:
conditional widgets & builders:
ConditionWidget(
condition: starred,
widget: Icon(
Icons.favorite
),
fallback: fallbackWidget
)
ConditionBuilder(
condition: (_) => someCondition,
trueBuilder: (_) => trueWidget,
fallbackBuilder: (_) => fallbackWidget
)
switch case conditions:
SwitchCaseBuilder.widget<String>(
context: context,
condition: (_) => '1',
caseBuilders: {'1': (_) => someWidget(), '2': (_) => someWidget()},
fallbackBuilder: (_) => fallbackWidget,
);
or even a conditional parent widget
ConditionalWrap(
shouldWrap: shouldWrapChildInParent,
child: Container(),
parentBuilder: (child) => Container(
child: child,
),
)
API supports either a single or multiple widgets rendering. You are welcome to give it a try.
I prefer using Map
Map<String, Widget> pageSelector = {
"login": Text("Login"),
"home": Text("Home"),
}
and inside the build function i pass the key to the map like this
new Center(
child: pageSelector["here pass the key"] ?? Text("some default widget"),
)
or another solution is to use simple function
Widget conditionalWidget(int numberToCheck){
switch(numberToCheck){
case 0: return Text("zero widget");
case 1: return Text("one widget");
case 2: return Text("two widget");
case 3: return Text("three widget");
default: return Text("default widget");
}
and inside the build function pass the number of widget or any other parameter to check
new Center(
child: conditionalWidget(pageNumber),
)
child: Container(
child: isFile == true ?
Image.network(pathfile, width: 300, height: 200, fit: BoxFit.cover) :
Text(message.subject.toString(), style: TextStyle(color: Colors.white),
),
),
I have no idea whether it's a good practice, but I am using:
class StatmentExample extends StatelessWidget {
Widget build(BuildContext context) {
return pageValue==1 ? Page1():pageValue== 2? Page2():pageValue==3 ? Page3():Page4();
}
}
Do it like this
Widget showIf(bool shouldShow, Widget widget) {
if (shouldShow) {
return widget;
} else {
return Container();
}}
So when you want to show something with condition you do like say
Column(children: [showIf(myConditionIsTrue, myComplexWidget)])
If you want to avoid using if statements, you can use the Flutter Visibility
widget
There are two possibilities :
if you are using one widget only
Solution=>
Visibility(
visible: condition == true,
child: Text(""),
),
OR
Offstage(
offstage: condition == false,
child: Text(""),
),
if you are using two widgets or more
Solution=>
bool _visibility = false;
isVisible?
Widget1
:
WIdget2
A better way
Column(
children: [
if (firstCondition == true) ...[
DayScreen(),
] else if(secondCondition == true)...[
StatsScreen(),
], else...[
StatsScreen(),
],
],
),
In my opinion Best and the cleanest way which I prefer is to create an helper typedef function class coditional_widget.dart.
typedef IfWidget = List<Widget> Function(bool, Widget);
typedef IfElseWidget = Widget Function(bool, Widget, Widget);
typedef ElseEmptyWidget = Widget Function(bool, Widget);
IfWidget ifTrueWidget =
(bool condition, Widget child) => [if (condition) child];
IfElseWidget ifElseWidget =
(bool condition, Widget isTrueChild, Widget isFalseChild) =>
condition ? isTrueChild : isFalseChild;
ElseEmptyWidget elseEmptyWidget = (bool condition, Widget isTrueChild) =>
condition ? isTrueChild : const SizedBox.shrink();
How to use it
// IfWidget
** Row/ Column / Wrap child etc.
children: <Widget>[
...ifWidget(title != null, Text('Only Display for True Conditon')),
]
// elseEmptyWidget
** Row/ Column / Wrap child etc.
children: <Widget>[
elseEmptyWidget(title!=null,Text('Only Display for True Conditon')),
]
// ifElseWidget
** Row/ Column / Wrap child etc.
children: <Widget>[
ifElseWidget(true,Text('Only Display for True Conditon'),Text('Only Display for false Conditon')),
]
it's only a few you can add more
Only if vibrating widget
if(bool = true) Container(
child: ....
),
OR
if(bool = true) Container(
child: ....
) else new Container(child: lalala),
Success story sharing
null
or emptyContainer()
?