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Introduction to Flutter and web Development

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Introduction to Flutter and web Development

Uploaded by

ssreeba94
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Introduction to Flutter and web Development

Flutter is an open-source UI software development kit (SDK) created by Google. It enables


developers to create visually appealing, natively compiled applications for mobile, web, and
desktop from a single codebase. It uses the programming language Dart, also developed
by Google.
Flutter’s core strength lies in its ability to produce fast and beautiful applications with a
single codebase that can run on multiple platforms. Initially released for mobile app
development (Android and iOS), Flutter has expanded its scope to support web and
desktop applications, making it a versatile tool for developers.

• Flutter Basics
Flutter is an open-source framework that enables developers to create cross-platform apps
using a single codebase. It’s built around simplicity, performance, and beautiful UI design,
which makes it a popular choice for modern app development. Let’s explore the basic
components and workflow of Flutter.
• 1. Dart Language
Flutter uses Dart, a programming language developed by Google. Dart is object-oriented,
has a simple syntax similar to JavaScript, and is optimized for building mobile, desktop, and
web applications.
• Key Features of Dart:
• Asynchronous Programming: Dart makes it easy to handle tasks that take time to
complete, like fetching data from the internet.
• Just-In-Time (JIT) and Ahead-Of-Time (AOT) Compilation: Dart supports both JIT
(for fast development using hot reload) and AOT (for better performance in
production builds).
• 2. Flutter Architecture
Flutter follows a reactive UI framework where the UI is rebuilt whenever the state of the
app changes. The architecture includes two main concepts:
• Widgets: The building blocks of Flutter apps. Every visual component is a widget.
• State Management: Managing and preserving the state across different components
and widgets in the app.
• 3. Widgets in Flutter
Widgets are the fundamental components of Flutter apps. Flutter provides a wide range of
pre-built widgets for everything from text, buttons, and images to more complex layouts and
structures.
Widgets are classified into two types:
• Stateless Widgets: These are widgets that do not change over time. They are static
and used when there is no need to manage state.
• Stateful Widgets: These widgets are dynamic and can change based on user
interaction or data changes. Stateful widgets can hold and update their state during
the app lifecycle.

• Web-Specific Features in Flutter


Flutter has expanded beyond mobile app development to include support for web
applications. While many core Flutter features are platform-agnostic (i.e., work on mobile,
web, and desktop), there are specific features and optimizations designed for the web
environment. Below are key web-specific features and considerations when building a web
app using Flutter.
• 1. Browser Compatibility
Flutter supports modern web browsers, including:
• Chrome
• Safari
• Edge
• Firefox
Flutter web applications are compiled to HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, ensuring
compatibility across browsers. However, the framework is optimized for modern browser
standards, so older browsers (like Internet Explorer) are not supported.
• 2. Single Page Application (SPA) Architecture
Flutter supports the development of Single Page Applications (SPAs), where the app loads
a single HTML page and dynamically updates the content without refreshing the entire page.
Flutter handles routing and navigation efficiently using the Navigator class and supports
URL-based routing for SPAs.
• URL-based Navigation: Flutter web supports deep linking and routing, enabling
developers to define different URLs for different pages within the app. For example,
/home, /about, or /product-details.
• 3. Progressive Web Apps (PWAs)
Flutter allows developers to build Progressive Web Apps (PWAs). PWAs combine the best
features of web and mobile apps, offering offline capabilities, push notifications, and a
native-like user experience. PWAs created with Flutter can be installed on a device and run
without the need for a full browser interface.
• Key Features of PWAs:
• Offline Support: With service workers, Flutter PWAs can cache essential files for
offline use.
• Installable: Users can "install" the web app to their home screen, giving it an app-like
feel.
• Push Notifications: PWAs can send push notifications, allowing users to stay
updated without opening the app.
To enable PWA features in Flutter, the following files need to be configured:
• manifest.json
• service_worker.js
• 4. Responsive Design
Creating a responsive UI is essential for web apps due to the variety of screen sizes and
devices. Flutter provides tools to make applications responsive so they look great on mobile,
tablet, and desktop browsers.
• MediaQuery: Helps determine the size of the screen, orientation, and other device
characteristics.
• LayoutBuilder: Allows building different layouts based on the parent widget’s
constraints.
• Flexible and Expanded: Widgets used to create flexible layouts that adapt to
different screen sizes.
• 5. Web-Specific Packages
While Flutter’s core functionality is consistent across platforms, there are packages
specifically designed to enhance web app development. Some examples include:
• url_launcher: Opens URLs in web or other platforms.
• flutter_web_plugins: Provides APIs and support for custom URL schemes and deep
linking in web apps.
• flutter_html: Parses HTML and renders it in Flutter apps, useful for displaying web
content.

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