What are the features of Flutter?

Key takeaways:

  • Flutter allows developers to create applications for multiple platforms (Android, iOS, web, and desktop) using a single codebase, reducing development time and effort.

  • Key features include a hot reload for instant UI updates, an extensive widget library for customization, and native performance integration with platform-specific functionalities.

  • Flutter uses Dart, a beginner-friendly language with Ahead-of-Time (AOT) compilation, asynchronous programming capabilities, and built-in libraries to streamline development.

  • Flutter’s ability to develop once and deploy everywhere, along with its active community support, makes it ideal for startups, scalable applications, and rapid prototyping.

  • Leverage Dart DevTools and real-device or emulator testing to identify and resolve issues quickly during development.

  • Customize applications using Flutter’s open-source nature, supported by rich documentation and contributions from a global developer community.

  • Create visually appealing and user-friendly interfaces by combining Flutter’s Material Design and Cupertino widgets with custom animations.

  • Deploy Flutter applications across diverse platforms, including browsers like Chrome and Safari, ensuring broader audience reach.

Google introduced Flutter in May 2017. Flutter is an open-source UI software development kit used to create applications for both Android and iOS. Instead of writing different code for each operating system, it uses the same code base to create a cross-platform mobile application. Dart is the programming language used to create Flutter applications.

Features

Some features of Flutter include:

  • Hot reload

  • Cross-platform development

  • Widget library

  • Native performance

  • Open-source

1. Hot reload

Hot reload allows you to see the changes in the code instantly reflected on the UI. This speeds up the process of working on the application's outlook; moreover, it enables developers to correct errors and saves cost and effort.

2. Cross-platform development

Flutter enables developers to write code that works on different platforms. Two different applications can use the same codebase. In addition to sharing the UI code, the UI itself is also shareable. This makes maintenance of the single codebase much easier as opposed to different codes for different platforms.

3. Widget library

Everything in Flutter is defined as a widget. A widget can be a color, padding, or menu. Flutter is capable of creating complex widgets that can be customized according to the requirement of the application. Built-in widgets are also available for usage. Some examples include Cupertino pack and Material Design, which have sets of widgets that provide a glitch-free user experience.

4. Native performance

In Flutter, platform-specific widgets are provided for Google Fuchsia, Android, and iOS. These widgets can be integrated into the Flutter application to make use of the different platform-dependent functionalities. Existing Java, Swift, and Objective-C codes can be used to utilize native features such as camera and geolocation. Therefore, Flutter can easily incorporate third-party integrations and APIs.

5. Open-source

Google introduced Flutter as an open-source platform. Various design options can be explored by developers to create Flutter applications. User-friendly applications can be created with Material Design and Cupertino widgets. Flutter Form is a community of Flutter enthusiasts who come together to answer questions related to Flutter and discuss it. Flutter is free of cost and has detailed documentation and communities available online.

Flutter 2

Flutter 2 was released on 3rd March 2021. Apart from the already existing features, it contains more features. Now, the same code base can be used to deploy Flutter applications on Windows, Android, iOS, macOS, and Linux. Browsers such as Safari, Edge, Chrome, and Firefox are also supported. Flutter applications cannot only run on mobile, they can also be deployed on the web and be used as desktop applications with the same codebase.

Why choose Flutter?

The following factors make the Flutter beneficial:

  • Faster development: Hot reload and pre-built widgets streamline app creation.

  • Cost-effective: Develop once, deploy everywhere.

  • Scalable applications: Ideal for apps that need to grow over time with expanding user bases.

  • Active community: Extensive documentation and a helpful developer community support learning and troubleshooting.

Use cases of Flutter

  • E-commerce apps: Flutter’s flexibility and rich UI library make it perfect for building engaging e-commerce experiences.

  • Educational platforms: Build LMS and mobile learning apps with consistent cross-platform performance.

  • Social media apps: Integrate native features like geolocation and camera for high user engagement.

  • Startups & MVPs: Flutter’s rapid prototyping capabilities make it a favorite for startups launching MVPs.

The role of Dart in Flutter

Flutter is powered by Dart, a modern programming language optimized for UI development. Key benefits include:

  • Ease of learning: Dart is beginner-friendly and concise.

  • Ahead-of-Time (AOT) compilation: Boosts app performance by compiling to native machine code.

  • Asynchronous programming: Efficiently handles tasks like network calls with dart:async.

  • Built-In libraries: Features pre-defined libraries for faster development.

Flutter’s development process

  1. Installation: Set up Flutter and Dart on your system (Windows, macOS, or Linux).

  2. Project creation: Scaffold a new project using flutter create.

  3. Testing: Use emulators or real devices for testing.

  4. Debugging: Leverage Dart DevTools for diagnosing issues.

  5. Deployment: Publish to the Google Play Store or App Store, or deploy on the web.e, or deploy on the web.

Flowchart of development process
Flowchart of development process

Conclusion

Flutter has revolutionized mobile application development with its single codebase philosophy, rich widget ecosystem, and cross-platform capabilities. From startups to enterprises, it empowers developers to create scalable, cost-effective, and high-performance apps. With continuous updates and an ever-expanding community, Flutter is set to dominate the multi-platform development space for years to come.

Additional resources

You can learn about Flutter from the following resources:

1

What programming language is used to create Flutter applications?

A)

Python

B)

Java

C)

Dart

D)

Kotlin

Question 1 of 20 attempted

Frequently asked questions

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What is Flutter, and why is it popular for app development?

Flutter is an open-source UI software development kit (SDK) introduced by Google in 2017. It is widely used for building cross-platform applications with a single codebase, allowing developers to create apps for Android, iOS, web, and desktop simultaneously. Flutter is popular because it offers features like hot reload, a rich widget library, and native performance. Its ability to create consistent user experiences across multiple platforms while reducing development time and cost makes it a preferred choice for developers and organizations alike.

Is Flutter suitable for building large-scale enterprise applications?

Yes, Flutter is suitable for large-scale enterprise applications. It provides a robust architecture and scalability, making it ideal for apps with complex features and a growing user base. Flutter supports seamless integration with existing codebases in Java, Swift, or Objective-C, enabling the reuse of legacy systems. Additionally, its active community, extensive documentation, and plugins for advanced functionalities allow enterprises to efficiently develop and maintain high-performance applications.

Can I use Flutter for both web and mobile applications?

Yes, Flutter supports web, mobile (Android and iOS), and even desktop applications. This makes it a versatile framework for developers looking to create cross-platform applications with consistent functionality and design. Educative offers many courses to give from the scratch learning of applications building using Flutter. If you are looking for courses, please have a look at our courses; Building Web and Mobile Applications with Flutter and Firebase,Developing Web Applications with Dart and Build and Publish Your First Mobile App Using Flutter.

How does Flutter differ from other cross-platform frameworks?

Flutter stands out due to its use of widgets for UI design, which ensures a consistent look and feel across platforms. Unlike many frameworks that rely on web views or native components, Flutter uses its rendering engine for high performance and customizability. Its hot reload feature and extensive widget library also make development faster and more efficient.

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