Dart Flutter Patterns

---
name: dart-flutter-patterns
description: Production-ready Dart and Flutter patterns covering null safety, immutable state, async composition, widget architecture, popular state management frameworks (BLoC, Riverpod, Provider), GoRouter navigation, Dio networking, Freezed code generation, and clean architecture. Use when writing or reviewing Dart and Flutter code — state, widgets, navigation, networking, or architecture.
metadata:
  origin: ECC
---

# Dart/Flutter Patterns

## When to Use

Use this skill when:
- Starting a new Flutter feature and need idiomatic patterns for state management, navigation, or data access
- Reviewing or writing Dart code and need guidance on null safety, sealed types, or async composition
- Setting up a new Flutter project and choosing between BLoC, Riverpod, or Provider
- Implementing secure HTTP clients, WebView integration, or local storage
- Writing tests for Flutter widgets, Cubits, or Riverpod providers
- Wiring up GoRouter with authentication guards

## How It Works

This skill provides copy-paste-ready Dart/Flutter code patterns organized by concern:
1. **Null safety** — avoid `!`, prefer `?.`/`??`/pattern matching
2. **Immutable state** — sealed classes, `freezed`, `copyWith`
3. **Async composition** — concurrent `Future.wait`, safe `BuildContext` after `await`
4. **Widget architecture** — extract to classes (not methods), `const` propagation, scoped rebuilds
5. **State management** — BLoC/Cubit events, Riverpod notifiers and derived providers
6. **Navigation** — GoRouter with reactive auth guards via `refreshListenable`
7. **Networking** — Dio with interceptors, token refresh with one-time retry guard
8. **Error handling** — global capture, `ErrorWidget.builder`, crashlytics wiring
9. **Testing** — unit (BLoC test), widget (ProviderScope overrides), fakes over mocks

## Examples

```dart
// Sealed state — prevents impossible states
sealed class AsyncState<T> {}
final class Loading<T> extends AsyncState<T> {}
final class Success<T> extends AsyncState<T> { final T data; const Success(this.data); }
final class Failure<T> extends AsyncState<T> { final Object error; const Failure(this.error); }

// GoRouter with reactive auth redirect
final router = GoRouter(
  refreshListenable: GoRouterRefreshStream(authCubit.stream),
  redirect: (context, state) {
    final authed = context.read<AuthCubit>().state is AuthAuthenticated;
    if (!authed && !state.matchedLocation.startsWith('/login')) return '/login';
    return null;
  },
  routes: [...],
);

// Riverpod derived provider with safe firstWhereOrNull
@riverpod
double cartTotal(Ref ref) {
  final cart = ref.watch(cartNotifierProvider);
  final products = ref.watch(productsProvider).valueOrNull ?? [];
  return cart.fold(0.0, (total, item) {
    final product = products.firstWhereOrNull((p) => p.id == item.productId);
    return total + (product?.price ?? 0) * item.quantity;
  });
}
```

---

Practical, production-ready patterns for Dart and Flutter applications. Library-agnostic where possible, with explicit coverage of the most common ecosystem packages.

---

## 1. Null Safety Fundamentals

### Prefer Patterns Over Bang Operator

```dart
// BAD — crashes at runtime if null
final name = user!.name;

// GOOD — provide fallback
final name = user?.name ?? 'Unknown';

// GOOD — Dart 3 pattern matching (preferred for complex cases)
final display = switch (user) {
  User(:final name, :final email) => '$name <$email>',
  null => 'Guest',
};

// GOOD — guard early return
String getUserName(User? user) {
  if (user == null) return 'Unknown';
  return user.name; // promoted to non-null after check
}
```

### Avoid `late` Overuse

```dart
// BAD — defers null error to runtime
late String userId;

// GOOD — nullable with explicit initialization
String? userId;

// OK — use late only when initialization is guaranteed before first access
// (e.g., in initState() before any widget interaction)
late final AnimationController _controller;

@override
void initState() {
  super.initState();
  _controller = AnimationController(vsync: this, duration: const Duration(milliseconds: 300));
}
```

---

## 2. Immutable State

### Sealed Classes for State Hierarchies

```dart
sealed class UserState {}

final class UserInitial extends UserState {}

final class UserLoading extends UserState {}

final class UserLoaded extends UserState {
  const UserLoaded(this.user);
  final User user;
}

final class UserError extends UserState {
  const UserError(this.message);
  final String message;
}

// Exhaustive switch — compiler enforces all branches
Widget buildFrom(UserState state) => switch (state) {
  UserInitial() => const SizedBox.shrink(),
  UserLoading() => const CircularProgressIndicator(),
  UserLoaded(:final user) => UserCard(user: user),
  UserError(:final message) => ErrorText(message),
};
```

### Freezed for Boilerplate-Free Immutability

```dart
import 'package:freezed_annotation/freezed_annotation.dart';

part 'user.freezed.dart';
part 'user.g.dart';

@freezed
class User with _$User {
  const factory User({
    required String id,
    required String name,
    required String email,
    @Default(false) bool isAdmin,
  }) = _User;

  factory User.fromJson(Map<String, dynamic> json) => _$UserFromJson(json);
}

// Usage
final user = User(id: '1', name: 'Alice', email: 'alice@example.com');
final updated = user.copyWith(name: 'Alice Smith'); // immutable update
final json = user.toJson();
final fromJson = User.fromJson(json);
```

---

## 3. Async Composition

### Structured Concurrency with Future.wait

```dart
Future<DashboardData> loadDashboard(UserRepository users, OrderRepository orders) async {
  // Run concurrently — don't await sequentially
  final (userList, orderList) = await (
    users.getAll(),
    orders.getRecent(),
  ).wait; // Dart 3 record destructuring + Future.wait extension

  return DashboardData(users: userList, orders: orderList);
}
```

### Stream Patterns

```dart
// Repository exposes reactive streams for live data
Stream<List<Item>> watchCartItems() => _db
    .watchTable('cart_items')
    .map((rows) => rows.map(Item.fromRow).toList());

// In widget layer — declarative, no manual subscription
StreamBuilder<List<Item>>(
  stream: cartRepository.watchCartItems(),
  builder: (context, snapshot) => switch (snapshot) {
    AsyncSnapshot(connectionState: ConnectionState.waiting) =>
        const CircularProgressIndicator(),
    AsyncSnapshot(:final error?) => ErrorWidget(error.toString()),
    AsyncSnapshot(:final data?) => CartList(items: data),
    _ => const SizedBox.shrink(),
  },
)
```

### BuildContext After Await

```dart
// CRITICAL — always check mounted after any await in StatefulWidget
Future<void> _handleSubmit() async {
  setState(() => _isLoading = true);
  try {
    await authService.login(_email, _password);
    if (!mounted) return; // ← guard before using context
    context.go('/home');
  } on AuthException catch (e) {
    if (!mounted) return;
    ScaffoldMessenger.of(context).showSnackBar(SnackBar(content: Text(e.message)));
  } finally {
    if (mounted) setState(() => _isLoading = false);
  }
}
```

---

## 4. Widget Architecture

### Extract to Classes, Not Methods

```dart
// BAD — private method returning widget, prevents optimization
Widget _buildHeader() {
  return Container(
    padding: const EdgeInsets.all(16),
    child: Text(title, style: Theme.of(context).textTheme.headlineMedium),
  );
}

// GOOD — separate widget class, enables const, element reuse
class _PageHeader extends StatelessWidget {
  const _PageHeader(this.title);
  final String title;

  @override
  Widget build(BuildContext context) {
    return Container(
      padding: const EdgeInsets.all(16),
      child: Text(title, style: Theme.of(context).textTheme.headlineMedium),
    );
  }
}
```

### const Propagation

```dart
// BAD — new instances every rebuild
child: Padding(
  padding: EdgeInsets.all(16.0),       // not const
  child: Icon(Icons.home, size: 24.0), // not const
)

// GOOD — const stops rebuild propagation
child: const Padding(
  padding: EdgeInsets.all(16.0),
  child: Icon(Icons.home, size: 24.0),
)
```

### Scoped Rebuilds

```dart
// BAD — entire page rebuilds on every counter change
class CounterPage extends ConsumerWidget {
  @override
  Widget build(BuildContext context, WidgetRef ref) {
    final count = ref.watch(counterProvider); // rebuilds everything
    return Scaffold(
      body: Column(children: [
        const ExpensiveHeader(), // unnecessarily rebuilt
        Text('$count'),
        const ExpensiveFooter(), // unnecessarily rebuilt
      ]),
    );
  }
}

// GOOD — isolate the rebuilding part
class CounterPage extends StatelessWidget {
  const CounterPage({super.key});

  @override
  Widget build(BuildContext context) {
    return const Scaffold(
      body: Column(children: [
        ExpensiveHeader(),        // never rebuilt (const)
        _CounterDisplay(),        // only this rebuilds
        ExpensiveFooter(),        // never rebuilt (const)
      ]),
    );
  }
}

class _CounterDisplay extends ConsumerWidget {
  const _CounterDisplay();

  @override
  Widget build(BuildContext context, WidgetRef ref) {
    final count = ref.watch(counterProvider);
    return Text('$count');
  }
}
```

---

## 5. State Management: BLoC/Cubit

```dart
// Cubit — synchronous or simple async state
class AuthCubit extends Cubit<AuthState> {
  AuthCubit(this._authService) : super(const AuthState.initial());
  final AuthService _authService;

  Future<void> login(String email, String password) async {
    emit(const AuthState.loading());
    try {
      final user = await _authService.login(email, password);
      emit(AuthState.authenticated(user));
    } on AuthException catch (e) {
      emit(AuthState.error(e.message));
    }
  }

  void logout() {
    _authService.logout();
    emit(const AuthState.initial());
  }
}

// In widget
BlocBuilder<AuthCubit, AuthState>(
  builder: (context, state) => switch (state) {
    AuthInitial() => const LoginForm(),
    AuthLoading() => const CircularProgressIndicator(),
    AuthAuthenticated(:final user) => HomePage(user: user),
    AuthError(:final message) => ErrorView(message: message),
  },
)
```

---

## 6. State Management: Riverpod

```dart
// Auto-dispose async provider
@riverpod
Future<List<Product>> products(Ref ref) async {
  final repo = ref.watch(productRepositoryProvider);
  return repo.getAll();
}

// Notifier with complex mutations
@riverpod
class CartNotifier extends _$CartNotifier {
  @override
  List<CartItem> build() => [];

  void add(Product product) {
    final existing = state.where((i) => i.productId == product.id).firstOrNull;
    if (existing != null) {
      state = [
        for (final item in state)
          if (item.productId == product.id) item.copyWith(quantity: item.quantity + 1)
          else item,
      ];
    } else {
      state = [...state, CartItem(productId: product.id, quantity: 1)];
    }
  }

  void remove(String productId) =>
      state = state.where((i) => i.productId != productId).toList();

  void clear() => state = [];
}

// Derived provider (selector pattern)
@riverpod
int cartCount(Ref ref) => ref.watch(cartNotifierProvider).length;

@riverpod
double cartTotal(Ref ref) {
  final cart = ref.watch(cartNotifierProvider);
  final products = ref.watch(productsProvider).valueOrNull ?? [];
  return cart.fold(0.0, (total, item) {
    // firstWhereOrNull (from collection package) avoids StateError when product is missing
    final product = products.firstWhereOrNull((p) => p.id == item.productId);
    return total + (product?.price ?? 0) * item.quantity;
  });
}
```

---

## 7. Navigation with GoRouter

```dart
final router = GoRouter(
  initialLocation: '/',
  // refreshListenable re-evaluates redirect whenever auth state changes
  refreshListenable: GoRouterRefreshStream(authCubit.stream),
  redirect: (context, state) {
    final isLoggedIn = context.read<AuthCubit>().state is AuthAuthenticated;
    final isGoingToLogin = state.matchedLocation == '/login';
    if (!isLoggedIn && !isGoingToLogin) return '/login';
    if (isLoggedIn && isGoingToLogin) return '/';
    return null;
  },
  routes: [
    GoRoute(path: '/login', builder: (_, __) => const LoginPage()),
    ShellRoute(
      builder: (context, state, child) => AppShell(child: child),
      routes: [
        GoRoute(path: '/', builder: (_, __) => const HomePage()),
        GoRoute(
          path: '/products/:id',
          builder: (context, state) =>
              ProductDetailPage(id: state.pathParameters['id']!),
        ),
      ],
    ),
  ],
);
```

---

## 8. HTTP with Dio

```dart
final dio = Dio(BaseOptions(
  baseUrl: const String.fromEnvironment('API_URL'),
  connectTimeout: const Duration(seconds: 10),
  receiveTimeout: const Duration(seconds: 30),
  headers: {'Content-Type': 'application/json'},
));

// Add auth interceptor
dio.interceptors.add(InterceptorsWrapper(
  onRequest: (options, handler) async {
    final token = await secureStorage.read(key: 'auth_token');
    if (token != null) options.headers['Authorization'] = 'Bearer $token';
    handler.next(options);
  },
  onError: (error, handler) async {
    // Guard against infinite retry loops: only attempt refresh once per request
    final isRetry = error.requestOptions.extra['_isRetry'] == true;
    if (!isRetry && error.response?.statusCode == 401) {
      final refreshed = await attemptTokenRefresh();
      if (refreshed) {
        error.requestOptions.extra['_isRetry'] = true;
        return handler.resolve(await dio.fetch(error.requestOptions));
      }
    }
    handler.next(error);
  },
));

// Repository using Dio
class UserApiDataSource {
  const UserApiDataSource(this._dio);
  final Dio _dio;

  Future<User> getById(String id) async {
    final response = await _dio.get<Map<String, dynamic>>('/users/$id');
    return User.fromJson(response.data!);
  }
}
```

---

## 9. Error Handling Architecture

```dart
// Global error capture — set up in main()
void main() {
  FlutterError.onError = (details) {
    FlutterError.presentError(details);
    crashlytics.recordFlutterFatalError(details);
  };

  PlatformDispatcher.instance.onError = (error, stack) {
    crashlytics.recordError(error, stack, fatal: true);
    return true;
  };

  runApp(const App());
}

// Custom ErrorWidget for production
class App extends StatelessWidget {
  @override
  Widget build(BuildContext context) {
    ErrorWidget.builder = (details) => ProductionErrorWidget(details);
    return MaterialApp.router(routerConfig: router);
  }
}
```

---

## 10. Testing Quick Reference

```dart
// Unit test — use case
test('GetUserUseCase returns null for missing user', () async {
  final repo = FakeUserRepository();
  final useCase = GetUserUseCase(repo);
  expect(await useCase('missing-id'), isNull);
});

// BLoC test
blocTest<AuthCubit, AuthState>(
  'emits loading then error on failed login',
  build: () => AuthCubit(FakeAuthService(throwsOn: 'login')),
  act: (cubit) => cubit.login('user@test.com', 'wrong'),
  expect: () => [const AuthState.loading(), isA<AuthError>()],
);

// Widget test
testWidgets('CartBadge shows item count', (tester) async {
  await tester.pumpWidget(
    ProviderScope(
      overrides: [cartNotifierProvider.overrideWith(() => FakeCartNotifier(count: 3))],
      child: const MaterialApp(home: CartBadge()),
    ),
  );
  expect(find.text('3'), findsOneWidget);
});
```

---

## References

- [Effective Dart: Design](https://dart.dev/effective-dart/design)
- [Flutter Performance Best Practices](https://docs.flutter.dev/perf/best-practices)
- [Riverpod Documentation](https://riverpod.dev/)
- [BLoC Library](https://bloclibrary.dev/)
- [GoRouter](https://pub.dev/packages/go_router)
- [Freezed](https://pub.dev/packages/freezed)
- Skill: `flutter-dart-code-review` — comprehensive review checklist
- Rules: `rules/dart/` — coding style, patterns, security, testing, hooks