When should I use a FutureBuilder?

Question

I was wondering when I should use the future builder. For example, if I want to make an http request and show the results in a list view, as soon as you open the view, should I have to use the future builder or just build a ListViewBuilder like:

new ListView.builder(
        itemCount: _features.length,
        itemBuilder: (BuildContext context, int position) {
...stuff here...
}

Moreover, if I don't want to build a list view but some more complex stuff like circular charts, should I have to use the future builder?

Hope it's clear enough!

Answer 1

FutureBuilder removes boilerplate code.

Let's say you want to fetch some data from the backend on page launch and show a loader until data comes.

Tasks for ListBuilder:

• Have two state variables, dataFromBackend and isLoadingFlag
• On launch, set isLoadingFlag = true, and based on this, show loader.
• Once data arrives, set data with what you get from backend and set isLoadingFlag = false (inside setState obviously)
• We need to have a if-else in widget creation. If isLoadingFlag is true, show the loader else show the data. On failure, show error message.

Tasks for FutureBuilder:

• Give the async task in future of Future Builder
• Based on connectionState, show message (loading, active(streams), done)
• Based on data(snapshot.hasError), show view

Pros of FutureBuilder

• Does not use the two state variables and setState
• Reactive programming (FutureBuilder will take care of updating the view on data arrival)

Example:

FutureBuilder<String>(
    future: _fetchNetworkCall, // async work
    builder: (BuildContext context, AsyncSnapshot<String> snapshot) {
       switch (snapshot.connectionState) {
         case ConnectionState.waiting: return Text('Loading....');
         default:
           if (snapshot.hasError)
              return Text('Error: ${snapshot.error}');
           else
          return Text('Result: ${snapshot.data}');
        }
      },
    )

Performance impact:

I just looked into the FutureBuilder code to understand the performance impact of using this.

• FutureBuilder is just a StatefulWidget whose state variable is _snapshot
• Initial state is _snapshot = AsyncSnapshot<T>.withData(ConnectionState.none, widget.initialData);
• It is subscribing to future which we send via the constructor and update the state based on that.

Example:

widget.future.then<void>((T data) {
    if (_activeCallbackIdentity == callbackIdentity) {
      setState(() {
        _snapshot = AsyncSnapshot<T>.withData(ConnectionState.done, data);
      });
    }
}, onError: (Object error) {
  if (_activeCallbackIdentity == callbackIdentity) {
    setState(() {
      _snapshot = AsyncSnapshot<T>.withError(ConnectionState.done, error);
    });
  }
});

So the FutureBuilder is a wrapper/boilerplate of what we do typically, hence there should not be any performance impact.