Top 7 Flutter State Management Libraries

Updated on 29 Nov 225 Min read

Flutter State Management Libraries

The Flutter framework allows the creation of high-performance, high-quality Android and iOS mobile applications. Flutter is Google's portable UI toolkit that we can use to create mobile, web, and desktop applications from a single codebase. Flutter is used by organizations and developers worldwide. And the best part is nothing but it is open-source and free.

Stateful or Stateless widgets are mainly displayed with this toolkit, but it does not handle state management or architecture design as comprehensively as other frameworks. One has several options for managing states in Flutter, and the community around it offers several solutions.

Flutter State Management

When developing Flutter apps, state management is one of the most crucial aspects. It is a way to track all UI changes a user makes. Web, desktop, and mobile app management depend on it. Keeping data and information in sync can be easier with a Flutter state management library.

No matter what type of state changes are present, Flutter state management libraries make it easier to build and manage apps. Developers can design user interfaces from scratch using Flutter's declarative programming style, which updates the app states according to the user interface.

The Flutter architecture is self-sustaining in terms of state management. State management libraries are often avoided when developing small applications without many state transitions. A state management library, however, is a better option when developing complex Flutter apps. We'll see the 7 most Popular Flutter State Management Library in 2023, so let's look at them.

Also, read:​ Hire Flutter App Developers for Building High-Quality Apps​ ​

Top 7 Flutter State Management Libraries

State management libraries in Flutter make it easier to develop and manage apps regardless of the type of state changes they undergo. To return changes to an application's state, Flutter uses a declarative programming structure. Among the most popular Flutter State Management Libraries in 2023 are the following:

1. BLoC

One of Flutter's state management options is the Bloc Pattern (Business Logic Component), recommended by Google and one of the most popular approaches. As its name implies, the Bloc pattern allows one to separate all Flutter application logic into a single component called the Business Logic Component.

Blocs are usually assigned to each screen in Flutter applications. Using this approach, we can separate the presentation code from the business logic to make it easier to test and reuse. Developers can efficiently work on the same code base using uniform patterns and conventions.

Combining BLoC with the reducer pattern is what Bloc/RXRx is all about. A reducer can be defined as a function that takes the current state and actions as arguments and returns a new result as a state.

2. Inherited Widget

Flutter provides inherited widgets for simplifying state management. An inherited class enables other classes to access information in a tree. The widgets are created atop the tree, adding interoperability to any app. Users can pass the state down using InheritedWidget's convenience class rather than having to type the code in every child class. Using InheritedWidget for state transitions will not affect any of the widgets above it since it is the lowest-level widget in a tree.

3. Provider

Provider packages are wrappers around InheritedWidgets that make them easier to use and more reusable. Anyone who wants to use InheritedWidget more straightforwardly can benefit from this package. Objects of the widget tree are provided and accessed internally by the Provider class in the Bloc package. We can also use a provider with Triple, ValueNotifier, ChangeNotifier, and other state objects.

4. Riverpod

Developed by the same author as Provider, Riverpod is a reimplementation of InheritedWidgets from scratch. This is because, during the development of Provider, the author encountered some issues that are eliminated in Riverpod.

Developers face several challenges while using Provider, which is why the library's creators developed it to address those concerns. InheritedWidget is reimplemented in a simple and easy-to-use way. Being relatively more recent and less used than Provider, it has recently emerged from its experimental stage.

In contrast to waiting until run time, Riverpod identifies coding errors at compile time. The unidirectional data flow makes apps more scalable as it makes app objects visible in Flutter's devtool by default. Furthermore, it simplifies complex object graphs and makes patterns independent of Flutter.

5. MobX

As defined in the official documentation, Mobx represents a simple way to connect reactive data to the user interface. MobX works behind the scenes in a few ways that may sound simple, but one must understand a few key concepts and terms. Mobx is based on three main concepts: Observables, Actions, and Reactions.

In MobX, reactive data is easily connected to the UI through a state-management library. Despite its automatic nature, this wiring feels very natural. UI developers are free to focus purely on what reactive data needs to be consumed without worrying about keeping these two things in sync.

6. GetX

GetX is a lightweight, quick, and stable state management library for Flutter. MobX, BLoC, Redux, Provider, and other State Management libraries are available in Flutter.

We can also perform dependency injection using GetX, a powerful miniature framework. We can transfer information inside an application with state management. In addition, the application's state is updated whenever information is passed, thus rebuilding the application.

7. Cube

Flutter's Cube library uses dependency injection without requiring code generation, which makes it the latest in the list of state management libraries. The project is relatively new, so it is not familiar to all Flutter users. Even if you are new to Flutter, this approach is fairly easy to understand. Aside from that, it simplifies state management objectively and minimizes code complexity by rebuilding widget trees as needed.

For new users, Cube is very intuitive and is gaining popularity. Object-oriented state management is the focus of the application. As a result, the widget tree is rebuilt only when necessary, which reduces the complexity of coding.

Also, Read: Flutter For MVP Development - Why Is It The Best Choice?

Let's Wrap Up

Choosing the correct Flutter state management library is as crucial as using it. Using simple state transitions instead of complex boilerplate code will save the valuable time of developers. One should select a state management library based on the app's requirements.

If you are in need to create an app with flutter, look no further. Schedule a meeting today to talk with our team. How about we make an application of your dreams!

FAQS

Stay curious, Questions?

What is State Management Flutter?

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The Flutter app development process relies heavily on state management to centralize all UI states and control data flows.

Is it worth learning Flutter in 2023?

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Flutter appears to be the most popular cross-platform app framework among global developers. Survey results show 42% of software developers use Flutter. Today, Flutter has more than 2 million users. With its rapidly growing market, Flutter is one of the best programming languages to learn in 2023.

What are the three disadvantages of Flutter?

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The three disadvantage of flutter is as follows:

1. A heavy and large application

The size of Flutter-based apps is inherently greater than native applications.

2. Limited Ecosystem

Although Flutter 2 brought about improvements, the ecosystem is comparatively limited due to Flutter's relative youth and unique language choice.

3. Insufficient community support

The framework also suffers from a relatively small developer community for similar reasons that the framework has a limited ecosystem of third-party tools and libraries.

Is Riverpod better than BLoC?

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Usually, Blocs are capable of reacting to state changes by interacting with other blocs, while the Riverpod architecture clearly distinguishes controllers (for widget state) and services (for application state). Although Riverpod allows one to watch various data types (ChangeNotifiers, Streams, Futures, StateNotifiers, etc.), it only supports up to six streams simultaneously. Therefore, it depends on one's requirements.

Is Riverpod better than GetX?

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GetX is more of a framework for Flutter than just a state management tool. GetX is better for small applications, and Riverpod is better for large products. The additional functions and utilities are unnecessary if one needs a state manager.

What is Flutter BLoC?

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BLoC is built on Streams or Reactive programming. Streams of events can be listened to when subscribers create them. Data is emitted into the stream and notified to subscribers when it is new. Flutter widgets communicate and send data using this stream. It is a layer that separates the data from the user interface components. An external source transmits an event to the bloc, which emits a state in response.