Resolving Flutter onChanged Issues in TextFields with Controller Values

Описание: Learn how to fix the issue where Flutter TextField's `onChanged` event doesn't trigger when using a controller to preload the value.
---
This video is based on the question https://stackoverflow.com/q/64061076/ asked by the user 'CodingStudent' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/11625985/ ) and on the answer https://stackoverflow.com/a/64065579/ provided by the user 'J. S.' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/1003059/ ) at 'Stack Overflow' website. Thanks to these great users and Stackexchange community for their contributions.

Visit these links for original content and any more details, such as alternate solutions, latest updates/developments on topic, comments, revision history etc. For example, the original title of the Question was: Flutter textfield onChanged don't work when textfield bring value from controller

Also, Content (except music) licensed under CC BY-SA https://meta.stackexchange.com/help/l...
The original Question post is licensed under the 'CC BY-SA 4.0' ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... ) license, and the original Answer post is licensed under the 'CC BY-SA 4.0' ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... ) license.

If anything seems off to you, please feel free to write me at vlogize [AT] gmail [DOT] com.
---
Resolving Flutter onChanged Issues in TextFields with Controller Values

When developing with Flutter, it’s not uncommon to come across challenges that can stump even the most seasoned developers. One frustrating scenario involves the TextField widget: you may find that when the TextField retrieves a value from a controller, the onChanged callback doesn’t trigger as expected. Instead, you may need to retype the value in order to see results. In this guide, we’ll explore this problem in-depth and provide you with a structured solution.

Understanding the Problem

The Issue at Hand

In one of the scenarios presented, a developer was working on a Flutter project where a TextField was set up to accept a value from a controller. However, when the onChanged function wasn't triggering upon loading the initial value, it became apparent that users would have to physically alter the input for the results to display. This can hinder the user experience and make the application less resilient.

Why Does This Happen?

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

When you use a TextEditingController to set the text programmatically, it does not emit a change notification, and therefore the onChanged callback won’t trigger. Essentially, the TextField does not recognize the change as an "input" that requires an action.

Solution Breakdown

Here are two approaches to ensure that your onChanged works correctly with a text controller in Flutter.

1. Utilize a StatefulWidget and Properly Initialize Your Controller

In a StatefulWidget, you can keep the logic straightforward. Access the controller’s text in the initState method and invoke the onChanged function.

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

2. Using Stateless Widget with Initial Value

If you don't need to maintain the state of the TextField, consider the simpler design of a StatelessWidget and just use initialValue:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Conclusion

By understanding how Flutter's TextField works with controllers and initializing them properly in either a Stateful or StatelessWidget, you can resolve issues related to the onChanged callback not being triggered. The provided examples not only clarify how to solve your immediate problem but also enhance the overall architecture of your Flutter application.

Feel free to adopt these techniques in your own projects, ensuring a smoother user experience!