Lists, Maps, and Sets in Flutter - Cheat Sheet & Quick Revision

Recall & Review

beginner

What is a List in Flutter?

A List is an ordered collection of items. You can add, remove, or access items by their position (index). Think of it like a shopping list where order matters.

beginner

How does a Map work in Flutter?

A Map stores data as key-value pairs. Each key is unique and points to a value. It's like a dictionary where you look up a word (key) to find its meaning (value).

beginner

What is a Set in Flutter and when to use it?

A Set is a collection of unique items with no order. Use it when you want to store items but avoid duplicates, like a guest list where each name appears once.

beginner

How do you add an item to a List in Flutter?

Use the add() method. For example: myList.add('apple'); This adds 'apple' to the end of the list.

intermediate

How to check if a Map contains a key in Flutter?

Use the containsKey() method. For example: myMap.containsKey('name') returns true if 'name' is a key in the map.

Which Flutter collection type stores items in a specific order and allows duplicates?

A None of the above

B List

C Set

D Map

Lists keep items in order and allow duplicates.

What does a Map in Flutter use to access its values?

A Key

B Index

C Position

D Value

Maps use keys to access their values.

Which collection type automatically prevents duplicate items?

A List

B Map

C Set

D Array

Sets only store unique items.

How do you add a new key-value pair to a Map in Flutter?

A myMap['key'] = 'value'

B myMap.add('key', 'value')

C myMap.insert('key', 'value')

D myMap.push('key', 'value')

Use myMap['key'] = 'value' to add or update entries.

Which method checks if a List contains a specific item?

A exists()

B has()

C find()

D contains()

The contains() method checks for an item in a List.

Explain the differences between Lists, Maps, and Sets in Flutter.

Think about how you store and access data in each collection.

Describe a real-life example where you would use a Set instead of a List.

Consider situations where repeating items cause problems.

Practice

1. Which of the following correctly describes a Set in Flutter?

easy

A. A fixed-size list that cannot be changed.

B. A collection of key-value pairs for fast lookup.

C. An ordered list that allows duplicate items.

D. A collection of unique items without any specific order.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand Set characteristics

   A Set stores unique items and does not maintain order.

2. Step 2: Compare with other collections

   Maps store key-value pairs, Lists allow duplicates and are ordered.

3. Final Answer:

   A collection of unique items without any specific order. -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Set = unique unordered collection [OK]

Hint: Remember: Sets have unique items, no order [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing Sets with Lists (which allow duplicates)
• Thinking Sets maintain insertion order
• Mixing up Maps and Sets

2. Which of the following is the correct syntax to create a Map in Flutter?

easy

A. var myMap = {'key1': 'value1', 'key2': 'value2'};

B. var myMap = Set('key1', 'value1');

C. var myMap = ['key1', 'value1', 'key2', 'value2'];

D. var myMap = {1, 2, 3};

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify Map syntax

   Maps use curly braces with key-value pairs separated by colons.

2. Step 2: Check each option

   var myMap = {'key1': 'value1', 'key2': 'value2'}; correctly uses {'key': 'value'} pairs. Others are list, set, or invalid syntax.

3. Final Answer:

   var myMap = {'key1': 'value1', 'key2': 'value2'}; -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Map syntax = {'key': 'value'} [OK]

Hint: Maps use curly braces with colon-separated pairs [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using commas instead of colons for key-value pairs
• Confusing list syntax with Map syntax
• Trying to create Map with Set syntax

3. What will be the output of this Flutter code?

var list = [1, 2, 3, 2];
var set = list.toSet();
print(set);

medium

A. {1, 2, 3}

B. [1, 2, 3, 2]

C. {1, 2, 3, 2}

D. [1, 2, 3]

Solution

1. Step 1: Convert list to set

   Calling toSet() removes duplicates and creates a Set.

2. Step 2: Understand Set output

   Set prints with curly braces and unique values only: {1, 2, 3}.

3. Final Answer:

   {1, 2, 3} -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   List to Set removes duplicates [OK]

Hint: toSet() removes duplicates and changes brackets [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Expecting list brackets [] instead of set braces {}
• Thinking duplicates remain after toSet()
• Confusing output format of Set vs List

4. Identify the error in this Flutter code snippet:

var map = {'a': 1, 'b': 2};
map.add('c', 3);

medium

A. Keys in Map must be integers, not strings.

B. The method add() does not exist for Map.

C. Map cannot have more than two key-value pairs.

D. The syntax for Map declaration is incorrect.

Solution

1. Step 1: Check Map methods

   Maps do not have an add() method; use map[key] = value to add entries.

2. Step 2: Validate other options

   Keys can be strings, Maps can have many pairs, and declaration syntax is correct.

3. Final Answer:

   The method add() does not exist for Map. -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Use map[key] = value to add entries [OK]

Hint: Use map[key] = value to add, not add() method [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Trying to use add() on Map instead of assignment
• Thinking Map keys must be integers
• Assuming Map size is limited

5. Given this Flutter code, what will be the final content of result?

var list = [1, 2, 2, 3];
var map = {for (var i in list) i: i * 2};
var result = map.values.toSet().toList();
print(result);

hard

A. [1, 4, 6]

B. [1, 2, 3]

C. [2, 4, 6]

D. [2, 2, 4, 6]

Solution

1. Step 1: Create Map from list

   Map comprehension uses list items as keys and doubles as values. Duplicate keys overwrite, so map = {1:2, 2:4, 3:6}.

2. Step 2: Extract values and remove duplicates

   map.values = [2, 4, 6]. Converting to Set removes duplicates (none here), then toList() keeps order.

3. Final Answer:

   [2, 4, 6] -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Map keys unique, values doubled, duplicates removed [OK]

Hint: Map keys unique; duplicates overwrite values [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Expecting duplicate keys to keep all entries
• Confusing keys and values in map comprehension
• Not converting Set back to List