Tab navigation in Flutter - Mini App: Build & Ship

Build: Simple Tab Navigation

A screen with bottom tab navigation to switch between Home, Search, and Profile pages.

Target UI

┌─────────────────────────────┐
│          App Bar            │
├─────────────────────────────┤
│                             │
│        [Content Area]        │
│                             │
├─────────────────────────────┤
│ Home | Search | Profile     │
└─────────────────────────────┘

Use a BottomNavigationBar with three tabs: Home, Search, Profile

Display a different centered text for each tab: 'Home Screen', 'Search Screen', 'Profile Screen'

Switch content when tapping different tabs

Highlight the selected tab icon and label

Use StatefulWidget to manage tab state

Starter Code

Flutter

import 'package:flutter/material.dart';

class TabNavigationScreen extends StatefulWidget {
  @override
  State<TabNavigationScreen> createState() => _TabNavigationScreenState();
}

class _TabNavigationScreenState extends State<TabNavigationScreen> {
  int _selectedIndex = 0;

  // TODO: Add list of widget pages here

  void _onItemTapped(int index) {
    setState(() {
      _selectedIndex = index;
    });
  }

  @override
  Widget build(BuildContext context) {
    return Scaffold(
      appBar: AppBar(
        title: Text('Simple Tab Navigation'),
      ),
      body: Center(
        // TODO: Show selected page content here
      ),
      bottomNavigationBar: BottomNavigationBar(
        currentIndex: _selectedIndex,
        onTap: _onItemTapped,
        items: const [
          BottomNavigationBarItem(
            icon: Icon(Icons.home),
            label: 'Home',
          ),
          BottomNavigationBarItem(
            icon: Icon(Icons.search),
            label: 'Search',
          ),
          BottomNavigationBarItem(
            icon: Icon(Icons.person),
            label: 'Profile',
          ),
        ],
      ),
    );
  }
}

Task 1

Task 2

Solution

Flutter

import 'package:flutter/material.dart';

class TabNavigationScreen extends StatefulWidget {
  @override
  State<TabNavigationScreen> createState() => _TabNavigationScreenState();
}

class _TabNavigationScreenState extends State<TabNavigationScreen> {
  int _selectedIndex = 0;

  static const List<Widget> _pages = <Widget>[
    Center(child: Text('Home Screen', style: TextStyle(fontSize: 24))),
    Center(child: Text('Search Screen', style: TextStyle(fontSize: 24))),
    Center(child: Text('Profile Screen', style: TextStyle(fontSize: 24))),
  ];

  void _onItemTapped(int index) {
    setState(() {
      _selectedIndex = index;
    });
  }

  @override
  Widget build(BuildContext context) {
    return Scaffold(
      appBar: AppBar(
        title: const Text('Simple Tab Navigation'),
      ),
      body: _pages[_selectedIndex],
      bottomNavigationBar: BottomNavigationBar(
        currentIndex: _selectedIndex,
        onTap: _onItemTapped,
        items: const [
          BottomNavigationBarItem(
            icon: Icon(Icons.home),
            label: 'Home',
          ),
          BottomNavigationBarItem(
            icon: Icon(Icons.search),
            label: 'Search',
          ),
          BottomNavigationBarItem(
            icon: Icon(Icons.person),
            label: 'Profile',
          ),
        ],
      ),
    );
  }
}

This solution uses a StatefulWidget to keep track of the selected tab index with _selectedIndex. We define a static list _pages containing three Center widgets each showing the text for Home, Search, and Profile screens.

The BottomNavigationBar has three items with icons and labels. When a tab is tapped, _onItemTapped updates the selected index and rebuilds the UI.

The body of the Scaffold shows the widget from _pages matching the selected index, so the content changes accordingly.

This creates a simple tab navigation experience familiar in many apps.

Final Result

Completed Screen

┌─────────────────────────────┐
│      Simple Tab Navigation   │
├─────────────────────────────┤
│                             │
│        Home Screen           │
│                             │
├─────────────────────────────┤
│ Home* | Search | Profile    │
└─────────────────────────────┘

Tapping 'Search' tab changes center text to 'Search Screen' and highlights Search tab

Tapping 'Profile' tab changes center text to 'Profile Screen' and highlights Profile tab

Tapping 'Home' tab returns to 'Home Screen' and highlights Home tab

Stretch Goal

Add icons that change color when selected and add a simple fade animation when switching tabs.

💡 Hint

Use BottomNavigationBar's selectedItemColor property for color change and AnimatedSwitcher widget to animate the body content.

Practice

1. What is the main purpose of using TabBar in Flutter tab navigation?

easy

A. To store the content of each tab

B. To control the animation speed between tabs

C. To display the tabs that users can tap to switch views

D. To handle user authentication

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the role of TabBar

   TabBar is the widget that shows the clickable tabs at the top of the screen.

2. Step 2: Differentiate from other widgets

   TabBarView shows the content, and DefaultTabController manages the state, but TabBar is what users tap.

3. Final Answer:

   To display the tabs that users can tap to switch views -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   TabBar shows tabs = A [OK]

Hint: TabBar shows tabs users tap to switch [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing TabBar with TabBarView
• Thinking TabBar stores content
• Mixing TabBar with controller roles

2. Which of the following is the correct way to create a tab with an icon and text in Flutter?

easy

A. TabBar(icon: Icon(Icons.home), label: 'Home')

B. Tab(icon: Icon(Icons.home), text: 'Home')

C. TabView(icon: Icon(Icons.home), text: 'Home')

D. Tab(icon: 'home', text: Icon('Home'))

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall Tab widget syntax

   The Tab widget accepts named parameters icon and text for icon and label.

2. Step 2: Check each option

   Tab(icon: Icon(Icons.home), text: 'Home') uses correct syntax. TabBar(icon: Icon(Icons.home), label: 'Home') wrongly uses TabBar instead of Tab. TabView(icon: Icon(Icons.home), text: 'Home') uses TabView which is incorrect. Tab(icon: 'home', text: Icon('Home')) swaps icon and text types.

3. Final Answer:

   Tab(icon: Icon(Icons.home), text: 'Home') -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Tab with icon and text = B [OK]

Hint: Use Tab widget with icon and text named parameters [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using TabBar instead of Tab for tabs
• Passing wrong types to icon or text
• Confusing TabView with Tab

3. What will be displayed when the following Flutter code runs?

DefaultTabController(
  length: 2,
  child: Scaffold(
    appBar: AppBar(
      bottom: TabBar(
        tabs: [Tab(text: 'One'), Tab(text: 'Two')],
      ),
    ),
    body: TabBarView(
      children: [
        Center(child: Text('Page One')),
        Center(child: Text('Page Two')),
      ],
    ),
  ),
)

medium

A. App crashes due to missing controller

B. Tabs labeled 'One' and 'Two' but no content shown below

C. Only one tab labeled 'One' with 'Page One' content

D. Two tabs labeled 'One' and 'Two' with corresponding pages showing 'Page One' and 'Page Two'

Solution

1. Step 1: Analyze DefaultTabController usage

   The controller manages two tabs as length is 2, matching tabs and views count.

2. Step 2: Match tabs and views

   Tabs 'One' and 'Two' correspond to TabBarView children showing 'Page One' and 'Page Two'.

3. Final Answer:

   Two tabs labeled 'One' and 'Two' with corresponding pages showing 'Page One' and 'Page Two' -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Tabs and views match = A [OK]

Hint: Tabs and views count must match for correct display [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Mismatching tabs and views length
• Forgetting DefaultTabController
• Expecting content without TabBarView

4. Identify the error in this Flutter tab navigation code snippet:

DefaultTabController(
  length: 3,
  child: Scaffold(
    appBar: AppBar(
      bottom: TabBar(
        tabs: [Tab(text: 'A'), Tab(text: 'B')],
      ),
    ),
    body: TabBarView(
      children: [
        Center(child: Text('Page A')),
        Center(child: Text('Page B')),
        Center(child: Text('Page C')),
      ],
    ),
  ),
)

medium

A. The number of tabs does not match the length in DefaultTabController

B. TabBarView has fewer children than tabs

C. Tabs should not have text property

D. DefaultTabController length should be 2

Solution

1. Step 1: Compare length and tabs count

   DefaultTabController length is 3, but TabBar has only 2 tabs.

2. Step 2: Check TabBarView children count

   TabBarView has 3 children, matching controller length but not tabs count.

3. Final Answer:

   The number of tabs does not match the length in DefaultTabController -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Tabs count must match controller length = C [OK]

Hint: Tabs count must equal controller length [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Mismatching tabs and controller length
• Ignoring TabBarView children count
• Thinking tabs can't have text

5. You want to create a Flutter app with 3 tabs: Home, Search, and Profile. Each tab should show an icon and text. How do you correctly set up the tabs and their views to ensure smooth navigation?

hard

A. Use DefaultTabController(length: 3), TabBar with 3 Tab widgets each having icon and text, and TabBarView with 3 matching children widgets

B. Use DefaultTabController(length: 2), TabBar with 3 tabs, and TabBarView with 3 children

C. Use TabBar only with 3 tabs, no controller or TabBarView needed

D. Use DefaultTabController(length: 3), TabBar with 2 tabs, and TabBarView with 3 children

Solution

1. Step 1: Set DefaultTabController length to 3

   Since there are 3 tabs, the controller length must be 3 to manage state properly.

2. Step 2: Create TabBar with 3 tabs each having icon and text

   Each tab should use the Tab widget with icon and text properties for clarity.

3. Step 3: Provide TabBarView with 3 children widgets

   Each child corresponds to a tab's content, matching the controller length and tabs count.

4. Final Answer:

   Use DefaultTabController(length: 3), TabBar with 3 Tab widgets each having icon and text, and TabBarView with 3 matching children widgets -> Option A

5. Quick Check:

   Matching length, tabs, and views = D [OK]

Hint: Match controller length, tabs, and views count [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Mismatching length and tabs count
• Omitting TabBarView for content
• Not using icons with text as required