Custom painters (CustomPaint) in Flutter - Practice Problems & Coding Challenges

Challenge - 5 Problems

❓ ui_behavior

intermediate

What does this CustomPainter draw?

Look at the CustomPainter code below. What shape will appear on the screen?

Flutter

class MyPainter extends CustomPainter {
  @override
  void paint(Canvas canvas, Size size) {
    final paint = Paint()
      ..color = Colors.blue
      ..style = PaintingStyle.fill;
    canvas.drawCircle(Offset(size.width / 2, size.height / 2), 50, paint);
  }

  @override
  bool shouldRepaint(covariant CustomPainter oldDelegate) => false;
}

A A blue outlined circle with radius 50

B A blue filled circle centered in the widget with radius 50

C A blue filled square centered in the widget with side 50

D Nothing is drawn because paint method is empty

💡 Hint

Look at the drawCircle method and the paint style used.

The paint object has color blue and style fill, so drawCircle draws a filled blue circle at the center with radius 50.

❓ lifecycle

intermediate

When does shouldRepaint get called?

In a CustomPainter, when is the shouldRepaint method called by Flutter?

A Every time the widget is rebuilt to decide if repaint is needed

B Only once when the app starts

C Never, it is not used by Flutter

D Only when the app is closed

💡 Hint

Think about when Flutter needs to know if it should redraw the custom painting.

Flutter calls shouldRepaint every time the widget rebuilds to check if the painting needs to update.

📝 Syntax

advanced

What error does this CustomPainter code cause?

What error will this CustomPainter code produce when run?

Flutter

class BadPainter extends CustomPainter {
  @override
  void paint(Canvas canvas, Size size) {
    final paint = Paint()
      ..color = Colors.red
      ..style = PaintingStyle.fill;
    canvas.drawRect(Rect.fromLTWH(0, 0, size.width, size.height), paint);
  }

  @override
  bool shouldRepaint(covariant CustomPainter oldDelegate) => false;
}

A SyntaxError due to missing closing parenthesis in drawRect call

B Runtime error because Rect.fromLTWH is invalid

C TypeError because paint is not initialized

D No error, draws a red rectangle filling the widget

💡 Hint

Check the parentheses in the drawRect line carefully.

The drawRect call is missing a closing parenthesis, causing a syntax error.

❓ navigation

advanced

How to update CustomPaint when data changes?

You have a CustomPainter that draws based on a variable color. How do you make sure the CustomPaint updates when the color changes?

A Use a StatefulWidget but never override shouldRepaint

B Call setState inside the paint method

C Pass the color as a field to the CustomPainter and override shouldRepaint to compare old and new colors

D Recreate the CustomPainter without passing the color

💡 Hint

Think about how Flutter knows when to repaint a CustomPainter.

Passing color and comparing it in shouldRepaint lets Flutter know when to repaint the widget.

🧠 Conceptual

expert

Why use CustomPaint instead of regular widgets?

Which is the best reason to use CustomPaint with a CustomPainter instead of composing regular widgets?

A To make the app run faster by skipping layout

B To reduce app size by avoiding widgets

C To automatically handle user input without extra code

D To draw complex graphics efficiently that are not possible with standard widgets

💡 Hint

Think about what CustomPainter gives you that widgets do not.

CustomPaint allows drawing custom graphics directly on canvas, enabling complex visuals not possible with widgets alone.

Practice

1. What is the main purpose of a CustomPainter in Flutter?

easy

A. To draw custom graphics directly on the screen

B. To manage app navigation between screens

C. To handle user input events like taps and swipes

D. To create standard UI buttons and text fields

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand CustomPainter role

   A CustomPainter is used to draw graphics directly on the canvas in Flutter apps.

2. Step 2: Compare with other options

   Options A, B, and C relate to standard UI, navigation, and input events, not drawing.

3. Final Answer:

   To draw custom graphics directly on the screen -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   CustomPainter = Draw graphics [OK]

Hint: CustomPainter is for drawing, not UI controls or navigation [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing CustomPainter with widget layout
• Thinking it handles user input
• Assuming it manages navigation

2. Which method must you override when creating a CustomPainter subclass to draw on the canvas?

easy

A. paint

B. build

C. createState

D. initState

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify CustomPainter methods

   The paint method is where drawing commands are written.

2. Step 2: Exclude unrelated methods

   build, createState, and initState belong to widgets, not painters.

3. Final Answer:

   paint -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Draw in paint() method [OK]

Hint: paint() draws; build() is for widgets [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using build() instead of paint()
• Confusing widget lifecycle methods with painter methods
• Forgetting to override paint()

3. What will be the visible result of this Flutter code snippet?

class MyPainter extends CustomPainter {
  @override
  void paint(Canvas canvas, Size size) {
    final paint = Paint()..color = Colors.red;
    canvas.drawCircle(Offset(size.width / 2, size.height / 2), 50, paint);
  }

  @override
  bool shouldRepaint(covariant CustomPainter oldDelegate) => false;
}

Widget build(BuildContext context) {
  return CustomPaint(
    size: Size(200, 200),
    painter: MyPainter(),
  );
}

medium

A. A blue square filling the 200x200 area

B. A red circle centered in a 200x200 area

C. Nothing is drawn because shouldRepaint returns false

D. A red circle at the top-left corner

Solution

1. Step 1: Analyze paint method

   The paint method draws a red circle at the center (width/2, height/2) with radius 50.

2. Step 2: Understand shouldRepaint effect

   shouldRepaint returning false means no redraw needed, but initial paint still happens.

3. Final Answer:

   A red circle centered in a 200x200 area -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Draw circle center = red circle visible [OK]

Hint: shouldRepaint false still draws initially [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking shouldRepaint false means no drawing
• Assuming circle is at top-left
• Confusing circle with square shape

4. Identify the error in this CustomPainter subclass:

class MyPainter extends CustomPainter {
  @override
  void paint(Canvas canvas, Size size) {
    final paint = Paint()..color = Colors.green;
    canvas.drawRect(Rect.fromLTWH(0, 0, size.width, size.height), paint);
  }

  @override
  bool shouldRepaint(CustomPainter oldDelegate) {
    return true
  }
}

medium

A. Canvas cannot draw rectangles

B. paint method should return a value

C. Missing semicolon after return true

D. shouldRepaint must return false

Solution

1. Step 1: Check syntax in shouldRepaint

   The return statement lacks a semicolon after true, causing a syntax error.

2. Step 2: Verify other parts

   paint method correctly draws a rectangle; canvas supports rectangles; shouldRepaint can return true.

3. Final Answer:

   Missing semicolon after return true -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Syntax error = missing semicolon [OK]

Hint: Check semicolons after return statements [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Forgetting semicolon after return
• Thinking paint must return a value
• Assuming canvas can't draw rectangles

5. You want to create a CustomPainter that draws a circle only when the color changes. Which is the best way to implement shouldRepaint to optimize performance?

class CirclePainter extends CustomPainter {
  final Color color;
  CirclePainter(this.color);

  @override
  void paint(Canvas canvas, Size size) {
    final paint = Paint()..color = color;
    canvas.drawCircle(Offset(size.width/2, size.height/2), 40, paint);
  }

  @override
  bool shouldRepaint(covariant CirclePainter oldDelegate) {
    // What to write here?
  }
}

hard

A. return oldDelegate.color == color;

B. return true;

C. return false;

D. return oldDelegate.color != color;

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand shouldRepaint purpose

   shouldRepaint returns true if the painter needs to redraw due to changes.

2. Step 2: Compare colors to decide repaint

   Repaint only if the new color differs from the old one, so compare oldDelegate.color and color.

3. Step 3: Evaluate options

   return oldDelegate.color != color; returns true when colors differ, optimizing redraw. return true; always repaints (less efficient). return false; never repaints (ignores changes). return oldDelegate.color == color; repaints when colors are same (wrong logic).

4. Final Answer:

   return oldDelegate.color != color; -> Option D

5. Quick Check:

   Repaint if color changed = oldDelegate.color != color [OK]

Hint: Repaint only if properties differ for efficiency [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Always returning true wastes performance
• Always returning false ignores changes
• Using equality check wrongly in shouldRepaint