Flutter Course: 14.5 try/catch Block

Error handling is an important part of computer programming. It enhances the stability and reliability of programs, helping users to use the program smoothly even in unexpected situations. An important feature for error handling in Flutter is the try/catch block. In this tutorial, we will explore how to use the try/catch block in Flutter.

1. Importance of Error Handling

Error handling is a way to manage various exceptional situations that may occur while an application is running. For instance, it uses error handling to prevent the program from crashing abnormally in situations such as network request failures or incorrect user input. Flutter provides this error handling mechanism so that developers can create more reliable applications.

2. Basic Structure of try/catch Block

The try/catch block generally has the following structure:

    
    try {
        // Code that is likely to cause an error
    } catch (e) {
        // Code that runs when an error occurs
    }
    
    

In the above structure, the code within the try block executes normally. However, if an error occurs in this code, the error will be caught in the catch block. This allows the program to avoid abnormal termination and display an appropriate error message to the user.

3. Example: Basic use of try/catch

Below is a simple example of using a try/catch block in Flutter. This example assumes a situation where the user attempts to divide a number by 0. Normally this would cause an error, which can be handled using try/catch.

    
    void divideNumbers(int a, int b) {
        try {
            var result = a ~/ b; // Integer division
            print("Result: $result");
        } catch (e) {
            print("Error occurred: $e");
        }
    }
    
    

If the user inputs 0 in the above code, an error will occur during the execution of the ~/ operator, which will be handled in the catch block.

4. Handling Specific Errors

There are various types of errors that can occur in the catch block. Flutter provides ways to specify these errors. For example, specific errors like FormatException or IntegerDivisionByZeroException can be handled.

    
    void divideNumbers(int a, int b) {
        try {
            var result = a ~/ b;
            print("Result: $result");
        } catch (e) {
            if (e is IntegerDivisionByZeroException) {
                print("Error: Cannot divide by 0.");
            } else {
                print("Error occurred: $e");
            }
        }
    }
    
    

The code above provides clearer information to the user regarding the error that occurs when attempting to divide by 0.

5. Using try/catch in Asynchronous Code

In Flutter, try/catch blocks can also be used in asynchronous code. When errors occur in asynchronous code, the method for error handling when using the await keyword is as follows:

    
    Future fetchData() async {
        try {
            var response = await http.get('https://api.example.com/data');
            // Data processing code
        } catch (e) {
            print("Asynchronous error occurred: $e");
        }
    }
    
    

The code above demonstrates a situation where an error might occur while fetching data through an HTTP request.

6. Throwing Exceptions (throw)

Developers can throw exceptions directly when certain conditions are not met. The throw keyword can be used for this. For instance, if the user’s input is invalid, a custom exception can be created and thrown:

    
    void validateInput(String input) {
        if (input.isEmpty) {
            throw FormatException("Input is empty.");
        }
    }
    
    

The code above shows an example of throwing an exception directly when user input is found to be empty through validation.

7. Custom Exception Classes

In Flutter, developers can create custom exception classes for more detailed error handling. Below is an example of a custom exception class:

    
    class CustomException implements Exception {
        String cause;
        CustomException(this.cause);
    }

    void performOperation() {
        throw CustomException("Custom exception occurred");
    }
    
    

As shown in the example above, you can define the CustomException class and utilize it. This exception can be appropriately handled in the catch block.

8. Conclusion

The try/catch block is a very useful tool for error handling in Flutter. It helps maximize the program’s stability and user experience. I hope you have learned about various error handling mechanisms that can be applied to different situations, from basic usage to asynchronous handling and custom exceptions. May this be helpful for your future Flutter development.

9. References