Fetch data from the internet

Fetching data from the internet is necessary for most apps. Luckily, Dart and Flutter provide tools, such as the http package, for this type of work.

This recipe uses the following steps:

1. Add the http package.
2. Make a network request using the http package.
3. Convert the response into a custom Dart object.
4. Fetch and display the data with Flutter.

1. Add the http package

The http package provides the simplest way to fetch data from the internet.

To install the http package, add it to the dependencies section of the pubspec.yaml file. You can find the latest version of the http package the pub.dev.content_copy

dependencies:
  http: <latest_version>

Import the http package.content_copy

import 'package:http/http.dart' as http;

Additionally, in your AndroidManifest.xml file, add the Internet permission.content_copy

<!-- Required to fetch data from the internet. -->
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.INTERNET" />

2. Make a network request

This recipe covers how to fetch a sample album from the JSONPlaceholder using the http.get() method.content_copy

Future<http.Response> fetchAlbum() {
  return http.get(Uri.https('jsonplaceholder.typicode.com', 'albums/1'));
}

The http.get() method returns a Future that contains a Response.

• Future is a core Dart class for working with async operations. A Future object represents a potential value or error that will be available at some time in the future.
• The http.Response class contains the data received from a successful http call.

3. Convert the response into a custom Dart object

While it’s easy to make a network request, working with a raw Future<http.Response> isn’t very convenient. To make your life easier, convert the http.Response into a Dart object.

1. Add the http package

The http package provides the simplest way to fetch data from the internet.

To install the http package, add it to the dependencies section of the pubspec.yaml file. You can find the latest version of the http package the pub.dev.content_copy

dependencies:
  http: <latest_version>

Import the http package.content_copy

import 'package:http/http.dart' as http;

Additionally, in your AndroidManifest.xml file, add the Internet permission.content_copy

<!-- Required to fetch data from the internet. -->
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.INTERNET" />

2. Make a network request

This recipe covers how to fetch a sample album from the JSONPlaceholder using the http.get() method.content_copy

Future<http.Response> fetchAlbum() {
  return http.get(Uri.https('jsonplaceholder.typicode.com', 'albums/1'));
}

The http.get() method returns a Future that contains a Response.

• Future is a core Dart class for working with async operations. A Future object represents a potential value or error that will be available at some time in the future.
• The http.Response class contains the data received from a successful http call.

3. Convert the response into a custom Dart object

While it’s easy to make a network request, working with a raw Future<http.Response> isn’t very convenient. To make your life easier, convert the http.Response into a Dart object.

1. Add the http package

The http package provides the simplest way to fetch data from the internet.

To install the http package, add it to the dependencies section of the pubspec.yaml file. You can find the latest version of the http package the pub.dev.content_copy

dependencies:
  http: <latest_version>

Import the http package.content_copy

import 'package:http/http.dart' as http;

Additionally, in your AndroidManifest.xml file, add the Internet permission.content_copy

<!-- Required to fetch data from the internet. -->
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.INTERNET" />

2. Make a network request

This recipe covers how to fetch a sample album from the JSONPlaceholder using the http.get() method.content_copy

Future<http.Response> fetchAlbum() {
  return http.get(Uri.https('jsonplaceholder.typicode.com', 'albums/1'));
}

The http.get() method returns a Future that contains a Response.

• Future is a core Dart class for working with async operations. A Future object represents a potential value or error that will be available at some time in the future.
• The http.Response class contains the data received from a successful http call.

3. Convert the response into a custom Dart object

While it’s easy to make a network request, working with a raw Future<http.Response> isn’t very convenient. To make your life easier, convert the http.Response into a Dart object.