Dart Basics — Type Conversion | Conversion between different data types in dart

Mudassir Mairaj
3 min readFeb 8, 2023

--

Dart, the programming language developed by Google, has many features that make it a great choice for building robust and scalable applications. One such feature is its ability to perform type conversion, which allows developers to convert a value from one data type to another data type. In this article, we’ll be discussing the basics of type conversion in Dart.

When working with data in any programming language, it’s essential to be able to convert data from one type to another. For example, you may need to convert a string to an integer, a double to a string, or vice versa. Dart makes this process simple and straightforward, thanks to its built-in methods.

The most common conversions in Dart are:

  • int to double and vice versa
  • String to int and vice versa
  • String to double and vice versa

Converting a string to an integer can be achieved using the int.parse() method. For example, the following code converts a string to an integer:

String str = '12';
int num = int.parse(str);
print(num); // Output: 12

Converting a double to an integer is just as simple. The .toInt() method can be used to perform this conversion, as shown in the following example:

double decimal = 12.5;
int wholeNumber = decimal.toInt();
print(wholeNumber); // Output: 12

Converting an integer to a double is also straightforward. The .toDouble() method can be used to perform this conversion, as shown in the following example:

int num = 12;
double decimal = num.toDouble();
print(decimal); // Output: 12.0

Finally, converting a double or integer to a string can be achieved using the .toString() method, as shown in the following example:

double decimal = 12.5;
String str = decimal.toString();
print(str); // Output: '12.5'

Mastering Type Conversion in Dart and Flutter for Better App Development :

In Flutter, which is built on Dart, type conversion is just as important as it is in Dart. Let’s take a look at some examples to understand how type conversion works in Flutter.

For example, if you have a TextField widget that takes input from the user in the form of a string, and you want to convert this string to an integer, you can use the int.parse() method in a onChanged callback.

Example:

TextField(
onChanged: (value) {
int number = int.parse(value);
print(number);
},
);

Another common scenario is converting a user-entered string to a double in Flutter. This can be achieved using the double.parse() method, as shown in the following example:

TextField(
onChanged: (value) {
double decimal = double.parse(value);
print(decimal);
},
);

In some cases, you may need to display a numerical value in a Text widget. To do this, you can convert the numerical value to a string using the .toString() method, as shown in the following example:

double decimal = 12.5;
Text(
decimal.toString(),
style: TextStyle(fontSize: 24),
);

These are just a few examples of type conversion in Flutter, but the possibilities are endless. Whether you’re building a simple app or a complex system, understanding type conversion is essential to delivering a high-quality user experience.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, type conversion is a critical aspect of programming in both Dart and Flutter. Whether you’re building a simple app or a complex system, being able to convert data from one type to another is essential for delivering a high-quality user experience. With Dart’s built-in methods and Flutter’s user-friendly widgets, developers can easily perform type conversions and build applications that are both robust and scalable. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced developer, understanding type conversion is a must for delivering top-notch software. By mastering the art of type conversion, developers can create applications that are well-designed, efficient, and able to handle any data type.

--

--