Dart Tutorial

Introduction

Are you intrigued by programming languages? Have you considered exploring Dart? This comprehensive Dart tutorial will unveil the secrets of Dart programming. Everything, including the history, environment, functions, and data types, is discussed in detail. Whether you're a coding newbie or an experienced programmer looking to expand your skill set, this Dart tutorial has you covered. You will also learn the advanced features of Dart that add exceptional power to it. This Dart tutorial is hence a wholesome guide for programmers.

What is Dart?

Dart is a modern, general-purpose programming language initially developed by Google. It's known for its versatility, as it can be used for both web and app development. The Dart syntax is clean, making it easy to read and write. It’s a crucial language for Flutter, a popular UI toolkit for building natively compiled mobile, web, and desktop applications from a single codebase.

History of Dart

Dart's history began in 2011 when Google introduced it as a potential alternative to JavaScript. It aimed to address the limitations and challenges of JavaScript, especially for large-scale web and application development. Initially, Dart was designed as a standalone language, separate from any specific framework. However, its true potential was realized when it became the primary language for the Flutter framework. This brought significant attention and recognition to Dart itself. The combination of Dart and Flutter offered a powerful solution for building cross-platform applications with exceptional user interfaces and smooth performance.\

Dart's evolution since its inception has focused on enhancing its features, performance, and compatibility. The language has undergone multiple updates and improvements to cater to both front and backend development needs. Dart's concise syntax, strong type system, and support for modern programming paradigms have contributed to its growing popularity among developers.

One notable aspect of Dart is its commitment to maintaining backward compatibility. This approach has helped developers transition smoothly between different versions of the language and frameworks like Flutter.

Why Dart?

Dart's strengths lie in its speed, flexibility, and ease of use. With its Just-in-Time (JIT) compiler, code execution is fast, and the Ahead-of-Time (AOT) compiler optimizes code for production. Dart also offers a rich set of libraries and tools, including Flutter, which simplifies the process of creating beautiful and responsive user interfaces.

Introduction to Dart Programming Language

Dart is designed to be simple and expressive, which is evident in its clean syntax. It follows a C-style syntax, making it accessible to developers from various programming backgrounds.

• SDK Installation

To start coding in Dart, you need to set up the Dart SDK (Software Development Kit). Visit the official Dart website to download and install the SDK on your system.

• Comments

Comments are essential for code documentation. In Dart, you can use single-line comments with // or create multi-line comments using /* */.

• Variables

Variables store data in memory for manipulation. Dart offers various data types for variables, including integers, doubles, strings, booleans, and more.

• Operators

Operators are symbols that perform operations on variables and values. Dart supports arithmetic, comparison, and logical operators.

• Standard Input Output

Interacting with the user is crucial. Dart facilitates this through standard input/output methods, enabling data exchange between the user and the program.

Data Types

Dart provides several data types:

• Numbers:

In Dart, numbers are used to represent numeric values. Dart supports both integers and floating-point numbers. Integers are whole numbers without decimal points, while floating-point numbers include decimal points. Dart offers various operations for numeric values, such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Numbers in Dart can be positive or negative and can also be specified in exponential notation.

• Strings:

Strings are sequences of characters in Dart, representing text. They can be created using single or double quotes. Dart provides various methods for manipulating strings, including concatenation (joining strings), finding the length of a string, accessing individual characters within a string, and replacing substrings. Strings are commonly used for displaying text, user input, and data processing.

• List:

A list in Dart is an ordered collection of elements. They can contain elements of the same or different data types. Lists can be created using square brackets [], and elements are separated by commas. They are zero-indexed, meaning the first element is at index 0, the second at index 1, and so on. Dart provides methods to add, remove, and modify elements in a list, as well as to access its length and iterate over its elements.

• Sets:

Sets in Dart are unordered collections of distinct elements. They can be created using curly braces {} and separating elements with commas. Dart sets offer methods for adding and removing elements, checking for element existence, and performing set operations like union, intersection, and difference.

• Map:

A map in Dart is a collection of key-value pairs. Each key in a map is unique and associated with a corresponding value. Maps are useful for storing and retrieving data based on specific identifiers (keys). They can be created using curly braces {} and specifying key-value pairs using colons. Dart provides methods to add, update, and remove key-value pairs and retrieve values using their keys.

These data types serve various purposes, from storing individual values to collections of data.

• Enums

Enums define a set of named constants, providing a more readable and organized way to manage related values.

Control Flow

Control flow structures dictate how a program flows. Dart supports:

• If-Else Statements
• Switch Case Statements
• Loops
• Loop Control Statements
• Labels

Key Functions

Functions are blocks of code that perform specific tasks. Dart allows you to define functions using the void keyword.

• Types of Functions

In Dart, functions come in different flavors, including named, anonymous, and lambda functions, each catering to distinct programming needs.

• Anonymous Function

Anonymous functions, also known as lambda functions, are unnamed and can be passed as arguments to other functions.

• main() Function

The main() function is the entry point of Dart programs. It's where program execution begins.

Common Collection Methods

Dart provides numerous methods to manipulate collections, such as lists, sets, and maps. These streamline data manipulation tasks.

• exit() Function

The exit() function terminates the program's execution. It's useful for controlled program termination.

Getter and Setter Methods in Dart

Getter and setter methods provide controlled access to class properties. They ensure data encapsulation and maintain class integrity.

Object-Oriented Programming

• Classes & Objects

Classes and objects are the building blocks of object-oriented programming. A class defines the structure, while objects are instances of classes.

• Constructors

Constructors initialize class objects. Dart supports default and parameterized constructors.

• Super Constructor

The super keyword in Dart refers to the superclass constructor. It's used to invoke the constructor of the parent class.

• This Keyword

This keyword refers to the current instance of a class. It's used to differentiate between instance and local variables.

• Static Keyword

The static keyword defines class members that are shared among all instances of the class rather than being specific to each instance.

• Super Keyword

Apart from referencing constructors, the super keyword can also be used to access methods and properties of the superclass.

• Const and Final Keyword

The const and final keywords define constants and immutable variables, respectively. They ensure that values cannot be changed after the assignment.

• Inheritance

Inheritance allows a class to inherit properties and behaviors from another class. Dart supports single inheritance.

• Methods

Methods are functions defined within a class. They encapsulate behaviors specific to that class.

• Method Overloading

Method overloading enables a class to have multiple methods with the same name but different parameters.

• Getters & Setters

Getters and setters provide controlled access to class properties. Getters retrieve values, while setters modify them.

• Abstract Classes

Abstract classes cannot be instantiated directly. They serve as blueprints for other classes, defining properties and methods.

• Builder Class

The builder pattern simplifies object creation by separating the construction process from the representation.

Concept of Callable Classes in Dart

Callable classes implement the call method, allowing instances of the class to be invoked as functions.

• Interfaces

Dart doesn't have explicit interfaces. Instead, classes can implement other classes to achieve similar functionality.

• Extends Vs. with Vs. implements

These keywords establish relationships between classes, each serving a distinct purpose in inheritance and mixins.

Dart Utilities

• Date and Time

Working with dates and times is simplified using Dart's built-in libraries. You can manipulate, format, and calculate dates and times effectively.

• Using await and async

The await, and async keywords facilitate asynchronous programming, allowing non-blocking execution and smooth user experiences.

• Data Enumeration

Enums in Dart can also represent a finite data set, making code more readable and maintainable.

• Type System

Dart's type system ensures strong typing and enhances code reliability. It helps catch type-related errors during development.

• Generators

Generators enable lazy computation of sequences. They're particularly useful when dealing with large datasets or infinite sequences.

Dart Programs

Learn how to merge and combine lists in Dart using various methods and techniques.

• Finding Minimum and Maximum Value in a List

Discover how to find the minimum and maximum values within a list using Dart's built-in functions.

• Splitting of String

Learn how to split strings into substrings based on specific delimiters, enhancing data processing capabilities.

How to Find the Length of a String in Dart?

In Dart, you can easily find the length of a string using the length property, which returns the number of characters in the string. This includes spaces and special characters. Here's how you can use it:

Here, the length property is accessed on the text string to retrieve the length of the string.

Sort a List

Sort lists in ascending or descending order, enabling efficient data organization and retrieval.

Advanced Concepts

• Exception Handling

Handle errors and exceptions gracefully using Dart's exception-handling mechanisms.

• Assert Statements

Implement assert statements to ensure that certain conditions hold true during program execution.

• Fallthrough Condition

Understand how fallthrough conditions work in Dart's switch case statements.

• Concept of Isolates

Dart's isolates facilitate concurrent execution, enabling better utilization of multi-core processors.

Typedef

Typedefs define function signatures, enhancing code clarity and reusability.

• URIs

Uniform Resource Identifiers (URIs) are used to identify resources on the web. Dart provides methods to work with URIs effectively.

• Collections

Collections are fundamental in programming. Dart offers various collection types, such as lists, sets, and maps, to cater to diverse data storage needs.

• Packages

Leverage Dart packages to enhance code modularity and reuse. They contain libraries, tools, and resources.

• Generators

Generators produce sequences of values on-the-fly, saving memory and improving performance.

• Callable Classes

Callable classes offer a way to create instances that can be invoked as functions, extending the flexibility of Dart's object-oriented paradigm.

• Isolates

Isolates are Dart's answer to concurrent programming, enabling efficient multitasking within an application.

• Async

Asynchronous programming is vital for responsive applications. Dart's async features facilitate non-blocking execution.

• String codeUnits Property

The codeUnits property enables you to access the Unicode values of characters in a string, enabling advanced string manipulations.

• HTML DOM

Explore interacting with the Document Object Model (DOM) in Dart, enabling dynamic manipulation of web content.

Conclusion

This comprehensive Dart tutorial for beginners has unraveled the intricacies of Dart programming, catering to beginners and seasoned developers alike. This helps learners to master Dart's features and capabilities, from its basics to advanced concepts. As you explore the world of Dart, remember that practice, experimentation, and continuous learning are key to becoming a proficient Dart programmer.

FAQs

1. How do I handle errors and exceptions in Dart?

Use the try, catch, and finally blocks for error handling. The try block contains the potentially problematic code, the catch block handles the exception, and the finally block holds code that executes regardless of exceptions.

2. How can I work with asynchronous code in Dart?

Use the async and await keywords for asynchronous programming. Mark functions as asynchronous with async and use await to pause execution until asynchronous operations are complete.

3. How can I efficiently work with collections like lists, sets, and maps in Dart?

Dart provides methods like map(), where(), forEach(), addAll(), and remove() for efficient collection manipulation. These methods help transform, filter, iterate, and modify collections conveniently.