Resolving the CircularProgressIndicator Not Displaying in Flutter While Fetching Data

Discover why your `CircularProgressIndicator` isn't showing in Flutter and learn how to fix it for a better user experience when fetching data from an API.
---

Visit these links for original content and any more details, such as alternate solutions, latest updates/developments on topic, comments, revision history etc. For example, the original title of the Question was: can't see circularprogressindicator while getting data from api in flutter

If anything seems off to you, please feel free to write me at vlogize [AT] gmail [DOT] com.
---
How to Show a Circular Progress Indicator While Fetching Data in Flutter

If you're a Flutter developer, you may have encountered a situation where you want to show a loading indicator while fetching data from an API, only to find that the circular progress indicator does not appear. Instead, the application immediately displays the data. This can be confusing, and it detracts from the user experience. In this guide, we will break down why this happens and how you can ensure your users see a CircularProgressIndicator while your data is being loaded.

Understanding the Problem

When you start fetching data from an API in Flutter, you expect the user to see an indication (like a spinning wheel) that data is being loaded. However, if the data fetch is quick enough (or possibly cached), the loading indicator might not be displayed at all. This can happen due to the way Flutter handles widgets and state management.

Example of the Current Code

Here's an example of a simple Flutter application that fetches data from an API:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

The Solution

Why Your Indicator Isn't Displaying

In the example above, you set isloading to true and then almost immediately fetch data from the API. If that data fetch is completed quickly, by the time your State is rebuilt, the app may skip over the loading indicator entirely.

Adding Artificial Delay

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

By adding a delay, you ensure that the user will see the loading indicator for at least a couple of seconds.

A Better Approach: Using FutureBuilder

Instead of manually managing the loading state, you can leverage Flutter's FutureBuilder widget, which is designed for this purpose. FutureBuilder takes a future and builds its child widgets based on the state of the future.

Here's a better implementation:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Benefits of Using FutureBuilder

Automatic Handling of State: FutureBuilder manages loading and data states automatically.

Cleaner Code: Results in less boilerplate code for handling loading states.

Error Handling: Easily handle errors from the API or data fetch.

Conclusion

Displaying a CircularProgressIndicator while fetching data from an API is crucial for maintaining a good user experience. While adding a delay can be a quick fix, using FutureBuilder is the recommended way to manage API calls and asynchronously load your data. By adopting this pattern, your application will not only look polished but also operate efficiently, providing a user-friendly interface.

If you still have questions or need further assistance with Flutter, feel free to leave a comment below!