How to Prevent Keyboard Auto-Dismissal in Flutter Forms with TextFormField

Discover how to effectively manage keyboard behavior in Flutter forms while achieving proper validation using `TextFormField`.
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How to Prevent Keyboard Auto-Dismissal in Flutter Forms

One common issue that Flutter developers face when working with forms is the keyboard automatically closing when a TextFormField is being used. This can be frustrating, especially when you are trying to fill out a form and carry out validation. In this guide, we will explore why this problem occurs and how to solve it effectively.

The Issue: Keyboard Closes Automatically

When using a form in Flutter with TextFormField, many developers notice that the keyboard might close unexpectedly. This typically happens when:

The form has a key for validation.

The layout structure involves a ListView.

While removing the form works fine and prevents the keyboard from closing, you may still need the form for user input validation.

Solution Overview

To keep the keyboard open while using TextFormField in a Flutter form, it’s essential to structure your widget tree correctly. You can achieve this by using a SingleChildScrollView instead of a ListView for the widget hierarchy. Below is the step-by-step solution to prevent the keyboard from auto-dismissing.

Step-by-Step Solution

Step 1: Set Up the Key and Focus Nodes

Start by setting up a GlobalKey and FocusNode objects. These will allow better focus management in your form.

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

Step 2: Build the Widget

In your build method, use a Form widget with the defined key and a SingleChildScrollView to wrap your fields. This allows the view to be scrollable without dismissal of the keyboard.

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

Explanation of Code

Focus Nodes: Each TextFormField can be associated with a FocusNode. This allows you to control focus between fields easily. When a field is submitted, you unfocus it and move to the next field.

SingleChildScrollView: This widget ensures that the entire content can scroll when necessary, preventing the keyboard from obstructing input fields.

Conclusion

By implementing the above code structure in your Flutter application, you should be able to prevent the keyboard from automatically dismissing while you are focused on filling out a form. Just remember to manage focus using FocusNodes and wrap your content in a SingleChildScrollView for a smooth input experience.

Feel free to reach out if you have any additional questions or need further assistance with Flutter forms!