Flutter AlertDialog Tutorial with Examples

AlertDialog
Examples
shape
elevation
title
titlePadding
titleTextStyle
content
contentPadding
contentTextStyle
actions
actionsPadding
actionsOverflowDirection
actionsOverflowButtonSpacing
buttonPadding
backgroundColor
insetPadding
clipBehavior
semanticLabel
scrollable

1. AlertDialog

AlertDialog is a dialog box that is used to notify the user of some situations which confirmation is requested. It includes an optional title, an optional content and optional action buttons under the content.

If the content is too large for the screen vertically, you can wrap it in a SingleChildScrollView to avoid its overflowing. Nevertheless, it is notable that AlertDialog tries to size itself based on the intrinsic size of its children; therefore, child widgets such as ListView, GridView and CustomScrollView should be considered using in content creation.

The lazy data display mode does not work in AlertDialog. If this is problematic, you can use the Dialog class directly in order to get more creative space.

Flutter Dialog

If you want a simple dialog containing only one title and one list of options, take the SimpleDialog into consideration.

Flutter SimpleDialog

AlertDialog Constructor:

AlertDialog Constructor

const AlertDialog(
    {Key key,
    Widget title,
    Widget content,
    List<Widget> actions,
    ShapeBorder shape,
    double elevation,
    EdgeInsetsGeometry titlePadding,
    TextStyle titleTextStyle,
    EdgeInsetsGeometry contentPadding: const EdgeInsets.fromLTRB(24.0, 20.0, 24.0, 24.0),
    TextStyle contentTextStyle,
    EdgeInsetsGeometry actionsPadding: EdgeInsets.zero,
    VerticalDirection actionsOverflowDirection,
    double actionsOverflowButtonSpacing,
    EdgeInsetsGeometry buttonPadding,
    Color backgroundColor,
    String semanticLabel,
    EdgeInsets insetPadding: _defaultInsetPadding,
    Clip clipBehavior: Clip.none,
    bool scrollable: false}
)

2. Examples

First of all, take a look at the simple but complete example of the AlertDialog. It will help you answer the following basic questions:

How to create an AlertDialog.
How to return a value from AlertDialog.
How to handle the returned value.

main.dart (ex1)

import 'package:flutter/material.dart';

void main() {
  runApp(MyApp());
}

class MyApp extends StatelessWidget {
  @override
  Widget build(BuildContext context) {
    return MaterialApp(
      title: 'o7planning.org',
      debugShowCheckedModeBanner: false,
      theme: ThemeData(
        primarySwatch: Colors.blue,
        visualDensity: VisualDensity.adaptivePlatformDensity,
      ),
      home: MyHomePage(),
    );
  }
}

class MyHomePage extends StatefulWidget {
  MyHomePage({Key key}) : super(key: key);

  @override
  State<StatefulWidget> createState() {
    return MyHomePageState();
  }
}

class MyHomePageState extends State<MyHomePage> {
  String answer = "?";

  @override
  Widget build(BuildContext context) {
    return Scaffold (
        appBar: AppBar(
            title: Text("Flutter AlertDialog Example")
        ),
        body: Center (
            child: Row (
                mainAxisAlignment: MainAxisAlignment.center,
                crossAxisAlignment: CrossAxisAlignment.center,
                children: [
                  ElevatedButton (
                    child: Text("Question"),
                    onPressed: () {
                      showMyAlertDialog(context);
                    },
                  ),
                  SizedBox(width:5, height:5),
                  Text("Answer: " + this.answer.toString())
                ]
            )
        )
    );
  }

  showMyAlertDialog(BuildContext context) {
    // Create AlertDialog
    AlertDialog dialog = AlertDialog(
      title: Text("Election 2020"),
      content: Text("Will you vote for Trump?"),
      actions: [
        ElevatedButton(
            child: Text("Yes"),
            onPressed: (){
              Navigator.of(context).pop("Yes, Of course!"); // Return value
            }
        ),
        ElevatedButton(
            child: Text("No"),
            onPressed: (){
              Navigator.of(context).pop("No, I will vote for Biden"); // Return value
            }
        ),
      ],
    );

    // Call showDialog function to show dialog.
    Future<String> futureValue = showDialog(
        context: context,
        builder: (BuildContext context) {
          return dialog;
        }
    );
    Stream<String> stream = futureValue.asStream();
    stream.listen((String data) {
      String answerValue = data;
      this.setState(() {
        this.answer = answerValue;
      });
    }, onDone : () {
      print("Done!");
    } , onError: (error) {
      print("Error! " + error.toString());
    });
  }

}

Dart Stream

3. shape

shape property is used to define the border shape of the AlertDialog. The default value of the shape is a RoundedRectangleBorder with the radius of 4.0 pixels at the four corners.

ShapeBorder shape

Flutter ShapeBorder

shape (ex1)

void openMyAlertDialog(BuildContext context)  {
  // Create a AlertDialog.
  AlertDialog dialog = AlertDialog(
    title: Text("Confirm"),
    content: Text("Are you sure to remove this item?"),
    shape: RoundedRectangleBorder(
        side:  BorderSide(color: Colors.green,width: 3),
        borderRadius: BorderRadius.all(Radius.circular(15))
    ),
    actions: [
      ElevatedButton(
          child: Text("Yes Delete"),
          onPressed: (){
            Navigator.of(context).pop(true); // Return true
          }
      ),
      ElevatedButton(
          child: Text("Cancel"),
          onPressed: (){
            Navigator.of(context).pop(false); // Return false
          }
      ),
    ],
  );

  // Call showDialog function.
  Future<bool> futureValue = showDialog(
      context: context,
      builder: (BuildContext context) {
        return dialog;
      }
  );
  futureValue.then( (value) {
    print("Return value: " + value.toString()); // true/false
  });
}

4. elevation

elevation property defines the Z-axis of the AlertDialog. Its default value is 24.0 pixels.

double elevation

5. title

title propertyis an option to set the title for AlertDialog, which in most use cases, it is a Text object.

Widget title

Here is a simple title example of Text object:

title (ex1)

void openMyAlertDialog(BuildContext context)  {
  // Create a AlertDialog.
  AlertDialog dialog = AlertDialog(
    title: Text("Are you sure to remove this item?"),
    content: Text("It will delete all items permanently."),
    actions: [
      ElevatedButton(
          child: Text("Yes Delete"),
          onPressed: (){
            Navigator.of(context).pop(true); // Return true
          }
      ),
      ElevatedButton(
          child: Text("Cancel"),
          onPressed: (){
            Navigator.of(context).pop(false); // Return false
          }
      ),
    ],
  );

  // Call showDialog function.
  Future<bool> futureValue = showDialog(
      context: context,
      builder: (BuildContext context) {
        return dialog;
      }
  );
  futureValue.then( (value) {
      print("Return value: " + value.toString()); // true/false
  });
}

This is another example of a more complicated title:

title (ex2)

void openMyAlertDialog(BuildContext context)  {
  // Create a AlertDialog.
  AlertDialog dialog = AlertDialog(
    title: Row (
        children: [
          Icon(Icons.delete, color: Colors.red),
          SizedBox(width: 5, height: 5),
          Text("Are you sure to remove this item?"),
        ]
    ),
    content: Text("It will delete all items permanently."),
    actions: [
      ElevatedButton(
          child: Text("Yes Delete"),
          onPressed: (){
            Navigator.of(context).pop(true); // Return true
          }
      ),
      ElevatedButton(
          child: Text("Cancel"),
          onPressed: (){
            Navigator.of(context).pop(false); // Return false
          }
      ),
    ],
  );

  // Call showDialog function.
  Future<bool> futureValue = showDialog(
      context: context,
      builder: (BuildContext context) {
        return dialog;
      }
  );
  futureValue.then( (value) {
    print("Return value: " + value.toString()); // true/false
  });
}

6. titlePadding

titlePadding property is used to add a padding around the AlertDialog title. If title is null, titlePadding will not be used.

By default, titlePadding offers 24 pixels at the top, the left and the right of the title. It also offers 20 pixels at the bottom of the title if the content is null.

EdgeInsetsGeometry titlePadding

Flutter EdgeInsetsGeometry

For example:

titlePadding (ex1)

void openMyAlertDialog(BuildContext context)  {
  // Create a AlertDialog.
  AlertDialog dialog = AlertDialog(
    title: Text("Confirm"),
    titlePadding: EdgeInsets.fromLTRB(24, 24, 24, 50),
    content: Text("Are you sure to remove this item?"),
    actions: [
      ElevatedButton(
          child: Text("Yes Delete"),
          onPressed: (){
            Navigator.of(context).pop(true); // Return true
          }
      ),
      ElevatedButton(
          child: Text("Cancel"),
          onPressed: (){
            Navigator.of(context).pop(false); // Return false
          }
      ),
    ],
  );

  // Call showDialog function.
  Future<bool> futureValue = showDialog(
      context: context,
      builder: (BuildContext context) {
        return dialog;
      }
  );
  futureValue.then( (value) {
    print("Return value: " + value.toString()); // true/false
  });
}

7. titleTextStyle

titleTextStyle property is used to define the text style of the title area.

TextStyle titleTextStyle

titleTextStyle (ex1)

void openMyAlertDialog(BuildContext context)  {
  // Create a AlertDialog.
  AlertDialog dialog = AlertDialog(
    title: Text("Confirm"),
    titleTextStyle: TextStyle(color: Colors.red, fontSize: 24),
    content: Text("Are you sure to remove this item?"),
    actions: [
      ElevatedButton(
          child: Text("Yes Delete"),
          onPressed: (){
            Navigator.of(context).pop(true); // Return true
          }
      ),
      ElevatedButton(
          child: Text("Cancel"),
          onPressed: (){
            Navigator.of(context).pop(false); // Return false
          }
      ),
    ],
  );

  // Call showDialog function.
  Future<bool> futureValue = showDialog(
      context: context,
      builder: (BuildContext context) {
        return dialog;
      }
  );
  futureValue.then( (value) {
    print("Return value: " + value.toString()); // true/false
  });
}

8. content

content property is an option to define a content to be displayed in the center of the AlertDialog. It should be a SingleChildScrollView object if the content is long.

Widget content

content (ex1)

void openMyAlertDialog(BuildContext context)  {
  // Create a AlertDialog.
  AlertDialog dialog = AlertDialog(
    title: Text("Confirm"),
    titleTextStyle: TextStyle(color: Colors.red, fontSize: 24),
    content: Row (
        children: [
          Icon(Icons.dangerous, size: 30, color: Colors.red),
          SizedBox(width:5, height:5),
          Text("Are you sure to remove this item?")
        ]
    ),
    actions: [
      ElevatedButton(
          child: Text("Yes Delete"),
          onPressed: (){
            Navigator.of(context).pop(true); // Return true
          }
      ),
      ElevatedButton(
          child: Text("Cancel"),
          onPressed: () {
            Navigator.of(context).pop(false); // Return false
          }
      ),
    ],
  );

  // Call showDialog function.
  Future<bool> futureValue = showDialog(
      context: context,
      builder: (BuildContext context) {
        return dialog;
      }
  );
  futureValue.then( (value) {
    print("Return value: " + value.toString()); // true/false
  });
}

Flutter SingleChildScrollView

9. contentPadding

contentPadding property is used to add a padding around the content of AlertDialog. If content is null,contentPadding will not be used.

By default, contentPadding offers 20 pixels on the top of the content and 24 pixels on the left, the right and the bottom of the content.

EdgeInsetsGeometry contentPadding: const EdgeInsets.fromLTRB(24.0, 20.0, 24.0, 24.0)

Flutter EdgeInsetsGeometry

contentPadding (ex1)

void openMyAlertDialog(BuildContext context)  {
  // Create a AlertDialog.
  AlertDialog dialog = AlertDialog(
    title: Text("Confirm"),
    content: Text("Are you sure to remove this item?"),
    contentPadding: EdgeInsets.fromLTRB(24, 24, 24, 50),
    actions: [
      ElevatedButton(
          child: Text("Yes Delete"),
          onPressed: (){
            Navigator.of(context).pop(true); // Return true
          }
      ),
      ElevatedButton(
          child: Text("Cancel"),
          onPressed: (){
            Navigator.of(context).pop(false); // Return false
          }
      ),
    ],
  );

  // Call showDialog function.
  Future<bool> futureValue = showDialog(
      context: context,
      builder: (BuildContext context) {
        return dialog;
      }
  );
  futureValue.then( (value) {
    print("Return value: " + value.toString()); // true/false
  });
}

10. contentTextStyle

contentTextStyle property is used to define the text style of the content area.

TextStyle contentTextStyle

contentTextStyle (ex1)

void openMyAlertDialog(BuildContext context)  {
  // Create a AlertDialog.
  AlertDialog dialog = AlertDialog(
    title: Text("Confirm"),
    content: Text("Are you sure to remove this item?"),
    contentTextStyle: TextStyle(color: Colors.red, fontStyle: FontStyle.italic),
    actions: [
      ElevatedButton(
          child: Text("Yes Delete"),
          onPressed: (){
            Navigator.of(context).pop(true); // Return true
          }
      ),
      ElevatedButton(
          child: Text("Cancel"),
          onPressed: (){
            Navigator.of(context).pop(false); // Return false
          }
      ),
    ],
  );

  // Call showDialog function.
  Future<bool> futureValue = showDialog(
      context: context,
      builder: (BuildContext context) {
        return dialog;
      }
  );
  futureValue.then( (value) {
    print("Return value: " + value.toString()); // true/false
  });
}

11. actions

actions property is an option to define action buttons located at the bottom of the AlertDialog. Specifically, it is a list of TextButton(s)or ElevatedButton(s)wrapped in a ButtonBar.

List<Widget> actions

Flutter ButtonBar

12. actionsPadding

actionsPadding property is used to add a padding around the ButtonBar of the AlertDialog. If actions are null, actionsPadding will not be used. The default value of actionsPadding is EdgeInsets.zero (0,0,0,0).

Instead of using the actionsPadding property, you can use the buttonPadding property in order to create paddings around each button.

EdgeInsetsGeometry actionsPadding: EdgeInsets.zero

actionsPadding (ex1)

void openMyAlertDialog(BuildContext context)  {
  // Create a AlertDialog.
  AlertDialog dialog = AlertDialog(
    title: Text("Confirm"),
    content: Text("Are you sure to remove this item?"),
    actions: [
      ElevatedButton(
          child: Text("Yes Delete"),
          onPressed: (){
            Navigator.of(context).pop(true); // Return true
          }
      ),
      ElevatedButton(
          child: Text("Cancel"),
          onPressed: (){
            Navigator.of(context).pop(false); // Return false
          }
      )
    ],
    actionsPadding: EdgeInsets.fromLTRB(24, 24, 24, 50),
  );

  // Call showDialog function.
  Future<bool> futureValue = showDialog(
      context: context,
      builder: (BuildContext context) {
        return dialog;
      }
  );
  futureValue.then( (value) {
    print("Return value: " + value.toString()); // true/false
  });
}

13. actionsOverflowDirection

actions are usually placed on a row. However, if the horizontal space is not enough, they will be placed on a column. The actionsOverflowDirection property will specify how to order them on a column, top to bottom (Default) or bottom to top.

VerticalDirection actionsOverflowDirection

// enum VerticalDirection

    VerticalDirection.up  
    VerticalDirection.down  (Default)

actionsOverflowDirection: VerticalDirection.up
actionsOverflowDirection: VerticalDirection.down (Default)

14. actionsOverflowButtonSpacing

actions are usually placed on a row. However, if the horizontal space is not enough, they will be placed on a column. The actionsOverflowButtonSpacing property specifies the space among the actions in the vertical direction.

double actionsOverflowButtonSpacing

15. buttonPadding

EdgeInsetsGeometry buttonPadding

16. backgroundColor

backgroundColor property is used to specify the background color of the AlertDialog.

Color backgroundColor

17. insetPadding

EdgeInsets insetPadding: _defaultInsetPadding

18. clipBehavior

Clip clipBehavior: Clip.none

Flutter Clip clipBehavior

19. semanticLabel

semanticLabel is a descriptive text of the AlertDialog which is not visible on the user's interface. When the user opens or closes the AlertDialog, the system will read this description to the user if the accessibility mode is enabled.

String semanticLabel

20. scrollable

scrollable property is outdated and no longer in use.

@Deprecated(
 'Set scrollable to `true`. This parameter will be removed and '
 'was introduced to migrate AlertDialog to be scrollable by '
 'default. For more information, see '
 'https://flutter.dev/docs/release/breaking-changes/scrollable_alert_dialog. '
 'This feature was deprecated after v1.13.2.'
)
bool scrollable: false