I'm having trouble understanding how to type promote an object's field if it is nullable. Let's say I had the following Comment class and tried to access its one nullable field:
class Comment {
final String? text;
Comment(this.text);
}
void main() {
final comment = Comment("comment");
if (comment.text!= null) {
String text = comment!.text;
}
}
The Dart compiler would give me an error for trying to assign a nullable variable to a non-nullable variable. From what I've gathered from looking into this topic, it's impossible to have type promotion with instance variables because instance variables can be modified which can then break the sound null-safety. I've seen the Null assertion operator (!.) being used in these circumstances, however it doesn't seem to work with fields, only with methods.
With dart null-safety, how should I go about assigning a nullable field such as String? to a non-nullable variable (String). To the same effect, how should I go about passing a nullable field to a function that requires a non-null argument.
You can fix it in different ways:
Use local variable (recommended)
final local = comment.text; // <-- Local variable
if (local != null) {
String text = local;
}
Use ?. and provide a default value
String text = comment?.text ?? 'Default value';
Use Bang operator !
if (comment.text != null) {
String text = comment.text!; // <-- Bang operator
}
Note: Bang operator can result in a runtime error if the text was null.
Related
I have a problem understanding, and living with, the excessive use of bang operators in dart/flutter.
Consider this example:
if(model != null && model!.someValue != null) {
print(model!.someValue!);
}
The first condition check is verifying that the model is not null. In the second condition I have to put in a bang operator after model, else the compiler gives me an The property 'someValue' can't be unconditionally accessed because the receiver can be 'null' error. But why is this necessary? I´ve just checked the variable! And same goes for the print(model!.someValue!); line.
Another example where I have these classes:
class GeoPosition {
double lat = 0;
}
class Wrapper {
GeoPosition? position;
}
...
Wrapper wrapper = Wrapper();
wrapper.position = GeoPosition();
wrapper.position!.lat = 1;
Now why do I need to put this bang operator (or ? operator) after position? I´ve just created a new instance of GeoPosition in the Wrapper instance - position cannot be null.
My best guess is that the compiler cannot see or understand the current context of the class. But in Typescript the linter is smart enough to know when these operators are not necessary.
I know that I can create local variables from the properties that I am trying to access, but this would be just as ugly ;)
So why are ! and ? necessary in these (and many other) situations? And is there anything I can do about it?
This is what happens with nullable properties (hence the message you get). It is explained here: Understanding null safety: Working with nullable fields.
You should be able to work around this issue by declaring the field as late, as in
class Wrapper {
late GeoPosition position;
}
Wrapper wrapper = Wrapper();
wrapper.position = GeoPosition();
wrapper.position.lat = 1;
This will remove the need to add a bang to every access to position The compiler will add a non-null check at appropriate places. Of course, the program will fail if you don't assign a non-null value before accessing the field.
If explained in Late variables
Nullable properties of a class can still be null between two access.
For your first example you can extract the variable then check it:
var someValue = model?.someValue;
if(someValue != null) {
print(someValue); // not null
}
For your second example an elegant way will be the .. operator :
Wrapper wrapper = Wrapper();
wrapper. Position = GeoPosition()..lat = 1;
If you want the GeoPosition to be not null you have to make it not nullable:
class Wrapper {
GeoPosition position;
Wrapper(this.position);
}
You can set the position field final to be immutable.
Be careful with the late keyword, if you forget to init the field you've got a crash like the ! operator.
I am new to Dart and Flutter.
In dart what is the difference between using ? and ! for null-able types?
validator: ((value) {
if (value?.isEmpty) {
return "Field is required";
}
return null;
}),
validator: ((value) {
if (value!.isEmpty) {
return "Field is required";
}
return null;
}),
Thanks in advance!
Good topic about it : What is Null Safety in Dart?
But in short, you use "?" when you want to allow the value to be null and use it accordingly, like this:
String? test;
if (test?.isEmpty == true) { // And is not null, but you don't need to check it
// If null, will never pass there but without error
}
And use "!" when you want to be sure to have a non nullable value, like this:
String? test;
if (test!.isEmpty == true) { // Will throw an error
...
}
the difference between the two,one can be null initially, but the other cannot.
I hope you understand in the example below.
To specify if the variable can be null, then you can use the nullable type ?
operator, Lets see an example:
String? carName; // initialized to null by default
int? value = 36; // initialized to non-null
value = null; // can be re-assigned to null
Note: You don’t need to initialize a nullable variable before using it. It is initialized to null by default.
The Assertion Operator (!)
Use the null assertion operator ( ! ) to make Dart treat a nullable expression as non-nullable if you’re certain it isn’t null.
int? someValue = 30;
int data = someValue!; // This is valid as value is non-nullable
In the above example, we are telling Dart that the variable someValue is null, and it is safe to assign it to a non-nullable variable i.e. data
I hope you understand????
As for your example;
if you notice, the validator {String? value} value can initially be null. but the only difference between both works in the code you wrote will be the running cost. '?' it will cost some time when you define it again. because it is already stated in the function that it will be null as a start.
It's a good question and the answer is here as a person.
'?' it means it will get value later or it can be null( initially or at any instance) for example
String? carName;
'!' it means you are going to receive the value and it can not be null. it will check the value if the value is null it will give exception.
have a look on example for clear difference:
List? blocks;
...
// you are not sure blocks variable is initialized or not.
// block is nullable.
final Block? block = blocks?.first;
// you are sure blocks variable is initialized.
// block is not nullable.
final Block block = blocks!.first;
hope you got it if yes accept the answer or comment me if you have question
error: The argument type 'Future<List<GalleryPictureInfo>>' can't be assigned to the parameter type 'Future<List<GalleryPictureInfo>>?'.
Is this Dart Analysis or me? The project still compiles.
Upd. Added code example
FutureBuilder<List<GalleryPictureInfo>>(
future: derpiService.getListOfImages(),
//other code
);
#override
Future<List<GalleryPictureInfo>> getListOfImages(arguments) async {
List<GalleryPictureInfo> listOfImages = [];
var searchImages = await getSearchImages(tags: tags, page: page);
//adding images to List
return listOfImages;
}
It's something with FutureBuilder actually. I should've mention this.
Upd. "Fixed" with // ignore: argument_type_not_assignable
Looks like a problem with Dart Analysis for now
Upd. Error
It actually is an error which is pretty self explanatory.
The acutal error comes because of null safety in dart.
For ex:
void main(){
var number = getNumber(true);
int parsedNumber = int.parse(number);
print(parsedNumber);
}
String? getNumber(boolean value) {
if (value){
return null;
} else return "1";
}
So here, getNumber function either returns null or "1" depending upon the value of value variable. So, number variable's type is String?.
But the error shall arise in the next line when you try to call int.parse(). int.parse function takes an argument which should be a String but the value passed in the function is of type String?. So if we pass null in int.parse it shall throw an error.
That's why Dart analysis makes it easier to identify such cases by telling us that the value can be null and it might throw.
However the code depends upon your actual code of your project. It says that you are passing Future<List<GalleryPictureInfo>>? which is of nullable type to a function which requires Future<List<GalleryPictureInfo>>. So, before passing the value you might want to check if the value you are passing is not null.
If you are sure that the value can never be null then if for ex: if you are passing a variable called value, you might wanna try someFunctionWhereYouPassValue(value!)
That ! means that you are sure that the value will never be null.
For more details about null safety you can see:
https://dart.dev/null-safety/understanding-null-safety
String playerName(String? name) {
if (name != null) {
return name;
} else {
return 'Guest';
}
}
? checks whether name is null or not, then why is special if (name != null) { condition required?
The String? name means that the parameter name is nullable as you can see lower in the code the if statement then checks if your parameter is not null.
Dart docs definition:
If you enable null safety, variables can’t contain null unless you say they can. You can make a variable nullable by putting a question mark (?) at the end of its type. For example, a variable of type int? might be an integer, or it might be null. If you know that an expression never evaluates to null but Dart disagrees, you can add ! to assert that it isn’t null (and to throw an exception if it is). An example: int x = nullableButNotNullInt!
Link to docs
I think in new Dart rules the variables can not be declared/initialized as null. So we must put a late keyword before the variable type like below:
late String id;
Or a ? mark after the variable type like below:
String? id;
Are these two equal Or there are some differences?
A nullable variable does not need to be initialized before it can be used.
It is initialized as null by default:
void main() {
String? word;
print(word); // prints null
}
The keyword late can be used to mark variables that will be initialized later, i.e. not when they are declared but when they are accessed. This also means that we can have non-nullable instance fields that are initialized later:
class ExampleState extends State {
late final String word; // non-nullable
#override
void initState() {
super.initState();
// print(word) here would throw a runtime error
word = 'Hello';
}
}
Accessing a word before it is initialized will throw a runtime error.
when you use late keyword you can't let variable uninitialized when you called it with ? allows to you let variable uninitialized when you create it and call it
Null safety rules doesn't mean you can't use null. You can, but you should indicate that a variable might have the value null, by add "?" to its type declaration.
By use keyword late you indicate that variable has a non-nullable type, is not initialized yet, but will be initialized later.
Exception is thrown if try to acсess value of late variable before initialization.