What is flutter
Last updated: April 1, 2026
Key Facts
- Developed by Google and first released in 2017 as a production-ready framework
- Uses Dart programming language, created by Google, optimized for UI development
- Enables development for Android, iOS, web, macOS, Windows, and Linux from single codebase
- Features 'hot reload' for fast development iteration with instant code changes
- Growing adoption with 500,000+ developers and support from major companies
Overview
Flutter is an open-source user interface (UI) framework developed by Google for building beautiful, natively compiled applications for mobile, web, and desktop from a single codebase. Released in 2017, Flutter has rapidly become one of the most popular frameworks for cross-platform application development, used by companies like Google, Alibaba, BMW, and many startups.
Key Features
Flutter's core features include:
- Hot Reload: Instantly see code changes without restarting the application, dramatically speeding up development cycles
- Rich Widget Library: Pre-built, customizable widgets following Material Design and Cupertino design principles
- Single Codebase: Write once, deploy to multiple platforms (iOS, Android, web, desktop)
- High Performance: Direct compilation to native code ensures smooth animations and fast execution
- Excellent Documentation: Comprehensive guides, tutorials, and API documentation
Dart Programming Language
Flutter uses Dart, a modern programming language also created by Google. Dart is object-oriented, supports null safety, and is specifically optimized for building UI applications. Developers familiar with Java, C#, or JavaScript typically find Dart easy to learn. The language compiles to native code, contributing to Flutter's performance advantages.
Cross-Platform Capabilities
Flutter allows developers to build applications for six major platforms:
- Mobile: Native iOS and Android applications with platform-specific performance
- Web: Progressive web applications running in browsers
- Desktop: Windows, macOS, and Linux applications with native integration
Development Community and Growth
Flutter has a rapidly growing community with over 500,000 developers worldwide. The framework is maintained by Google with regular updates adding new features and improvements. Pub.dev, the official package repository, hosts thousands of community-contributed packages. Major tech companies and startups are increasingly adopting Flutter for production applications, indicating strong confidence in the framework.
Related Questions
Is Flutter better than React Native?
Flutter and React Native are both excellent cross-platform frameworks with different strengths. Flutter typically offers better performance and a more polished out-of-the-box experience, while React Native has a larger ecosystem and JavaScript community. The best choice depends on your team's expertise and project requirements.
What programming language does Flutter use?
Flutter uses Dart, a modern programming language created by Google. Dart is optimized for building UI applications, supports null safety, and compiles to native code for high performance. Developers with experience in Java, C#, or JavaScript typically find Dart straightforward to learn.
What are the advantages of using Flutter?
Major advantages include hot reload for fast development, beautiful default UI components, excellent performance on all platforms, a single codebase for multiple platforms, and comprehensive documentation. Flutter also has strong backing from Google and a growing ecosystem of packages and community support.
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Sources
- Flutter Official WebsiteBSD License
- Wikipedia - Flutter (software)CC-BY-SA-4.0