Flutter offers various mechanisms for handling app storage and data persistence, catering to different requirements and use cases. These include shared preferences, local databases using SQFlite, and file storage.
1. Shared Preferences:
Shared preferences are a lightweight key-value storage mechanism provided by Flutter. They are commonly used to store small amounts of simple data such as user preferences, settings, or authentication tokens. Shared preferences are persistent and can be accessed across different runs of the application. Flutter provides a shared_preferences plugin that simplifies the process of reading and writing data using shared preferences.
2. Local Databases with SQFlite:
For managing more complex data structures or larger datasets, Flutter offers the SQFlite plugin. SQFlite is a Flutter plugin that allows you to interact with SQLite databases, which provides a robust and efficient solution for data persistence. SQLite databases are widely used and offer features like structured data storage, fast querying, and transactions. SQFlite provides a high-level API for interacting with SQLite databases, making it easier to perform CRUD (Create, Read, Update, Delete) operations on your data.
3. File Storage:
Flutter also supports file storage, which allows you to read from and write to files on the device’s storage. This can be useful for scenarios where you need to store large amounts of unstructured or binary data, such as images, audio files, or documents. Flutter provides various file manipulation APIs and plugins, making it easy to work with files on different platforms.
By offering these storage options, Flutter enables developers to choose the most appropriate solution based on the specific requirements of their app. Whether it’s simple key-value storage, structured data persistence, or file-based storage, Flutter provides the necessary tools and plugins to handle app storage and data persistence efficiently.