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Flutter Lists and ListView: Displaying Dynamic Content Efficiently

Published on January 09, 2026
Flutter Lists and ListView: Displaying Dynamic Content Efficiently

Flutter Lists and ListView: Displaying Dynamic Content Efficiently

One of the most common tasks in mobile app development is displaying lists of data. Whether you're showing a feed of posts, a list of contacts, or a catalog of products, Flutter's ListView widget is your go-to solution. In this article, we'll explore how to use ListView effectively, understand its different variations, and learn best practices for building performant, user-friendly lists.

Understanding ListView Basics

ListView is a scrollable widget that arranges its children linearly. The simplest way to create a list is by providing a list of widgets directly:


ListView(
  children: [
    ListTile(title: Text('Item 1')),
    ListTile(title: Text('Item 2')),
    ListTile(title: Text('Item 3')),
  ],
)

However, this approach has a significant limitation: it builds all children at once, which can cause performance issues with large lists. For dynamic content, you'll want to use ListView.builder instead.

ListView vs ListView.builder: Eager vs Lazy Loading

ListView Builds All ListView.builder Builds On-Demand Item 1 Item 2 Item 1 Not Built Yet

ListView.builder: The Efficient Way

ListView.builder creates children on-demand as they scroll into view. This lazy loading approach makes it perfect for large datasets. Here's how it works:


ListView.builder(
  itemCount: items.length,
  itemBuilder: (context, index) {
    return ListTile(
      title: Text(items[index].title),
      subtitle: Text(items[index].subtitle),
      leading: CircleAvatar(
        child: Text(items[index].title[0]),
      ),
    );
  },
)

The itemBuilder callback receives two parameters: the BuildContext and the index of the item being built. Flutter only calls this builder for items that are visible or about to become visible, making it incredibly efficient.

ListView Structure with ListTile Components

ListView A Title Text Subtitle Text B Title Text Subtitle Text C Title Text Subtitle Text Leading Title / Subtitle Trailing

Understanding ListView Types

Flutter offers several ListView constructors, each optimized for different use cases:

ListView

Creates all children immediately. Use this only for small, static lists.

ListView.builder

Creates children on-demand. Perfect for large or infinite lists where you know the item count.

ListView.separated

Similar to ListView.builder, but automatically adds separators between items. Great for lists that need dividers:


ListView.separated(
  itemCount: items.length,
  separatorBuilder: (context, index) => Divider(),
  itemBuilder: (context, index) {
    return ListTile(
      title: Text(items[index].title),
    );
  },
)

ListView.custom

Provides maximum control with a custom SliverChildDelegate. Use this when you need fine-grained control over how children are created and positioned.

Horizontal Lists

By default, ListView scrolls vertically. To create a horizontal list, set the scrollDirection property:

Vertical vs Horizontal Scrolling

Vertical Item 1 Item 2 Item 3 Horizontal Item 1 Item 2 Item 3 

ListView.builder(
  scrollDirection: Axis.horizontal,
  itemCount: items.length,
  itemBuilder: (context, index) {
    return Container(
      width: 200,
      margin: EdgeInsets.all(8),
      child: Card(
        child: Center(child: Text(items[index].title)),
      ),
    );
  },
)

Customizing List Appearance

ListView offers numerous properties to customize its appearance and behavior:


ListView.builder(
  padding: EdgeInsets.all(16),
  itemCount: items.length,
  itemExtent: 80, // Fixed height for each item
  itemBuilder: (context, index) {
    return ListTile(
      title: Text(items[index].title),
    );
  },
)

The padding property adds space around the list, while itemExtent sets a fixed height for each item, which can improve performance by allowing Flutter to calculate scroll positions more efficiently.

Adding Pull-to-Refresh

Many apps allow users to pull down to refresh the list. Flutter makes this easy with RefreshIndicator:


RefreshIndicator(
  onRefresh: () async {
    await fetchData();
    setState(() {});
  },
  child: ListView.builder(
    itemCount: items.length,
    itemBuilder: (context, index) {
      return ListTile(title: Text(items[index].title));
    },
  ),
)

The RefreshIndicator wraps your ListView and automatically handles the pull-to-refresh gesture. The onRefresh callback should return a Future that completes when the refresh is done.

Infinite Scrolling

For lists that load more content as the user scrolls, you can detect when the user reaches the end and load more items:


ScrollController _scrollController = ScrollController();

@override
void initState() {
  super.initState();
  _scrollController.addListener(_onScroll);
}

void _onScroll() {
  if (_scrollController.position.pixels >=
      _scrollController.position.maxScrollExtent * 0.9) {
    loadMoreItems();
  }
}

ListView.builder(
  controller: _scrollController,
  itemCount: items.length,
  itemBuilder: (context, index) {
    return ListTile(title: Text(items[index].title));
  },
)

This code listens to scroll events and loads more items when the user has scrolled to 90% of the list's length.

Performance Optimization Tips

When working with large lists, keep these performance tips in mind:

  • Use ListView.builder: Always prefer builder over the default constructor for dynamic lists.
  • Set itemExtent when possible: If all items have the same height, setting itemExtent helps Flutter calculate positions more efficiently.
  • Keep item widgets simple: Complex widgets in list items can slow down scrolling. Consider using const constructors where possible.
  • Avoid setState in itemBuilder: Don't call setState inside itemBuilder as it rebuilds the entire list.
  • Use keys wisely: If list items can be reordered, add keys to preserve state.

Common Patterns: ListTile

ListTile is a specialized widget designed for list items. It provides a standard structure with leading and trailing widgets, title, and subtitle:


ListTile(
  leading: Icon(Icons.person),
  title: Text('John Doe'),
  subtitle: Text('Software Developer'),
  trailing: Icon(Icons.arrow_forward_ios),
  onTap: () {
    // Handle tap
  },
)

ListTile automatically handles Material Design guidelines for spacing, touch targets, and visual hierarchy, making it perfect for most list use cases.

Working with Different Data Types

Lists often display different types of content. You can handle this by checking the item type in your builder:


ListView.builder(
  itemCount: items.length,
  itemBuilder: (context, index) {
    final item = items[index];
    
    if (item is HeaderItem) {
      return ListTile(
        title: Text(item.title, style: TextStyle(fontWeight: FontWeight.bold)),
      );
    } else if (item is DataItem) {
      return ListTile(
        title: Text(item.title),
        subtitle: Text(item.subtitle),
      );
    }
    
    return SizedBox.shrink();
  },
)

Conclusion

ListView is one of Flutter's most versatile widgets, and understanding how to use it effectively is crucial for building performant apps. Whether you're displaying a simple list of items or implementing complex features like infinite scrolling and pull-to-refresh, ListView provides the tools you need. Remember to use ListView.builder for dynamic content, keep your item widgets simple, and leverage ListTile for standard list item layouts. With these practices, you'll create smooth, efficient lists that provide a great user experience.

As you continue building Flutter apps, you'll find that lists are everywhere—from navigation menus to data feeds. Mastering ListView will give you the foundation to handle any list-based UI challenge that comes your way.