Flutter go_router Redirects to / on State Change: The Mystery Solved!

Are you tired of dealing with the frustration of Flutter’s go_router redirecting to the root route (/) when it should not redirect at all? You’re not alone! In this article, we’ll dive into the depths of this issue, explore the reasons behind it, and provide you with practical solutions to fix it once and for all.

What’s the problem?

When using Flutter’s go_router package, you might encounter a situation where the router redirects to the root route (/) unexpectedly, even when you haven’t explicitly told it to do so. This can be particularly puzzling when you’re dealing with complex app navigation, and your app’s state changes in response to user interactions or other events.

To illustrate this issue, let’s consider a simple example:

-go_router: ^4.0.0
-import 'package:go_router/go_router.dart';

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

-class MyApp extends StatelessWidget {
  @override
  Widget build(BuildContext context) {
    return MaterialApp.router(
      title: 'My App',
      routerDelegate: MyRouterDelegate(),
    );
  }
}

-class MyRouterDelegate extends RouterDelegate<Void> with ChangeNotifier, RouterDelegateMixin<Void> {
  @override
  Widget build(BuildContext context) {
    return Scaffold(
      appBar: AppBar(
        title: Text('My App'),
      ),
      body: Center(
        child: ElevatedButton(
          child: Text('Go to Route 1'),
          onPressed: () {
            // Navigate to Route 1
            GoRouter.of(context).go('/route1');
          },
        ),
      ),
    );
  }

  @override
  Future<void> setNewRoutePath(Void configuration) async {
    // Handle state changes
    // ...
  }

  @override
  void addListener(Void listener) {
    // Listen to state changes
    // ...
  }
}

In this example, when you press the “Go to Route 1” button, the app should navigate to the “/route1” route. However, due to the mysterious redirect issue, the app might unexpectedly jump back to the root route (/) instead.

Why does this happen?

The reason behind this redirect issue lies in the way go_router handles state changes. When the app’s state changes, go_router is designed to rebuild the router delegate, which can lead to unexpected redirects.

In the example above, when you press the “Go to Route 1” button, the app’s state changes, and the `MyRouterDelegate` is rebuilt. During this rebuild process, go_router might trigger a redirect to the root route (/), which is not what you want.

Solution 1: Using the `RouterDelegate`’s `shouldRedirect` method

One way to fix this issue is to override the `shouldRedirect` method in your `RouterDelegate`. This method allows you to control whether the router should redirect to a new route or not.

class MyRouterDelegate extends RouterDelegate<Void> with ChangeNotifier, RouterDelegateMixin<Void> {
  @override
  Widget build(BuildContext context) {
    // ...
  }

  @override
  Future<void> setNewRoutePath(Void configuration) async {
    // Handle state changes
    // ...
  }

  @override
  void addListener(Void listener) {
    // Listen to state changes
    // ...
  }

  @override
  bool shouldRedirect(String route) {
    // Return false to prevent redirects
    return false;
  }
}

By overriding the `shouldRedirect` method and returning `false`, you can prevent go_router from redirecting to the root route (/) when the app’s state changes.

Solution 2: Using the `GoRouter`’s ` navigatorState` property

Another approach is to use the `navigatorState` property of the `GoRouter` to control the navigation flow.

class MyApp extends StatelessWidget {
  @override
  Widget build(BuildContext context) {
    return MaterialApp.router(
      title: 'My App',
      routerDelegate: MyRouterDelegate(),
    );
  }
}

class MyRouterDelegate extends RouterDelegate<Void> with ChangeNotifier, RouterDelegateMixin<Void> {
  final GlobalKey<NavigatorState> _navigatorKey = GlobalKey();

  @override
  Widget build(BuildContext context) {
    return Scaffold(
      appBar: AppBar(
        title: Text('My App'),
      ),
      body: Center(
        child: ElevatedButton(
          child: Text('Go to Route 1'),
          onPressed: () {
            // Navigate to Route 1 without redirecting
            _navigatorKey.currentState!.pushNamed('/route1');
          },
        ),
      ),
    );
  }

  @override
  Future<void> setNewRoutePath(Void configuration) async {
    // Handle state changes
    // ...
  }

  @override
  void addListener(Void listener) {
    // Listen to state changes
    // ...
  }
}

By using the `navigatorState` property, you can manually navigate to the desired route without relying on go_router’s automatic redirects.

Conclusion

Flutter’s go_router package can be a powerful tool for managing app navigation, but it can also lead to frustrating redirect issues when not used correctly. By understanding the underlying reasons behind these redirects and applying the solutions outlined in this article, you can regain control over your app’s navigation flow and provide a better user experience.

Remember to always keep an eye on your app’s state changes and navigation flow, and be prepared to adapt to the complexities of Flutter’s go_router package. With patience and practice, you’ll master the art of navigation and create apps that delight your users.

Solution	Method	Description
Solution 1	Override `shouldRedirect` method	Prevent redirects by returning `false` in the `shouldRedirect` method
Solution 2	Use `navigatorState` property	Manually navigate to desired route without redirecting

• Flutter Issue: go_router redirects to / on state change
• go_router package on pub.dev
• Flutter Navigation Documentation

By following the solutions outlined in this article, you’ll be well on your way to taming the unpredictability of Flutter’s go_router redirects and creating apps that navigate with ease.

Happy coding!

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