Making the Right Call: A Comparison of Flutter HTTP Clients Dio, HTTP, and GraphQL

Introduction

Flutter is one of the most popular mobile app development frameworks used by developers across the globe. It comes with a set of tools and libraries that help developers build high-quality and efficient mobile apps. Among these libraries, Dio, HTTP, and GraphQL are the most commonly used for handling HTTP requests and responses. Each of these libraries has its own advantages and disadvantages, and it’s important to understand them to choose the right library for your project. In this blog, we’ll discuss Dio, HTTP, and GraphQL in detail and compare them based on various criteria.

Dio

Dio is a powerful HTTP client library for Dart that provides a simple way to make HTTP requests and handle responses. It’s built on top of the Dio package, which is a powerful HTTP client for Dart. Dio comes with many features, including interceptors, request cancellation, and FormData support, which make it a popular choice among developers. Here’s an example of how to use Dio for making an HTTP GET request:

import 'package:dio/dio.dart';

void main() async {
  try {
    Response response = await Dio().get('https://jsonplaceholder.typicode.com/posts');
    print(response.data);
  } catch (e) {
    print(e);
  }
}

Advantages

• Dio is fast and efficient due to its support for connection pooling and request cancellation.
• Dio supports multiple concurrent requests, making it ideal for handling multiple API calls.
• Dio comes with a built-in interceptor that allows you to modify requests and responses before they’re sent or received.

Disadvantages

• Dio has a steeper learning curve compared to HTTP and GraphQL.
• Dio requires more setup and configuration compared to HTTP and GraphQL.

HTTP

HTTP is a popular package for making HTTP requests in Dart. It’s a lightweight and easy-to-use package that comes with a simple API. HTTP supports HTTP/1.1 and HTTP/2, and it has built-in support for JSON and form data. Here’s an example of how to use HTTP for making an HTTP GET request:

import 'package:http/http.dart' as http;

void main() async {
  try {
    http.Response response = await http.get('https://jsonplaceholder.typicode.com/posts');
    print(response.body);
  } catch (e) {
    print(e);
  }
}

Advantages

• HTTP is lightweight and easy to use, making it ideal for small projects.
• HTTP requires minimal setup and configuration compared to Dio and GraphQL.

Disadvantages

• HTTP doesn’t support request cancellation, which can cause performance issues when making multiple requests.
• HTTP doesn’t come with built-in support for interceptors, which can make it difficult to modify requests and responses.

GraphQL

GraphQL is a query language for APIs that allows you to request only the data you need. It’s a powerful alternative to RESTful APIs and has gained popularity among developers in recent years. The graphql_flutter package provides a simple way to integrate GraphQL with Flutter. Here’s an example of how to use graphql_flutter for making a GraphQL query:

import 'package:flutter/material.dart';
import 'package:graphql_flutter/graphql_flutter.dart';

void main() async {
  runApp(
    MaterialApp(
      home: Scaffold(
        body: Center(
          child: Query(
            options: QueryOptions(
              document: gql('''
                query {
                  posts {
                    id
                    title
                    body
                  }
                }
              '''),
            ),
            builder: (QueryResult result, {VoidCallback? refetch}) {
              if (result.hasException) {
                return Text(result.exception.toString());
              }

              if (result.isLoading) {
                return CircularProgressIndicator();
              }

              List<dynamic> posts = result.data?['posts'];

              return ListView.builder(
                itemCount: posts.length,
                itemBuilder: (context, index) {
                  final post = posts[index];
                  return ListTile(
                    title: Text(post['title']),
                    subtitle: Text(post['body']),
                  );
                },
              );
            },
          ),
        ),
      ),
    ),
  );
}

Advantages

• GraphQL allows you to request only the data you need, reducing the amount of data transferred over the network.
• GraphQL comes with built-in support for schema introspection, making it easy to explore and understand an API.

Disadvantages

• GraphQL has a steeper learning curve compared to HTTP and Dio.
• GraphQL requires more setup and configuration compared to HTTP and Dio.

Comparison

Now that we’ve looked at Dio, HTTP, and GraphQL individually, let’s compare them based on various criteria.

Performance

When it comes to performance, Dio is the clear winner due to its support for connection pooling and request cancellation. HTTP and GraphQL don’t support request cancellation, which can lead to performance issues when making multiple requests.

Ease of use

HTTP is the easiest to use among the three libraries. It has a simple API and requires minimal setup and configuration. Dio and GraphQL, on the other hand, have steeper learning curves and require more setup and configuration.

Flexibility

GraphQL is the most flexible among the three libraries. It allows you to request only the data you need and comes with built-in support for schema introspection. Dio and HTTP, on the other hand, are more limited in their capabilities.

Conclusion

Choosing the right HTTP client library depends on the specific needs of your project. If you need a fast and efficient library with support for multiple concurrent requests, Dio is the way to go. If you’re working on a small project and need a lightweight and easy-to-use library, HTTP is the way to go. If you’re working with a complex API and need the flexibility to request only the data you need, GraphQL is the way to go. With the example codes provided, you can choose the library that fits your project requirements and start building your app.