TextEditingController

Control input with TextEditingController.

What is TextEditingController?

TextEditingController is a controller that lets you read and change the text inside a TextFormField from outside. You create the controller and pass it to the controller parameter of TextFormField. You can then access its text via controller.text.

final controller = TextEditingController();

TextFormField(
  controller: controller,
)

The dispose method

A controller must be disposed when it is no longer used; this prevents memory leaks. In stateful widgets, this is usually done in the State's dispose method by calling controller.dispose().

Exercise Print text with a controller

In main, create a TextEditingController with text set to 'Merhaba'. Print the value of controller.text with print. Wire it as controller to the TextFormField.

Show example solution

import 'package:flutter/material.dart';

final controller = TextEditingController(text: 'Merhaba');

void main() {
  print(controller.text);
  runApp(const Uygulama());
}

class Uygulama extends StatelessWidget {
  const Uygulama({super.key});

  @override
  Widget build(BuildContext context) {
    return MaterialApp(
      home: Scaffold(
        body: Center(
          child: TextFormField(
            controller: controller,
          ),
        ),
      ),
    );
  }
}

Test yourself

How do you access the text held by a TextEditingController?
- controller.string
- controller.value
- controller.input
- controller.text
Show answer

controller.text — The controller's text is accessed via the .text property; .value returns a TextEditingValue, and .input or .string do not exist.

Add the controller parameter

TextFormField(
  ____: myController,
)

Show answer

TextFormField(
  controller: myController,
)

Controller parts

TextEditingController

Class that controls the text
controller

Parameter wired to TextFormField
text

Text property on the controller
dispose

Method that cleans up the controller

Next lesson: decoration and label

We Are Enhancing Your Experience

Cookie Preferences

Strictly Necessary Cookies

Analytical Cookies