Flutter if expected an identifier

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An “expected an identifier” error in Flutter typically occurs when there is a syntax error in your code, specifically related to naming or referencing identifiers such as variables, functions, or classes. It means that Dart (the programming language used in Flutter) was expecting a valid identifier but encountered something different.

Let’s explore this error with some examples:

Example 1:


    import 'package:flutter/material.dart';

    void main() {
      var my-widget = Text('Hello World'); // Syntax error
    
      runApp(my-widget);
    }

In this example, the error occurs because a variable name cannot contain special characters like hyphens. The variable my-widget is not a valid identifier, leading to the expected an identifier error.

Example 2:


    import 'package:flutter/material.dart';

    void main() {
      Text myWidget = Text('Hello World');
    
      runApp(myWidget);
    }

In this example, the code is correct because the variable myWidget follows the rules of Dart’s identifier naming conventions. The error is resolved, and the program runs successfully by passing myWidget as an argument to the runApp() function.

To fix this error:

  • Ensure that your variable names follow the rules of Dart’s identifier naming conventions.
  • Avoid using special characters (such as hyphens or whitespace) in variable names.
  • Use camelCase naming convention for variables, where the first letter of each word (except the first word) is capitalized.

By following these guidelines, you can overcome the “expected an identifier” error in Flutter.

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