Flutter Layouts: Row, Column, Stack Explained

When developing user interfaces in Flutter, layout widgets are at the heart of arranging visual elements on the screen. Among the most fundamental and frequently used layout widgets are Row, Column, and Stack. Understanding how these widgets work and when to use them is essential for building clean, responsive, and visually appealing mobile applications.

In this blog, we’ll break down how Row, Column, and Stack function, how to use them effectively, and some best practices to keep your UI scalable and readable.

🔹 Row Widget: Horizontal Layout

The Row widget allows you to arrange child widgets horizontally in a single line from left to right.

Syntax:

dart

Row(

  children: <Widget>[

    Icon(Icons.star),

    Text('Favorite'),

    ElevatedButton(onPressed: () {}, child: Text('Click Me')),

  ],

)

Key Properties:

mainAxisAlignment: Controls the horizontal alignment (e.g., start, center, spaceBetween).

crossAxisAlignment: Controls vertical alignment within the row.

mainAxisSize: Defines how much space the Row should occupy.

✅ Use When:

You need elements side-by-side (e.g., icons next to text).

You are building horizontal menus, toolbars, or carousels.

🔹 Column Widget: Vertical Layout

The Column widget stacks child widgets vertically from top to bottom.

Syntax:

dart

Column(

  children: <Widget>[

    Text('Welcome'),

    SizedBox(height: 10),

    TextField(),

    ElevatedButton(onPressed: () {}, child: Text('Submit')),

  ],

)

Key Properties:

mainAxisAlignment: Controls vertical spacing and alignment.

crossAxisAlignment: Controls horizontal alignment of children.

mainAxisSize: Controls how much vertical space the Column should occupy.

✅ Use When:

You need vertical stacking of UI elements (e.g., login forms, profile cards).

Creating lists, forms, or sections of the screen.

🔹 Stack Widget: Overlapping Layout

The Stack widget allows you to overlap widgets on top of each other, like layers.

Syntax:

dart

Stack(

  children: <Widget>[

    Container(width: 100, height: 100, color: Colors.blue),

    Positioned(top: 20, left: 20, child: Icon(Icons.star, size: 50)),

  ],

)

Key Properties:

alignment: Controls the default alignment of children.

fit: Determines how non-positioned children should be sized.

overflow: (Deprecated in newer Flutter versions; use clipBehavior instead.)

✅ Use When:

You want to create overlays, badges, or layered content.

Building floating action buttons or profile pictures with edit icons.

🧠 Best Practices

Use Padding and Spacers

Use Padding, SizedBox, or Spacer to create spacing and avoid cluttered UI.

Keep It Nested but Manageable

Nesting Row and Column is common but excessive nesting can make code hard to read. Break complex UIs into smaller widgets.

Leverage Expanded and Flexible

These widgets help distribute space dynamically in Row and Column.

Use LayoutBuilder for Responsive UIs

Combine with MediaQuery or LayoutBuilder for adaptive designs across devices.

📌 Conclusion

Row, Column, and Stack are the core layout widgets in Flutter. Mastering their usage will give you the ability to design almost any screen, from simple forms to complex, layered user interfaces. As you build more Flutter apps, combining these widgets strategically will enable you to create clean, efficient, and elegant layouts — making your apps not just functional, but delightful to use. 

Learn : Master Flutter Development with Expert Training

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