In Flutter, url_launcher is a package that allows you to launch URLs and email addresses, as well as make phone calls and send SMS messages. With this package, you can quickly and easily direct users to external resources like websites and social media platforms, and even open up email and phone applications directly from your app.

Installing the url_launcher package

To use the url_launcher package, you need to add it to your project’s dependencies. To do this, simply add the following line to your project’s pubspec.yaml file:

dependencies:
  url_launcher: ^6.0.0

Then, run flutter pub get to install the package and import it into your Dart file like so:

import 'package:url_launcher/url_launcher.dart';

Launching URLs

Once you have the url_launcher package installed and imported, you can use it to launch URLs in the user’s default browser. Here’s an example of how to launch a URL:

String url = "https://www.google.com/";
if (await canLaunch(url)) {
  await launch(url);
} else {
  throw "Could not launch $url";
}

In this example, the canLaunch() method checks if the device can launch the specified URL, and the launch() method launches the URL in the user’s default browser. If the URL cannot be launched, the code throws an exception.

Making Phone Calls

To make a phone call using the url_launcher package, you can use the tel scheme in the URL. Here’s an example:

String phoneNumber = "+15555555555";
if (await canLaunch("tel:$phoneNumber")) {
  await launch("tel:$phoneNumber");
} else {
  throw "Could not launch phone call";
}

In this example, the tel: scheme is used to indicate that a phone call should be made. The phone number is appended to the end of the URL.

Sending SMS Messages

You can also use the url_launcher package to send SMS messages. Here’s an example:

String phoneNumber = "+15555555555";
if (await canLaunch("sms:$phoneNumber")) {
  await launch("sms:$phoneNumber");
} else {
  throw "Could not send SMS message";
}

In this example, the sms: scheme is used to indicate that an SMS message should be sent. The phone number is appended to the end of the URL.

Launching Email

To launch an email app, you can use the mailto scheme in the URL. Here’s an example:

String email = "example@example.com";
if (await canLaunch("mailto:$email")) {
  await launch("mailto:$email");
} else {
  throw "Could not launch email";
}

In this example, the mailto: scheme is used to indicate that an email should be launched. The email address is appended to the end of the URL.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the url_launcher package is a useful tool for opening external resources from within your Flutter app. With just a few lines of code, you can direct users to websites, make phone calls, send SMS messages, and even launch email applications. By integrating this package into your app, you can provide a seamless user experience and make it easier for users to access external resources.