Basic Layout Widgets
Master essential layout widgets like Row, Column, Container, and Stack to create structured and responsive user interfaces.
Basic Layout Widgets is a free Flutter Mobile Development lesson on CoddyKit — lesson 2 of 4. You can read the complete lesson below for free — then practise it hands-on in the browser with a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor. It is part of the Flutter Mobile Development learning path, one of 4 lessons in the course, and your progress syncs across the web and the CoddyKit app.
Why Layouts Matter
In Flutter, everything is a widget! To build complex and beautiful user interfaces, you need to arrange these widgets on the screen.
Layout widgets are special widgets designed to help you organize other widgets, defining their size, position, and how they interact with each other.
Meet the Container
The Container widget is one of the most versatile layout widgets. Think of it as a customizable box that can hold a single child widget.
You can use it to:
- Add padding or margins
- Set background colors or decorations
- Define specific width and height
- Transform its position or rotation
Simple Colored Box
Let's create a basic Container with a child Text widget. Notice how we set its color and padding.
import 'package:flutter/material.dart';
void main() {
runApp(const MyApp());
}
class MyApp extends StatelessWidget {
const MyApp({super.key});
@override
Widget build(BuildContext context) {
return MaterialApp(
home: Scaffold(
appBar: AppBar(title: const Text('Container Demo')),
body: Center(
child: Container(
padding: const EdgeInsets.all(20.0),
color: Colors.blueAccent,
child: const Text(
'Hello from Container!',
style: TextStyle(color: Colors.white, fontSize: 18),
),
),
),
),
);
}
}Horizontal with Row
When you need to arrange multiple widgets side-by-side horizontally, the Row widget is your go-to. It takes a list of widgets as its children.
Row automatically tries to fit its children along the horizontal axis, and you can control their alignment within the row.
Row of Buttons
Here's how you can place three buttons next to each other using a Row. We'll add some spacing between them.
import 'package:flutter/material.dart';
void main() {
runApp(const MyApp());
}
class MyApp extends StatelessWidget {
const MyApp({super.key});
@override
Widget build(BuildContext context) {
return MaterialApp(
home: Scaffold(
appBar: AppBar(title: const Text('Row Demo')),
body: Center(
child: Row(
mainAxisAlignment: MainAxisAlignment.spaceEvenly,
children: <Widget>[
ElevatedButton(onPressed: () {}, child: const Text('Button 1')),
ElevatedButton(onPressed: () {}, child: const Text('Button 2')),
ElevatedButton(onPressed: () {}, child: const Text('Button 3')),
],
),
),
),
);
}
}Vertical with Column
Just as Row arranges widgets horizontally, the Column widget arranges them vertically, one below the other.
It also takes a list of children and lets you control their vertical alignment.
Stacked Text Fields
Let's create a simple login-like form using a Column to stack two TextFields and a button vertically.
import 'package:flutter/material.dart';
void main() {
runApp(const MyApp());
}
class MyApp extends StatelessWidget {
const MyApp({super.key});
@override
Widget build(BuildContext context) {
return MaterialApp(
home: Scaffold(
appBar: AppBar(title: const Text('Column Demo')),
body: Center(
child: Column(
mainAxisAlignment: MainAxisAlignment.center,
children: <Widget>[
const Padding(
padding: EdgeInsets.all(8.0),
child: TextField(
decoration: InputDecoration(labelText: 'Username'),
),
),
const Padding(
padding: EdgeInsets.all(8.0),
child: TextField(
obscureText: true,
decoration: InputDecoration(labelText: 'Password'),
),
),
ElevatedButton(onPressed: () {}, child: const Text('Login')),
],
),
),
),
);
}
}Aligning Children
Both Row and Column use two important properties for alignment:
mainAxisAlignment: How children are positioned along the primary axis (horizontal forRow, vertical forColumn). Examples:start,center,end,spaceAround.crossAxisAlignment: How children are positioned along the perpendicular axis (vertical forRow, horizontal forColumn). Examples:start,center,end,stretch.
These give you fine control over your layouts!
Overlapping with Stack
Sometimes you need to place widgets on top of each other, like text over an image. That's where the Stack widget comes in.
Stack allows you to layer multiple children widgets. You can control their exact position within the stack using the Positioned widget.
Image with Text Overlay
Let's put some text directly on top of an image using a Stack. We'll use Positioned to place the text precisely.
import 'package:flutter/material.dart';
void main() {
runApp(const MyApp());
}
class MyApp extends StatelessWidget {
const MyApp({super.key});
@override
Widget build(BuildContext context) {
return MaterialApp(
home: Scaffold(
appBar: AppBar(title: const Text('Stack Demo')),
body: Center(
child: SizedBox(
width: 300,
height: 200,
child: Stack(
children: <Widget>[
Image.network(
'https://picsum.photos/300/200',
fit: BoxFit.cover,
),
const Positioned(
bottom: 10,
left: 10,
child: Text(
'Beautiful Scenery',
style: TextStyle(
color: Colors.white,
fontSize: 20,
fontWeight: FontWeight.bold,
shadows: [
Shadow(blurRadius: 5, color: Colors.black)
],
),
),
),
],
),
),
),
),
);
}
}Layout Challenge
Which of the following widgets are primarily used for arranging multiple children widgets in a single direction (either horizontally or vertically)?
Layouts Mastered!
Great job! You've now mastered the fundamental layout widgets in Flutter:
Container: A versatile box for single children, offering padding, margin, color, and size control.Row: Arranges multiple children horizontally.Column: Arranges multiple children vertically.Stack: Layers children on top of each other, often used withPositioned.
Understanding these is key to building any Flutter UI!
Frequently asked questions
Is the “Basic Layout Widgets” lesson free?
Yes — the full text of “Basic Layout Widgets” is free to read here on the web, and the Flutter Mobile Development course includes 4 lessons in total. To practise it interactively (a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor) and unlock the rest of the Flutter Mobile Development course, upgrade to CoddyKit PRO.
What will I learn in “Basic Layout Widgets”?
Master essential layout widgets like Row, Column, Container, and Stack to create structured and responsive user interfaces. You practise Flutter Mobile Development with hands-on code you run directly in the browser, and a 24/7 AI tutor answers your questions as you work through the lesson.
Do I need any experience to start Flutter Mobile Development?
No prior experience is required. Flutter Mobile Development on CoddyKit is structured for beginners through advanced learners; this is — lesson 2 of 4, so you can start here or from the beginning and move at your own pace.
How long does the “Basic Layout Widgets” lesson take?
Most CoddyKit lessons take about 5–10 minutes. Each one is bite-sized and interactive, so you make steady progress and pick up exactly where you left off across the web and the app.
Can I write and run code in this Flutter Mobile Development lesson?
Yes. Every Flutter Mobile Development lesson includes a built-in code editor, so you write and run real code right in your browser and get instant AI feedback — no local setup required.