Building Scrollable Lists with ListView
Display scrollable collections efficiently in Flutter using ListView, ListView.builder, and item separators.
Building Scrollable Lists with ListView is a free Flutter Mobile Development lesson on CoddyKit — lesson 4 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 ListView?
Most apps show lists: messages, products, feeds. A ListView arranges its children in a scrollable column, handling overflow automatically when content exceeds the screen.
A Simple ListView
Pass a fixed set of children. Good for short, known lists.
ListView(
children: [
Text("Apple"),
Text("Banana"),
Text("Cherry"),
],
)ListTile for Rows
ListTile is a ready-made row with leading icon, title, subtitle, and trailing widget, perfect for menus and settings.
ListTile(
leading: Icon(Icons.person),
title: Text("Ada Lovelace"),
subtitle: Text("Mathematician"),
trailing: Icon(Icons.chevron_right),
)The Problem with Long Lists
A plain ListView builds every child up front. For hundreds of items this wastes memory and slows startup. We need lazy building.
ListView.builder
ListView.builder creates items on demand as they scroll into view, so only visible rows exist in memory.
ListView.builder(
itemCount: items.length,
itemBuilder: (context, index) {
return ListTile(title: Text(items[index]));
},
)itemCount and itemBuilder
itemCount tells Flutter how many rows exist; itemBuilder is called with each index to build that row. Omitting itemCount makes an infinite list.
Adding Separators
ListView.separated inserts a divider widget between items, keeping spacing consistent.
ListView.separated(
itemCount: items.length,
itemBuilder: (c, i) => ListTile(title: Text(items[i])),
separatorBuilder: (c, i) => Divider(),
)Horizontal Lists
Set scrollDirection: Axis.horizontal to scroll sideways, useful for carousels and chip rows.
ListView.builder(
scrollDirection: Axis.horizontal,
itemCount: tags.length,
itemBuilder: (c, i) => Chip(label: Text(tags[i])),
)Lists Inside Columns
A ListView wants unbounded height, which conflicts with a Column. Wrap it in Expanded to give it the remaining space.
Column(
children: [
Text("Header"),
Expanded(
child: ListView.builder(...),
),
],
)Handling Taps
Make rows interactive with onTap on a ListTile or by wrapping items in GestureDetector/InkWell.
ListTile(
title: Text(items[index]),
onTap: () => print("Tapped " + items[index]),
)Putting It Together
Use ListView.builder for performance, ListTile for clean rows, separated for dividers, and wrap in Expanded inside columns.
Quick Check
Test your understanding of Flutter lists.
Recap
You built scrollable lists:
ListViewfor short fixed listsListView.builderfor efficient long listsListTilerows andseparateddividers- Wrap in
Expandedinside aColumn
Frequently asked questions
Is the “Building Scrollable Lists with ListView” lesson free?
Yes — the full text of “Building Scrollable Lists with ListView” 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 “Building Scrollable Lists with ListView”?
Display scrollable collections efficiently in Flutter using ListView, ListView.builder, and item separators. 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 4 of 4, so you can start here or from the beginning and move at your own pace.
How long does the “Building Scrollable Lists with ListView” 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.
All lessons in this course
- Stateless vs. Stateful Widgets
- Basic Layout Widgets
- Interactive UI Elements
- Building Scrollable Lists with ListView