Detect running platform

Flutter is amazing because it can run on so many different places like your phone (Android, iOS), computer (Windows, Linux, macOS), and even in a web browser.

Why Detect the Platform?

Sometimes you need your app to behave differently based on where it's running. Maybe a different layout for desktop or a feature only for mobile.

How to Detect It

Flutter gives you a simple way to figure this out using the foundation.dart library.

The Code

Here's a simple way to check if the app is on a desktop, mobile, or web platform:

import 'package:flutter/foundation.dart';

class PlatformUtils {
  static bool isDesktop => defaultTargetPlatform == TargetPlatform.windows ||
      defaultTargetPlatform == TargetPlatform.linux ||
      defaultTargetPlatform == TargetPlatform.macOS;

  static bool isMobile => defaultTargetPlatform == TargetPlatform.android ||
      defaultTargetPlatform == TargetPlatform.iOS;

  static bool isWeb => kIsWeb;
}

Important Note for Web

If you're building for the web, remember don't import dart:io. It won't work there. Instead, use package:flutter/foundation.dart which is web-friendly and provides defaultTargetPlatform and kIsWeb.

Using these simple checks helps you build apps that feel right on every platform!