Inapp Inbox Notifications

5 Benefits of Flutter In-App Notifications For Maximizing User Engagement (with code examples)

Sanjeev Kumar
November 25, 2023
Boost user engagement using Flutter in-app inbox notifications! Explore cross-platform compatibility, customizability, performance, and cost-effectiveness with code examples.
TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction

User engagement is a key determinant of success in the mobile app landscape which can be achieved using Flutter in-app inbox notifications. Flutter, Google's open-source UI toolkit, has emerged as a powerhouse for mobile app development. One of its standout features is the ability to implement in-app notifications seamlessly, offering businesses a unique opportunity to enhance user engagement. This article delves into the technical aspects of leveraging Flutter in-app notifications to maximize user engagement, exploring cross-platform compatibility, customizability, performance, and cost-effectiveness.

Benefits of In-App Notifications for Flutter Apps

1. Cross-Platform Compatibility in Flutter In-App Inbox

One of Flutter's strengths is its ability to maintain consistency across iOS and Android platforms. In the context of in-app notifications, this means developers can create notifications that look and function the same way on both platforms. Let's delve into a technical example:


    // Sample Flutter code for cross-platform in-app notification
import 'package:flutter/material.dart';
import 'package:fluttertoast/fluttertoast.dart';

void showInAppNotification() {
  Fluttertoast.showToast(
    msg: 'Flash sale alert!',
    toastLength: Toast.LENGTH_SHORT,
    gravity: ToastGravity.BOTTOM,
    timeInSecForIosWeb: 1,
    backgroundColor: Colors.blue,
    textColor: Colors.white,
    fontSize: 16.0,
  );
}

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This example uses the Fluttertoast package to display a cross-platform in-app notification for a flash sale. The same code can be used on both iOS and Android platforms, ensuring a consistent user experience.

2. Customizability in Flutter In-App Inbox

Flutter's rich set of fully-customizable widgets extends to in-app notifications. This allows developers to create visually appealing and interactive notifications that align with the app's branding. Consider the following example:


// Customizable in-app notification with Flutter
import 'package:flutter/material.dart';
import 'package:flutter_local_notifications/flutter_local_notifications.dart';

void showCustomInAppNotification() async {
  var android = AndroidNotificationDetails(
    'channel_id',
    'channel_name',
    'channel_description',
    priority: Priority.high,
    importance: Importance.max,
  );
  var iOS = IOSNotificationDetails();
  var platform = NotificationDetails(android: android, iOS: iOS);
  await FlutterLocalNotificationsPlugin().show(
    0,
    'Custom Notification',
    'This is a custom in-app notification',
    platform,
  );
}

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This example uses the flutter_local_notifications package to create a customizable in-app notification with high priority and maximum importance.

3. Performance and Hot Reload in Flutter In-App Inbox

Flutter's high performance ensures that in-app notifications run smoothly without causing lag. Additionally, the Hot Reload feature revolutionizes the development process, enabling real-time code changes. Let's explore a scenario:


// Flutter code with Hot Reload for in-app notification
import 'package:flutter/material.dart';

void main() {
  runApp(MyApp());
}

class MyApp extends StatelessWidget {
  @override
  Widget build(BuildContext context) {
    return MaterialApp(
      home: MyHomePage(),
    );
  }
}

class MyHomePage extends StatelessWidget {
  @override
  Widget build(BuildContext context) {
    return Scaffold(
      appBar: AppBar(
        title: Text('Flutter In-App Notifications'),
      ),
      body: Center(
        child: ElevatedButton(
          onPressed: () {
            // Hot Reload allows instant code changes
            showInAppNotification();
          },
          child: Text('Show In-App Notification'),
        ),
      ),
    );
  }

  void showInAppNotification() {
    // Code for in-app notification
  }
}


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In this example, pressing the button triggers the in-app notification function, and with Hot Reload, developers can instantly see the changes without restarting the entire application, significantly reducing development time.

4. Firebase Cloud Messaging Integration in Flutter In-App Inbox

Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM) simplifies the creation and delivery of both push and in-app notifications for Flutter apps. Let's see how to integrate FCM for in-app notifications:


// Flutter code for Firebase Cloud Messaging in-app notification
import 'package:firebase_messaging/firebase_messaging.dart';

void main() async {
  WidgetsFlutterBinding.ensureInitialized();
  await Firebase.initializeApp();
  runApp(MyApp());
}

class MyApp extends StatelessWidget {
  @override
  Widget build(BuildContext context) {
    return MaterialApp(
      home: MyHomePage(),
    );
  }
}

class MyHomePage extends StatelessWidget {
  final FirebaseMessaging _firebaseMessaging = FirebaseMessaging.instance;

  @override
  Widget build(BuildContext context) {
    _firebaseMessaging.subscribeToTopic('all');
    return Scaffold(
      appBar: AppBar(
        title: Text('FCM In-App Notification'),
      ),
      body: Center(
        child: ElevatedButton(
          onPressed: () {
            // Function to trigger FCM in-app notification
          },
          child: Text('Show FCM In-App Notification'),
        ),
      ),
    );
  }
}

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This example demonstrates subscribing to an FCM topic and triggering an in-app notification when a button is pressed.

5. Cost-Effectiveness in Flutter In-App Inbox

Flutter's "write once, run anywhere" philosophy extends to in-app notifications, significantly reducing development time and costs. Here's a practical example:


// Flutter code for cost-effective in-app notification
import 'package:flutter/material.dart';

void main() {
  runApp(MyApp());
}

class MyApp extends StatelessWidget {
  @override
  Widget build(BuildContext context) {
    return MaterialApp(
      home: MyHomePage(),
    );
  }
}

class MyHomePage extends StatelessWidget {
  @override
  Widget build(BuildContext context) {
    return Scaffold(
      appBar: AppBar(
        title: Text('Cost-Effective In-App Notification'),
      ),
      body: Center(
        child: ElevatedButton(
          onPressed: () {
            // Functionality for cost-effective in-app notification
          },
          child: Text('Show Cost-Effective In-App Notification'),
        ),
      ),
    );
  }
}

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In this example, developers can create a single codebase for notifications, reducing development efforts and costs.

Simpler Way

A more straightforward way to implement a Flutter in-app inbox would be to use existing suprsend-flutter-inbox library.

Concluding Remarks on Flutter In-App Inbox

In conclusion, Flutter's prowess in maximizing user engagement through in-app notifications lies in its cross-platform compatibility, customizability, performance, and cost-effectiveness. Developers can harness Flutter's capabilities to create impactful and efficient in-app notifications, providing a seamless and engaging user experience. Whether you're a seasoned developer or a business owner, incorporating Flutter in-app notifications into your mobile app strategy can be a game-changer in the competitive digital landscape.

Written by:
Sanjeev Kumar
Engineering, SuprSend
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