How do you handle HTTP requests in a Flutter app?

Handling HTTP requests in a Flutter app is crucial for interacting with web services and fetching data from APIs. Flutter provides the `http` package to simplify this process. Here’s a comprehensive answer with key points and an example:

Importing the Package: Begin by adding the `http` package to your `pubspec.yaml` file and running `flutter pub get` to install it.

```yaml
dependencies:
  http: ^0.14.0
```

Making HTTP Requests:

  – Use the `http` package’s `get()` method to perform a simple GET request.

  – The package supports other HTTP methods like POST, PUT, DELETE, etc.

Handling Responses:

  – HTTP responses are asynchronous, so utilize the `async/await` syntax or the `then()` method to handle responses.

  – Extract relevant data from the response, considering the data format (JSON, XML, etc.).

Error Handling:

  – Implement error handling to manage network issues or server errors.

  – Utilize `try-catch` blocks for synchronous errors and the `catchError` method for asynchronous errors.

Example:

```dart
import 'package:http/http.dart' as http;

void fetchData() async {
  final url = Uri.parse('https://api.example.com/data');
  
  try {
    final response = await http.get(url);

    if (response.statusCode == 200) {
      // Successful response
      print('Data: ${response.body}');
    } else {
      // Handle errors
      print('Error: ${response.statusCode}');
    }
  } catch (e) {
    // Handle network errors
    print('Error: $e');
  }
}
```

Explanation:

1. Import the `http` package.
2. Define the URL you want to request.
3. Use `http.get()` to initiate the GET request.
4. Check the response’s status code to determine success or failure.
5. Handle the response data or errors accordingly.

This example showcases the basics of making an HTTP request in Flutter, including error handling and response processing.