A minimalistic and lightweight HTTP client for Dart and Flutter.

Features

• Simple and easy-to-use HTTP request API
• Pure Dart package with no Flutter dependency
• Supports GET, POST, PUT, PATCH, and DELETE requests
• Lightweight and minimal architecture
• Easy to mock and test
• Compatible with Mobile, Desktop, and Web platforms
• Built-in internet connectivity checker
• Built-in JSON parsing helpers
• Supports both:
  • Auto-disposing HTTP clients
  • Persistent HTTP clients
• Includes DataCodec utility class for:
  • JSON encoding and decoding
  • UTF-8 encoding and decoding
  • Base64 encoding and decoding
  • Base64URL encoding and decoding

HTTP Client Types

HttpBaseClient

Creates and closes a new underlying HTTP client for each request.

Recommended for:

• Simple requests
• Occasional API calls
• Stateless usage

PersistentHttpBaseClient

Reuses the same underlying HTTP client across multiple requests.

Recommended for:

• Multiple sequential requests
• Long-lived services
• Improved connection reuse performance

close() must be called when the persistent client is no longer needed.

Note

Web browsers do not support direct dart:io socket connections.

Because of this limitation, checkInternetConnection always returns true on Web platforms.

For all other platforms (Mobile and Desktop), the socket-based connection check remains fully functional.

Usage

import 'dart:developer';

import 'package:http_base_client/http_base_client.dart';

Future<void> main() async {
  // AUTO-DISPOSING HTTP CLIENT
  const httpClient = HttpBaseClient();

  // CHECKING INTERNET CONNECTIVITY
  final hasConnection = await httpClient.checkInternetConnection;

  if (!hasConnection) {
    log('No internet connection.');

    return;
  }

  // MAKING A GET REQUEST
  final usersResponse = await httpClient.get(
    Uri.parse(
      'https://jsonplaceholder.typicode.com/users',
    ),
  );

  log('GET STATUS CODE: ${usersResponse.statusCode}');

  if (usersResponse.body.isNotEmpty) {
    log('GET RESPONSE:');

    log(
      DataCodec.jsonEncode(
        usersResponse.data,
      ),
    );
  } else {
    log('GET RESPONSE IS EMPTY');
  }

  // MAKING A POST REQUEST
  final requestBody = {
    'title': 'foo',
    'body': 'bar',
    'userId': 1,
  };

  final postResponse = await httpClient.post(
    Uri.parse(
      'https://jsonplaceholder.typicode.com/posts',
    ),
    requestBody: DataCodec.jsonEncode(requestBody),
    headers: {
      'Content-Type': 'application/json; charset=UTF-8',
    },
  );

  log('POST STATUS CODE: ${postResponse.statusCode}');

  if (postResponse.body.isNotEmpty) {
    log('POST RESPONSE:');

    log(
      DataCodec.jsonEncode(
        postResponse.data,
      ),
    );
  } else {
    log('POST RESPONSE IS EMPTY');
  }

  // PERSISTENT HTTP CLIENT
  final persistentHttpClient = PersistentHttpBaseClient();

  final persistentResponse = await persistentHttpClient.get(
    Uri.parse(
      'https://jsonplaceholder.typicode.com/posts/1',
    ),
  );

  log(
    'PERSISTENT CLIENT STATUS CODE: '
    '${persistentResponse.statusCode}',
  );

  // CLOSING THE PERSISTENT CLIENT
  persistentHttpClient.close();

  log(
    'PERSISTENT CLIENT CLOSED: '
    '${persistentHttpClient.isClosed}',
  );
}

Additional Information

If you find this package useful, please consider giving it a like.