Liquidify - Native Apple Liquid Glass for Flutter

Pub Version Pub Points GitHub Stars License: MIT Flutter Compatibility

Overview

Liquidify brings Apple's authentic Liquid Glass design system to Flutter applications without the complexity of rewriting your interface or manually writing native platform code.

The Problem

Achieving authentic Apple Liquid Glass in Flutter traditionally meant choosing between two frustrating extremes:

  1. Writing complex native code: Manually bridging iOS UIKit APIs (UIGlassEffect, UIVisualEffectView, UITabBar, UINavigationBar) through custom Platform Views, Method Channels, and Xcode configuration.
  2. Reinventing the wheel in Flutter: Replacing standard Flutter widgets with proprietary custom widgets, losing standard constructor parameters, keys, controllers, focus trees, accessibility semantics, and form validation in the process.

The Solution: One Simple Extension

With Liquidify, you build your UI using standard Flutter widgets—exactly as you normally would—and simply append .liquidGlass():

BottomNavigationBar(
  currentIndex: _selectedIndex,
  onTap: (index) => setState(() => _selectedIndex = index),
  items: const [
    BottomNavigationBarItem(icon: Icon(Icons.home), label: 'Home'),
    BottomNavigationBarItem(icon: Icon(Icons.search), label: 'Search'),
    BottomNavigationBarItem(icon: Icon(Icons.settings), label: 'Settings'),
  ],
).liquidGlass();

Behind the scenes, Liquidify automatically handles everything:

  • On iOS: Integrates native UIKit Platform Views using Apple's official UIGlassEffect (iOS 26+) and UIVisualEffectView for real specular highlights, depth refraction, and authentic system materials.
  • On Android, Web, and Desktop: Automatically provides a smooth, GPU-accelerated backdrop blur fallback with specular gradients and multi-layered depth shadows.
  • Everywhere: All callbacks (onPressed, onChanged, onTap), TextEditingController, FocusNode, form validation, and semantics remain 100% intact.

Features

  • 18 Native iOS Platform Views: Directly embeds real iOS UIKit components utilizing Apple's official UIGlassEffect and UIVisualEffectView for pixel-perfect specular refraction, fluid light response, and genuine system materials.
  • 32+ Supported Widgets: Buttons, inputs, navigation, containers, dialogs, pickers, progress indicators, and more — all via .liquidGlass().
  • Zero Rewrite Requirement: Extend standard widgets rather than replacing them with custom proprietary classes.
  • Full State & Callback Preservation: Controllers, focus nodes, form keys, tap gestures, animations, and accessibility trees remain completely functional.
  • Adaptive Cross-Platform Fallback: Seamlessly operates across Android, Web, macOS, Windows, and Linux using optimized shaders and backdrop filters.
  • Forced Universal Mode: Enable .liquidGlass(options: LiquidGlassOptions(force: true)) to render the glass aesthetic uniformly across all operating systems.
  • Dynamic Lighting & Mode Adaptation: Automatic contrast adjustments for light mode (crystalline frost) and dark mode (translucent smoke).
  • Extensible Architecture: Register custom widget adapters with LiquidGlassRegistry.register<T>().
  • Zero External Dart Dependencies: Lightweight, clean, and built on core Flutter and native UIKit APIs.

Installation

Add liquidify to your project's pubspec.yaml:

flutter pub add liquidify

Import the package in your Dart code:

import 'package:liquidify/liquidify.dart';

Usage Examples

Scaffold(
  bottomNavigationBar: BottomNavigationBar(
    currentIndex: currentIndex,
    onTap: (index) => setState(() => currentIndex = index),
    items: const [
      BottomNavigationBarItem(icon: Icon(Icons.widgets), label: 'Widgets'),
      BottomNavigationBarItem(icon: Icon(Icons.palette), label: 'Themes'),
      BottomNavigationBarItem(icon: Icon(Icons.person), label: 'Profile'),
    ],
  ).liquidGlass(),
  body: Center(child: Text('Active Index: $currentIndex')),
);

App Bar

LiquidAppBar implements PreferredSizeWidget and directly slots into standard Scaffold.appBar:

Scaffold(
  extendBodyBehindAppBar: true,
  appBar: AppBar(
    title: const Text('Liquidify'),
    actions: [
      IconButton(
        icon: const Icon(Icons.refresh),
        onPressed: _handleRefresh,
      ).liquidGlass(),
    ],
  ).liquidGlass(),
  body: const ContentWidget(),
);

Form Controls & Sliders

// Native UISlider on iOS, glass slider elsewhere
Slider(
  value: sliderValue,
  min: 0,
  max: 100,
  onChanged: (val) => setState(() => sliderValue = val),
).liquidGlass();

// Native UISwitch on iOS, glass toggle elsewhere
Switch(
  value: isEnabled,
  onChanged: (val) => setState(() => isEnabled = val),
).liquidGlass();

// Native UISegmentedControl on iOS
SegmentedButton<int>(
  segments: const [
    ButtonSegment(value: 0, label: Text('Frost')),
    ButtonSegment(value: 1, label: Text('Crystal')),
    ButtonSegment(value: 2, label: Text('Smoke')),
  ],
  selected: {selectedSegment},
  onSelectionChanged: (val) => setState(() => selectedSegment = val.first),
).liquidGlass();

Inputs & Text Fields

TextField(
  controller: searchController,
  decoration: const InputDecoration(
    hintText: 'Search components...',
    prefixIcon: Icon(Icons.search),
  ),
  onChanged: (query) => _filterResults(query),
).liquidGlass();

Buttons

ElevatedButton(
  onPressed: () => _handleSubmit(),
  child: const Text('Confirm Action'),
).liquidGlass(
  options: const LiquidGlassOptions(
    tint: Color(0xFF007AFF),
  ),
);

Native iOS Platform Views

Liquidify ships with 18 native UIKit Platform Views that render real Apple materials on iOS. These are used automatically by the adapter system, but you can also use them directly for maximum control.

Native Glass Container

NativeLiquidGlassView(
  width: 300,
  height: 200,
  cornerRadius: 20.0,
  options: const LiquidGlassOptions(blur: 20),
  child: const Center(child: Text('Hello Glass')),
  fallback: const Card(child: Text('Non-iOS fallback')),
);

Native Glass Button

NativeLiquidGlassButton(
  title: 'Tap Me',
  icon: 'star.fill',  // SF Symbol name
  cornerRadius: 12.0,
  height: 48.0,
  onPressed: () => print('Tapped!'),
  fallback: ElevatedButton(
    onPressed: () {},
    child: const Text('Tap Me'),
  ),
);

Native Glass Tab Bar

NativeLiquidGlassTabBar(
  items: const [
    NativeLiquidTabItem(icon: 'house.fill', label: 'Home'),
    NativeLiquidTabItem(icon: 'magnifyingglass', label: 'Search'),
    NativeLiquidTabItem(icon: 'gearshape.fill', label: 'Settings'),
  ],
  selectedIndex: _currentIndex,
  onTabSelected: (index) => setState(() => _currentIndex = index),
  height: 80.0,
);

Native Glass Navigation Bar

NativeLiquidGlassNavBar(
  title: 'Settings',
  height: 56.0,
  fallback: AppBar(title: const Text('Settings')),
);

NativeLiquidGlassSearchBar(
  placeholder: 'Search...',
  onChanged: (text) => _filterResults(text),
  onSubmitted: (text) => _performSearch(text),
  height: 44.0,
);

Native Glass Text Field

NativeLiquidGlassTextField(
  placeholder: 'Enter your name',
  text: _nameValue,
  onChanged: (text) => setState(() => _nameValue = text),
  height: 44.0,
);

Native Glass Switch

NativeLiquidGlassSwitch(
  value: _isEnabled,
  onChanged: (val) => setState(() => _isEnabled = val),
  height: 32.0,
);

Native Glass Slider

NativeLiquidGlassSlider(
  value: _sliderValue,
  minimumValue: 0.0,
  maximumValue: 100.0,
  onChanged: (val) => setState(() => _sliderValue = val),
  height: 32.0,
);

Native Glass Segmented Control

NativeLiquidGlassSegmented(
  segments: const ['Day', 'Week', 'Month'],
  selectedIndex: _selectedSegment,
  onChanged: (index) => setState(() => _selectedSegment = index),
  height: 32.0,
);

Native Glass Alert Dialog

NativeLiquidGlassAlert(
  title: 'Delete Item?',
  message: 'This action cannot be undone.',
  actions: const [
    NativeAlertAction(label: 'Cancel'),
    NativeAlertAction(
      label: 'Delete',
      isDestructive: true,
      isDefault: true,
    ),
  ],
  onAction: (index) {
    if (index == 1) _deleteItem();
  },
  height: 180.0,
);

Native Glass Bottom Sheet

NativeLiquidGlassSheet(
  cornerRadius: 20.0,
  showHandle: true,
  tintColor: Colors.blue.withValues(alpha: 0.1),
  height: 300.0,
  onDismiss: () => Navigator.pop(context),
);

Native Glass Date Picker

// Date mode
NativeLiquidGlassDatePicker(
  mode: LiquidDatePickerMode.date,
  initialDate: DateTime.now(),
  minimumDate: DateTime(2020),
  maximumDate: DateTime(2030),
  onChanged: (date) => setState(() => _selectedDate = date),
  height: 340.0,
);

// Time mode
NativeLiquidGlassDatePicker(
  mode: LiquidDatePickerMode.time,
  onChanged: (time) => setState(() => _selectedTime = time),
  height: 200.0,
);

// Date and Time combined
NativeLiquidGlassDatePicker(
  mode: LiquidDatePickerMode.dateAndTime,
  onChanged: (dateTime) => print('Selected: $dateTime'),
  height: 340.0,
);

Native Glass Toolbar

NativeLiquidGlassToolbar(
  items: const [
    NativeToolbarItem(icon: 'square.and.arrow.up', label: 'Share'),
    NativeToolbarItem(icon: 'bookmark', label: 'Bookmark'),
    NativeToolbarItem(icon: 'trash', label: 'Delete'),
  ],
  tintColor: Colors.blue,
  onItemTapped: (index) {
    switch (index) {
      case 0: _share();
      case 1: _bookmark();
      case 2: _delete();
    }
  },
  height: 44.0,
);

Native Glass Context Menu

NativeLiquidGlassMenu(
  title: 'Options',
  icon: 'ellipsis.circle',
  items: const [
    NativeMenuItem(label: 'Copy', icon: 'doc.on.doc'),
    NativeMenuItem(label: 'Edit', icon: 'pencil'),
    NativeMenuItem(
      label: 'Delete',
      icon: 'trash',
      isDestructive: true,
    ),
  ],
  onItemSelected: (index) {
    switch (index) {
      case 0: _copy();
      case 1: _edit();
      case 2: _delete();
    }
  },
  height: 44.0,
);

Native Glass Progress Bar

NativeLiquidGlassProgress(
  progress: _downloadProgress,  // 0.0 to 1.0
  cornerRadius: 8.0,
  trackHeight: 6.0,
  tintColor: Colors.green,
  height: 36.0,
);

Native Glass Activity Indicator

// Simple spinner
NativeLiquidGlassActivity(
  style: LiquidActivityStyle.medium,
  cornerRadius: 16.0,
  height: 48.0,
  width: 48.0,
);

// Spinner with label
NativeLiquidGlassActivity(
  style: LiquidActivityStyle.large,
  label: 'Loading...',
  color: Colors.blue,
  cornerRadius: 20.0,
  height: 56.0,
  width: 160.0,
);

Native Glass Page Control

NativeLiquidGlassPageControl(
  numberOfPages: 5,
  currentPage: _currentPage,
  activeColor: Colors.blue,
  inactiveColor: Colors.grey.withValues(alpha: 0.3),
  onPageChanged: (page) => setState(() => _currentPage = page),
  height: 36.0,
);

Native Glass Wheel Picker

// Single column
NativeLiquidGlassPicker(
  columns: const [
    ['Small', 'Medium', 'Large', 'Extra Large'],
  ],
  initialSelections: const [1],  // Start at "Medium"
  onChanged: (change) {
    print('Selected: ${change.value}');
  },
  height: 216.0,
);

// Multi-column (e.g. hours & minutes)
NativeLiquidGlassPicker(
  columns: const [
    ['1', '2', '3', '4', '5', '6', '7', '8', '9', '10', '11', '12'],
    ['00', '15', '30', '45'],
    ['AM', 'PM'],
  ],
  initialSelections: const [7, 0, 0],
  onChanged: (change) {
    print('Column ${change.component}: ${change.value}');
  },
  height: 216.0,
);

Supported Widgets

Adapter-Based Widgets (.liquidGlass() extension)

Category Supported Widgets iOS Native Platform View
Navigation BottomNavigationBar, NavigationBar, TabBar, NavigationRail UITabBar, UINavigationBar
Containers AppBar, SliverAppBar, Card, ListTile, Container UIGlassEffect / UIVisualEffectView
Inputs TextField, TextFormField, SearchBar, DropdownButton UITextField, UISearchBar
Selection Switch, Checkbox, Radio, SwitchListTile, CheckboxListTile, RadioListTile UISwitch
Sliders Slider, RangeSlider UISlider
Buttons ElevatedButton, FilledButton, OutlinedButton, TextButton, IconButton, FAB, SegmentedButton UIButton, UISegmentedControl
Dialogs AlertDialog, Dialog Glass Modal
Chips & Progress Chip, FilterChip, ActionChip, ChoiceChip, CircularProgressIndicator, LinearProgressIndicator Glass Material
Generic Any standard Flutter Widget Universal Glass Wrapper

Direct Native Platform Views (18 total)

Native Widget UIKit Component Description
NativeLiquidGlassView UIVisualEffectView Generic glass container
NativeLiquidGlassButton UIButton Tappable button with glass
NativeLiquidGlassTabBar UITabBar Bottom tab navigation
NativeLiquidGlassNavBar UINavigationBar Top navigation bar
NativeLiquidGlassTextField UITextField Text input with glass
NativeLiquidGlassSearchBar UISearchBar Search input
NativeLiquidGlassSwitch UISwitch Toggle switch
NativeLiquidGlassSlider UISlider Value slider
NativeLiquidGlassSegmented UISegmentedControl Segmented selector
NativeLiquidGlassAlert UIAlertController-style Alert dialog
NativeLiquidGlassSheet UISheetPresentation-style Bottom sheet
NativeLiquidGlassDatePicker UIDatePicker Date/time picker
NativeLiquidGlassToolbar UIToolbar Action toolbar
NativeLiquidGlassMenu UIMenu Context menu
NativeLiquidGlassProgress UIProgressView Linear progress bar
NativeLiquidGlassActivity UIActivityIndicatorView Loading spinner
NativeLiquidGlassPageControl UIPageControl Page dots indicator
NativeLiquidGlassPicker UIPickerView Wheel picker

Customization with LiquidGlassOptions

Fine-tune the glass material parameters per widget or apply them globally:

ElevatedButton(
  onPressed: () {},
  child: const Text('Customized'),
).liquidGlass(
  options: const LiquidGlassOptions(
    blur: 24.0,           // Blur intensity radius
    opacity: 0.80,        // Glass material surface opacity
    tint: Colors.blue,    // Ambient tint overlay
    borderWidth: 1.0,     // Specular edge thickness
    force: true,          // Force glass on Android and Web
  ),
);

Built-in Presets

// Subtle frosted texture (default)
LiquidGlassOptions.frosted()

// High-clarity crystalline refraction
LiquidGlassOptions.crystal()

// Deep translucent dark smoke
LiquidGlassOptions.smoke()

Global Theming

Wrap your application tree in LiquidGlassTheme to set unified styling defaults:

LiquidGlassTheme(
  options: const LiquidGlassOptions(
    blur: 20.0,
    opacity: 0.78,
  ),
  child: MaterialApp(
    home: const HomeScreen(),
  ),
);

Creating Custom Adapters

Extend Liquidify to support your proprietary widgets:

class CustomCardAdapter extends LiquidGlassAdapter<CustomCard> {
  const CustomCardAdapter();

  @override
  Widget build(CustomCard widget, LiquidGlassOptions options) {
    return LiquidGlassContainer(
      options: options,
      child: widget.child,
    );
  }
}

// Register once during application startup:
LiquidGlassRegistry.register<CustomCard>(const CustomCardAdapter());

Architecture & Safety Guarantees

  1. Non-Destructive: If an adapter encounters an unsupported widget or edge case, it safely returns the original widget unaltered.
  2. Platform-Respectful: iOS devices automatically receive genuine Apple UIKit materials. Non-Apple platforms automatically receive native Material/Cupertino representations unless force: true is explicitly passed.
  3. Optimized Render Passes: Measured platform view embedding prevents layout thrashing and ensures smooth 120 FPS scrolling performance.
  4. Hybrid Architecture: The plugin uses a registry-based adapter system on the Dart side and factory-registered FlutterPlatformView classes on the native side, enabling seamless hot-reload and widget-level native/fallback switching.

Platform Support

Platform Rendering
iOS 26+ Native UIGlassEffect via Platform Views
iOS < 26 UIVisualEffectView with system blur fallback
Android GPU-accelerated BackdropFilter with specular gradients
Web CSS-backed blur with glass overlays
macOS Native NSVisualEffectView (partial)
Windows/Linux BackdropFilter fallback

License

This project is licensed under the MIT License. Developed by Maharat Al-Code.

Libraries

liquidify
Liquidify: Seamless Apple-style Liquid Glass UI transformation for Flutter.