When your app performs fast operations, showing a progress loader for a split second can create a jarring “flicker” effect. Users notice this and it can make your app feel unpolished.

Solution

Add a minimum display delay to your loader. This ensures the loader only appears if the operation takes longer than expected. Have a look at the screenshot to understand it better.

Timer? _loaderTimer;  
bool _isLoading = false;  

Future<void> _fetchData() async {  
  // Schedule the loader to appear after 500ms  
  _loaderTimer = Timer(const Duration(milliseconds: 500), () {  
    if (!_isLoading) setState(() => _isLoading = true);  
  });  

  try {  
    await yourAsyncOperation();  
  } finally {  
    // Cancel the timer (if it hasn’t triggered yet)  
    _loaderTimer?.cancel();  
    setState(() => _isLoading = false);  
  }  
}

Why This example works:

  • No flicker: If the task finishes before 500ms, the loader never appears.
  • Smooth UX: For longer tasks, the loader shows after the delay, avoiding abrupt transitions
Tags: flutter loading indicator user experience timers async operations
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