Flutter error: A value of type 'Object?' can't be assigned to a variable of type 'String'

Question

I am using a dropdownbuttonfield and getting this error:

A value of type 'Object?' can't be assigned to a variable of type 'String'.
Try changing the type of the variable, or casting the right-hand type to 'String'.dart(invalid_assignment)

Code :

    class SettingsForm extends StatefulWidget {
  @override
  _SettingsFormState createState() => _SettingsFormState();
}

class _SettingsFormState extends State<SettingsForm> {
  final _formKey = GlobalKey<FormState>();
  final List<String> sugars = ['0', '1', '2', '3', '4'];
  final List<int> strengths = [100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900];

  // form values
   String? _currentName;
   String? _currentSugars;
   int? _currentStrength;

  @override
  Widget build(BuildContext context) {
    MyUser user = Provider.of<MyUser>(context);

    return StreamBuilder<UserData>(
        stream: DatabaseService(uid: user.uid).userData,
        builder: (context, snapshot) {
          if (snapshot.hasData) {
            UserData? userData = snapshot.data;
            return Form(
              key: _formKey,
              child: Column(
                children: <Widget>[
                  Text(
                    'Update your brew settings.',
                    style: TextStyle(fontSize: 18.0),
                  ),
                  SizedBox(height: 20.0),
                  TextFormField(
                    initialValue: userData!.name,
                    decoration: textInputDecoration,
                    validator: (val) =>
                        val!.isEmpty ? 'Please enter a name' : null,
                    onChanged: (val) => setState(() => _currentName = val),
                  ),
                  SizedBox(height: 10.0),
                  DropdownButtonFormField(
                    value: _currentSugars ?? userData.sugars,
                    decoration: textInputDecoration,
                    items: sugars.map((sugar) {
                      return DropdownMenuItem(
                        value: sugar,
                        child: Text('$sugar sugars'),
                      );
                    }).toList(),
                    onChanged: (val) => setState(() => _currentSugars = val), <--Error here **val** right one
                  ),
                  SizedBox(height: 10.0),
                  Slider(
                    value: (_currentStrength ?? userData.strength).toDouble(),
                    activeColor:
                        Colors.brown[_currentStrength ?? userData.strength],
                    inactiveColor:
                        Colors.brown[_currentStrength ?? userData.strength],
                    min: 100.0,
                    max: 900.0,
                    divisions: 8,
                    onChanged: (val) =>
                        setState(() => _currentStrength = val.round()),
                  ),
                  ElevatedButton(
                      style:
                          ElevatedButton.styleFrom(primary: Colors.pink[400]),
                      child: Text(
                        'Update',
                        style: TextStyle(color: Colors.white),
                      ),
                      onPressed: () async {
                        if (_formKey.currentState!.validate()) {
                          await DatabaseService(uid: user.uid).updateUserData(
                              _currentSugars ?? snapshot.data!.sugars,
                              _currentName ?? snapshot.data!.name,
                              _currentStrength ?? snapshot.data!.strength);
                          Navigator.pop(context);
                        }
                      }),
                ],
              ),
            );
          } else {
            return Loading();
          }
        });
  }
}

Update Update 2 A value of type 'String?' can't be assigned to a variable of type 'String'. Try changing the type of the variable, or casting the right-hand type to 'String'.

Answer 1

This fixed my issue.

onChanged: (val) => setState(() => 
    _currentSugars = val as String
    ),

You can use as String after the val. if your using int value you can use as int as well.

Answer 2

Try to give val as a String, or any type you want to to become:

onChanged: (val) => setState(() => _currentSugars = val as String),

Answer 3

Assign the generic type String to the DropdownButtonFormField:

DropdownButtonFormField<String>(
                    value: _currentSugars,
                    decoration: textInputDecoration,
                    items: sugars.map((sugar) {
                      return DropdownMenuItem(
                        value: sugar,
                        child: Text('$sugar sugars'),
                      );
                    }).toList(),
                    onChanged: (val) => setState(() => _currentSugars = val), 
                  ),

Unless you specify the type String dart makes the assumption with the one of the most generic types it has Object? as the generic type of the DropdownButtonFormField

Complete demo (Updated to use null safety)

class Demo extends StatefulWidget {
  Demo({Key? key}) : super(key: key);

  @override
  _DemoState createState() => _DemoState();
}

class _DemoState extends State<Demo> {
  final sugars = ['candy', 'chocolate', 'snicker'];
  String? _currentSugars = 'candy';

  @override
  Widget build(BuildContext context) {
    return Scaffold(
      body: Center(
        child: DropdownButtonFormField<String>(
          value: _currentSugars,
          items: sugars.map((sugar) {
            return DropdownMenuItem(
              value: sugar,
              child: Text('$sugar sugars'),
            );
          }).toList(),
          onChanged: (val) => setState(() => _currentSugars = val),
        ),
      ),
    );
  }
}