Auto Dispose

Unlike classic Riverpod where you explicitly write .autoDispose, Riverpod Generator automatically applies auto-disposal to every generated provider by default.

The Default Behavior

Every provider marked with @riverpod immediately disposes its state when no longer actively watched by a widget or another provider.

@riverpod
Future<Cart> shoppingCart(ShoppingCartRef ref) async {
  // Disposed automatically when user navigates away from cart screen!
  return await fetchCart();
}

Overriding Auto Dispose

To maintain state indefinitely (such as keeping app themes or authentication status in memory), use the keepAlive: true property:

@Riverpod(keepAlive: true)
String globalAppConfig(GlobalAppConfigRef ref) {
  return 'Never Disposed';
}

Benefits of Auto Dispose

• Memory safety: Pages holding heavy data chunks automatically clear from RAM when closed.
• Freshness: You don't have to worry about old cached data showing up next time you open a screen.
• Simplified debugging: You can track precisely what's currently active.