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Short answer
Hot reload injects code changes and usually preserves the current state, while hot restart restarts the Dart app and loses the existing state.
Explanation
Hot reload suits changing UI or logic while keeping the user's place, but it does not rerun all initialization or apply changes that require a full restart. Use hot restart when you need a fresh run cycle, and test the final result in a suitable build.
Common mistakes
- Treating hot reload as a substitute for testing release.
- Being surprised that old state remains after changing initialization.