How to get current tab index in Flutter

In this case, using StatefulWidget and State isn't a good idea.

You can get current index by DefaultTabController.of(context).index;.

Follow the code:

...
appBar: AppBar(
  bottom: TabBar(
    tabs: [
      Tab(~), Tab(~)
    ]
  ),
  actions: [
    // At here you have to get `context` from Builder.
    // If you are not sure about this, check InheritedWidget document.
    Builder(builder: (context){
      final index = DefaultTabController.of(context).index;   
      // use index at here... 
    })
  ]
)

Just apply a listener on the TabController.

// within your initState() method
_tabController.addListener(_setActiveTabIndex);

void _setActiveTabIndex() {
  _activeTabIndex = _tabController.index;
}

The whole point of DefaultTabController is for it to manage tabs by itself.

If you want some custom tab management, use TabController instead. With TabController you have access to much more informations, including the current index.

class MyTabbedPage extends StatefulWidget {
  const MyTabbedPage({Key key}) : super(key: key);
  @override
  _MyTabbedPageState createState() => new _MyTabbedPageState();
}

class _MyTabbedPageState extends State<MyTabbedPage>
    with SingleTickerProviderStateMixin {
  final List<Tab> myTabs = <Tab>[
    new Tab(text: 'LEFT'),
    new Tab(text: 'RIGHT'),
  ];

  TabController _tabController;

  @override
  void initState() {
    super.initState();
    _tabController = new TabController(vsync: this, length: myTabs.length);
  }

  @override
  void dispose() {
    _tabController.dispose();
    super.dispose();
  }

  @override
  Widget build(BuildContext context) {
    return new Scaffold(
      appBar: new AppBar(
        bottom: new TabBar(
          controller: _tabController,
          tabs: myTabs,
        ),
      ),
      body: new TabBarView(
        controller: _tabController,
        children: myTabs.map((Tab tab) {
          return new Center(child: new Text(tab.text));
        }).toList(),
      ),
    );
  }
}

You can access the current index when the tab is selected by onTap event of TabBar.

TabBar(
    onTap: (index) {
      //your currently selected index
    },

    tabs: [
      Tab1(),
      Tab2(),
    ]);