react-select vs @radix-ui/react-dropdown-menu vs react-dropdown vs react-dropdown-select
React Dropdown Libraries Comparison
1 Year
react-select@radix-ui/react-dropdown-menureact-dropdownreact-dropdown-selectSimilar Packages:
What's React Dropdown Libraries?

Dropdown libraries in React provide developers with pre-built components that allow users to select options from a list. These libraries enhance user experience by simplifying the selection process and can be customized to fit various design requirements. They often include features such as keyboard navigation, accessibility support, and customizable styles, making them essential for building interactive UIs. Each library has its unique strengths, catering to different use cases and developer preferences.

Package Weekly Downloads Trend
Github Stars Ranking
Stat Detail
Package
Downloads
Stars
Size
Issues
Publish
License
react-select5,285,50327,847725 kB450a day agoMIT
@radix-ui/react-dropdown-menu3,722,83916,595106 kB567a month agoMIT
react-dropdown65,89567024 kB110-MIT
react-dropdown-select36,001356186 kB263 months agoMIT
Feature Comparison: react-select vs @radix-ui/react-dropdown-menu vs react-dropdown vs react-dropdown-select

Accessibility

  • react-select:

    React-select is highly accessible, providing ARIA attributes and keyboard navigation support. It is a good choice for applications that prioritize accessibility and need to cater to a diverse user base.

  • @radix-ui/react-dropdown-menu:

    This package is designed with accessibility in mind, providing ARIA roles and properties out of the box. It ensures that dropdown menus are navigable via keyboard and screen readers, making it suitable for applications that need to meet accessibility standards.

  • react-dropdown:

    While it offers basic accessibility features, it may require additional configuration to fully support keyboard navigation and screen reader compatibility. It is suitable for simpler applications where accessibility is not a primary concern.

  • react-dropdown-select:

    This package includes some accessibility features but may not be as comprehensive as others. It supports keyboard navigation but might require additional work to ensure full compliance with accessibility standards.

Customization

  • react-select:

    Highly customizable with a rich API for styling and behavior. Developers can easily modify the appearance and functionality to fit their application's design, making it ideal for complex UIs.

  • @radix-ui/react-dropdown-menu:

    Offers extensive customization options, allowing developers to create unique dropdown experiences. The low-level API enables fine-tuning of styles and behaviors, making it suitable for projects with specific design requirements.

  • react-dropdown:

    Customization options are limited, focusing on simplicity. It allows for basic styling but may not meet the needs of projects requiring extensive design alterations.

  • react-dropdown-select:

    Provides moderate customization capabilities, allowing for some styling and behavior adjustments. It is suitable for applications that need a balance between functionality and design flexibility.

Complexity

  • react-select:

    While feature-rich, it has a more complex API compared to simpler libraries. Developers may need to invest time in understanding its capabilities to fully leverage its potential.

  • @radix-ui/react-dropdown-menu:

    This library has a steeper learning curve due to its low-level API, which may require more time to implement effectively. It is best suited for developers who are comfortable with building custom solutions and need advanced features.

  • react-dropdown:

    Very easy to use and implement, making it suitable for beginners or projects that require quick setup without complex requirements.

  • react-dropdown-select:

    Moderate complexity with a straightforward API. It is user-friendly but offers enough features to handle more advanced use cases, making it suitable for mid-level developers.

Performance

  • react-select:

    Designed for performance with features like virtualization for large datasets, ensuring smooth interactions even with extensive options. It is well-suited for applications that need to manage large amounts of data efficiently.

  • @radix-ui/react-dropdown-menu:

    Optimized for performance, it minimizes re-renders and efficiently manages state, making it suitable for applications that require high responsiveness and performance under load.

  • react-dropdown:

    Lightweight and performs well for simple use cases, but may not handle complex scenarios efficiently due to its limited feature set.

  • react-dropdown-select:

    Performance is generally good, but it may experience slowdowns with very large datasets due to its multi-select capabilities. Optimizations may be needed for handling large lists.

Community and Support

  • react-select:

    One of the most popular dropdown libraries with a large community and extensive documentation. It benefits from numerous tutorials, examples, and community contributions.

  • @radix-ui/react-dropdown-menu:

    Backed by a growing community and comprehensive documentation, making it easier for developers to find support and resources.

  • react-dropdown:

    Has a smaller community and limited resources, which may pose challenges for troubleshooting and finding examples.

  • react-dropdown-select:

    Moderate community support with decent documentation, but may not have as many resources available as larger libraries.

How to Choose: react-select vs @radix-ui/react-dropdown-menu vs react-dropdown vs react-dropdown-select
  • react-select:

    Choose react-select for a robust and feature-rich dropdown solution that supports single and multi-select, async options loading, and customizable styles. It is well-suited for complex applications that require advanced features like grouping options and custom filtering.

  • @radix-ui/react-dropdown-menu:

    Choose this package if you prioritize accessibility and want a highly customizable dropdown menu that integrates well with Radix UI's design system. It offers a low-level API for building complex dropdowns while ensuring compliance with ARIA standards.

  • react-dropdown:

    Opt for react-dropdown if you need a simple and lightweight solution for basic dropdown functionality without the need for extensive customization. It is easy to set up and suitable for projects that require minimal features.

  • react-dropdown-select:

    Select react-dropdown-select when you need a dropdown that supports multi-select and search capabilities. This package is ideal for forms where users need to choose multiple options from a large dataset, providing a user-friendly interface for selection.

README for react-select

NPM CircleCI Coverage Status Supported by Thinkmill

React-Select

The Select control for React. Initially built for use in KeystoneJS.

See react-select.com for live demos and comprehensive docs.

React Select is funded by Thinkmill and Atlassian. It represents a whole new approach to developing powerful React.js components that just work out of the box, while being extremely customisable.

For the story behind this component, watch Jed's talk at React Conf 2019 - building React Select

Features include:

  • Flexible approach to data, with customisable functions
  • Extensible styling API with emotion
  • Component Injection API for complete control over the UI behaviour
  • Controllable state props and modular architecture
  • Long-requested features like option groups, portal support, animation, and more

Using an older version?

Installation and usage

The easiest way to use react-select is to install it from npm and build it into your app with Webpack.

yarn add react-select

Then use it in your app:

With React Component

import React from 'react';
import Select from 'react-select';

const options = [
  { value: 'chocolate', label: 'Chocolate' },
  { value: 'strawberry', label: 'Strawberry' },
  { value: 'vanilla', label: 'Vanilla' },
];

class App extends React.Component {
  state = {
    selectedOption: null,
  };
  handleChange = (selectedOption) => {
    this.setState({ selectedOption }, () =>
      console.log(`Option selected:`, this.state.selectedOption)
    );
  };
  render() {
    const { selectedOption } = this.state;

    return (
      <Select
        value={selectedOption}
        onChange={this.handleChange}
        options={options}
      />
    );
  }
}

With React Hooks

import React, { useState } from 'react';
import Select from 'react-select';

const options = [
  { value: 'chocolate', label: 'Chocolate' },
  { value: 'strawberry', label: 'Strawberry' },
  { value: 'vanilla', label: 'Vanilla' },
];

export default function App() {
  const [selectedOption, setSelectedOption] = useState(null);

  return (
    <div className="App">
      <Select
        defaultValue={selectedOption}
        onChange={setSelectedOption}
        options={options}
      />
    </div>
  );
}

Props

Common props you may want to specify include:

  • autoFocus - focus the control when it mounts
  • className - apply a className to the control
  • classNamePrefix - apply classNames to inner elements with the given prefix
  • isDisabled - disable the control
  • isMulti - allow the user to select multiple values
  • isSearchable - allow the user to search for matching options
  • name - generate an HTML input with this name, containing the current value
  • onChange - subscribe to change events
  • options - specify the options the user can select from
  • placeholder - change the text displayed when no option is selected
  • noOptionsMessage - ({ inputValue: string }) => string | null - Text to display when there are no options
  • value - control the current value

See the props documentation for complete documentation on the props react-select supports.

Controllable Props

You can control the following props by providing values for them. If you don't, react-select will manage them for you.

  • value / onChange - specify the current value of the control
  • menuIsOpen / onMenuOpen / onMenuClose - control whether the menu is open
  • inputValue / onInputChange - control the value of the search input (changing this will update the available options)

If you don't provide these props, you can set the initial value of the state they control:

  • defaultValue - set the initial value of the control
  • defaultMenuIsOpen - set the initial open value of the menu
  • defaultInputValue - set the initial value of the search input

Methods

React-select exposes two public methods:

  • focus() - focus the control programmatically
  • blur() - blur the control programmatically

Customisation

Check the docs for more information on:

TypeScript

The v5 release represents a rewrite from JavaScript to TypeScript. The types for v4 and earlier releases are available at @types. See the TypeScript guide for how to use the types starting with v5.

Thanks

Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this project. It's been a wild ride.

If you like React Select, you should follow me on twitter!

Shout out to Joss Mackison, Charles Lee, Ben Conolly, Tom Walker, Nathan Bierema, Eric Bonow, Emma Hamilton, Dave Brotherstone, Brian Vaughn, and the Atlassian Design System team who along with many other contributors have made this possible ❤️

License

MIT Licensed. Copyright (c) Jed Watson 2022.