react-window vs react-virtualized vs @react-aria/grid vs react-data-grid
React Data Grid Libraries Comparison
1 Year
react-windowreact-virtualized@react-aria/gridreact-data-gridSimilar Packages:
What's React Data Grid Libraries?

React data grid libraries provide developers with tools to create complex, interactive grid components in React applications. These libraries facilitate the display and manipulation of large datasets in a tabular format, offering features such as sorting, filtering, pagination, and virtualization. They enhance user experience by allowing efficient data handling and rendering, especially when dealing with extensive data sets that require performance optimization. Choosing the right library can significantly impact the development process and application performance, making it essential to understand their unique features and capabilities.

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react-window2,573,96516,258896 kB32 months agoMIT
react-virtualized1,050,85126,6292.24 MB4a month agoMIT
@react-aria/grid1,021,53413,548543 kB720a month agoApache-2.0
react-data-grid174,8977,123370 kB14316 days agoMIT
Feature Comparison: react-window vs react-virtualized vs @react-aria/grid vs react-data-grid

Accessibility

  • react-window:

    react-window offers minimal accessibility features and requires developers to implement their own solutions for accessibility. It is not primarily designed with accessibility in mind, which may necessitate additional work for compliance.

  • react-virtualized:

    react-virtualized does not focus heavily on accessibility features. Developers will need to implement their own accessibility enhancements, which may require more effort to ensure compliance with ARIA standards and keyboard navigation.

  • @react-aria/grid:

    @react-aria/grid is designed with accessibility in mind, adhering to WAI-ARIA standards. It provides keyboard navigation and screen reader support out of the box, making it an excellent choice for applications that prioritize inclusivity and compliance with accessibility guidelines.

  • react-data-grid:

    react-data-grid has some accessibility features, but it may require additional configuration to meet full accessibility standards. While it supports keyboard navigation, developers may need to implement custom solutions for comprehensive accessibility support.

Performance Optimization

  • react-window:

    react-window is a lightweight library that focuses on performance by providing basic virtualization capabilities. It is designed to be simple and efficient, making it an excellent choice for applications that need fast rendering without the overhead of additional features.

  • react-virtualized:

    react-virtualized excels in performance optimization by rendering only the visible rows and columns, significantly reducing the number of DOM elements. This makes it highly efficient for large datasets, ensuring smooth scrolling and quick rendering times.

  • @react-aria/grid:

    @react-aria/grid provides a solid performance foundation but does not inherently include virtualization. Developers may need to implement their own optimization strategies when dealing with large datasets, focusing on efficient rendering techniques.

  • react-data-grid:

    react-data-grid is optimized for performance with features like row virtualization and efficient rendering. It can handle large datasets effectively, but developers should be mindful of performance when using extensive features, as complexity can impact speed.

Customization

  • react-window:

    react-window is designed for simplicity and performance, offering limited customization options. It is best suited for straightforward use cases where minimal configuration is needed, making it less ideal for applications requiring extensive customization.

  • react-virtualized:

    react-virtualized provides some customization options, but it is primarily focused on performance. Developers may find it less flexible for complex grid requirements compared to other libraries, as it emphasizes efficiency over extensive customization.

  • @react-aria/grid:

    @react-aria/grid allows for extensive customization, enabling developers to create tailored grid components that meet specific requirements. This flexibility is beneficial for applications with unique design and functionality needs.

  • react-data-grid:

    react-data-grid offers a wide range of customization options, including cell rendering, editing capabilities, and theming. This makes it suitable for applications that require a highly customizable grid experience, allowing developers to adapt the grid to their specific use cases.

Learning Curve

  • react-window:

    react-window is easy to learn and implement, making it suitable for developers looking for a straightforward solution for virtualization. Its simplicity allows for quick integration into projects, especially for those familiar with React.

  • react-virtualized:

    react-virtualized has a steeper learning curve due to its focus on performance optimization and virtualization concepts. Developers may need to invest time in understanding how to implement its features effectively, especially for complex use cases.

  • @react-aria/grid:

    @react-aria/grid has a moderate learning curve, especially for developers unfamiliar with ARIA practices. Understanding accessibility concepts is essential to fully leverage its capabilities, which may require additional time for learning.

  • react-data-grid:

    react-data-grid has a relatively gentle learning curve, with comprehensive documentation and examples available. Developers can quickly get started with its features, making it a good choice for those new to data grids.

Use Cases

  • react-window:

    react-window is suitable for simpler applications that require basic virtualization features. It is ideal for projects that need lightweight performance without the complexity of additional functionalities.

  • react-virtualized:

    react-virtualized is perfect for applications that need to display large datasets efficiently, such as dashboards or analytics tools. It is designed for performance and can handle extensive lists without compromising speed.

  • @react-aria/grid:

    @react-aria/grid is ideal for applications where accessibility is a priority, such as government or educational platforms. It is also suitable for custom grid implementations that require adherence to ARIA standards.

  • react-data-grid:

    react-data-grid is best suited for enterprise applications that require a robust data grid with extensive features, such as editing, filtering, and grouping. It is ideal for applications that need a comprehensive solution for data management.

How to Choose: react-window vs react-virtualized vs @react-aria/grid vs react-data-grid
  • react-window:

    Choose react-window for a lightweight alternative to react-virtualized, focusing on simplicity and performance. It is ideal for applications that require basic virtualization features without the overhead of additional functionalities, making it suitable for simpler use cases.

  • react-virtualized:

    Opt for react-virtualized when performance is a primary concern, especially with large datasets. This library excels in rendering only the visible rows and columns, thus optimizing performance and reducing memory usage. It's perfect for applications that need to display extensive lists or tables without compromising speed.

  • @react-aria/grid:

    Choose @react-aria/grid if you need a highly accessible grid component that follows WAI-ARIA guidelines, ensuring that your application is usable by individuals with disabilities. This package is ideal for developers focused on accessibility and who want to build a grid from scratch with a strong foundation in ARIA practices.

  • react-data-grid:

    Select react-data-grid if you require a feature-rich grid with built-in functionalities like editing, filtering, and row grouping. This library is well-suited for applications that need a robust data grid with a wide range of features and customization options, making it a good choice for enterprise applications.

README for react-window

react-window

React components for efficiently rendering large lists and tabular data

If you like this project, 🎉 become a sponsor or ☕ buy me a coffee


React window works by only rendering part of a large data set (just enough to fill the viewport). This helps address some common performance bottlenecks:

  1. It reduces the amount of work (and time) required to render the initial view and to process updates.
  2. It reduces the memory footprint by avoiding over-allocation of DOM nodes.

Sponsors

The following wonderful companies have sponsored react-window:

Learn more about becoming a sponsor!

Install

# Yarn
yarn add react-window

# NPM
npm install --save react-window

Usage

Learn more at react-window.now.sh:

Related libraries

  • react-virtualized-auto-sizer: HOC that grows to fit all of the available space and passes the width and height values to its child.
  • react-window-infinite-loader: Helps break large data sets down into chunks that can be just-in-time loaded as they are scrolled into view. It can also be used to create infinite loading lists (e.g. Facebook or Twitter).
  • react-vtree: Lightweight and flexible solution to render large tree structures (e.g., file system).

Frequently asked questions

How is react-window different from react-virtualized?

I wrote react-virtualized several years ago. At the time, I was new to both React and the concept of windowing. Because of this, I made a few API decisions that I later came to regret. One of these was adding too many non-essential features and components. Once you add something to an open source project, removing it is pretty painful for users.

react-window is a complete rewrite of react-virtualized. I didn't try to solve as many problems or support as many use cases. Instead I focused on making the package smaller1 and faster. I also put a lot of thought into making the API (and documentation) as beginner-friendly as possible (with the caveat that windowing is still kind of an advanced use case).

If react-window provides the functionality your project needs, I would strongly recommend using it instead of react-virtualized. However if you need features that only react-virtualized provides, you have two options:

  1. Use react-virtualized. (It's still widely used by a lot of successful projects!)
  2. Create a component that decorates one of the react-window primitives and adds the functionality you need. You may even want to release this component to NPM (as its own, standalone package)! 🙂

1 - Adding a react-virtualized list to a CRA project increases the (gzipped) build size by ~33.5 KB. Adding a react-window list to a CRA project increases the (gzipped) build size by <2 KB.

Can a list or a grid fill 100% the width or height of a page?

Yes. I recommend using the react-virtualized-auto-sizer package:

screen shot 2019-03-07 at 7 29 08 pm

Here's a Code Sandbox demo.

Why is my list blank when I scroll?

If your list looks something like this...

...then you probably forgot to use the style parameter! Libraries like react-window work by absolutely positioning the list items (via an inline style), so don't forget to attach it to the DOM element you render!

screen shot 2019-03-07 at 7 21 48 pm

Can I lazy load data for my list?

Yes. I recommend using the react-window-infinite-loader package:

screen shot 2019-03-07 at 7 32 32 pm

Here's a Code Sandbox demo.

Can I attach custom properties or event handlers?

Yes, using the outerElementType prop.

Screen Shot 2019-03-12 at 8 58 09 AM

Here's a Code Sandbox demo.

Can I add padding to the top and bottom of a list?

Yes, although it requires a bit of inline styling.

Screen Shot 2019-06-02 at 8 38 18 PM

Here's a Code Sandbox demo.

Can I add gutter or padding between items?

Yes, although it requires a bit of inline styling.

Screen Shot 2019-03-26 at 6 33 56 PM

Here's a Code Sandbox demo.

Does this library support "sticky" items?

Yes, although it requires a small amount of user code. Here's a Code Sandbox demo.

License

MIT © bvaughn