react-select vs downshift vs @react-aria/listbox vs react-autocomplete
React Dropdown and Autocomplete Libraries Comparison
1 Year
react-selectdownshift@react-aria/listboxreact-autocompleteSimilar Packages:
What's React Dropdown and Autocomplete Libraries?

These libraries provide various solutions for implementing dropdowns and autocomplete functionalities in React applications. They focus on accessibility, usability, and flexibility, allowing developers to create interactive and user-friendly interfaces. Each library has its strengths, catering to different use cases and preferences, from simple autocomplete features to complex listbox implementations with extensive customization options.

Package Weekly Downloads Trend
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Package
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react-select5,319,82727,890725 kB456a month agoMIT
downshift1,801,17212,1962.77 MB48a month agoMIT
@react-aria/listbox1,297,01913,735122 kB761a month agoApache-2.0
react-autocomplete63,6052,168-917 years agoMIT
Feature Comparison: react-select vs downshift vs @react-aria/listbox vs react-autocomplete

Accessibility

  • react-select:

    React Select includes built-in accessibility features, such as keyboard navigation and ARIA roles, making it easier to create accessible dropdowns. However, developers should still verify compliance with specific accessibility requirements.

  • downshift:

    Downshift offers accessibility features but requires developers to implement them as it provides a lower-level API. It allows for custom implementations, but additional work is needed to ensure compliance with accessibility standards.

  • @react-aria/listbox:

    @react-aria/listbox is built with accessibility in mind, following WAI-ARIA guidelines to ensure that all users, including those using assistive technologies, can interact with listboxes effectively. It provides keyboard navigation and screen reader support out of the box, making it a great choice for accessible applications.

  • react-autocomplete:

    React Autocomplete provides basic accessibility features but may not fully comply with WAI-ARIA standards. Developers may need to add additional attributes and manage focus manually to ensure a fully accessible experience.

Customization

  • react-select:

    React Select provides extensive customization options, including styling, theming, and the ability to create custom components for various parts of the dropdown. This makes it a versatile choice for applications with specific design needs.

  • downshift:

    Downshift is highly customizable, allowing developers to create their own UI components while managing state and behavior. This flexibility makes it suitable for projects that require unique designs and interactions.

  • @react-aria/listbox:

    @react-aria/listbox allows for customization of the rendering and behavior of listboxes, but it requires a deeper understanding of the library's API. Developers can create tailored components while ensuring accessibility is maintained.

  • react-autocomplete:

    React Autocomplete offers limited customization options compared to others. It is designed for simplicity and ease of use, making it less flexible for complex UI requirements.

Complexity

  • react-select:

    React Select balances complexity and usability, providing a rich feature set while maintaining a relatively easy-to-use API. It is suitable for developers who need advanced features without overwhelming complexity.

  • downshift:

    Downshift has a steeper learning curve because of its low-level API, which requires developers to handle more aspects of the component's behavior and rendering. However, this complexity allows for greater flexibility.

  • @react-aria/listbox:

    @react-aria/listbox has a moderate complexity level due to its focus on accessibility and the need for developers to understand the WAI-ARIA specifications. It may require more effort to implement compared to simpler libraries.

  • react-autocomplete:

    React Autocomplete is straightforward and easy to implement, making it suitable for developers looking for a quick solution without extensive configuration or complexity.

Performance

  • react-select:

    React Select is optimized for performance and can handle large datasets efficiently. It includes features like lazy loading and virtualization to improve performance when dealing with numerous options.

  • downshift:

    Downshift is designed for performance, allowing developers to optimize rendering and state management. It provides control over the rendering process, which can lead to better performance if implemented correctly.

  • @react-aria/listbox:

    @react-aria/listbox is optimized for performance, ensuring that accessibility features do not hinder the responsiveness of the component. It efficiently manages updates and rendering, providing a smooth user experience.

  • react-autocomplete:

    React Autocomplete is lightweight and performs well for simple use cases. However, performance may degrade with large datasets or complex filtering logic, requiring optimization techniques.

Community and Support

  • react-select:

    React Select has a large and active community, with extensive documentation, examples, and third-party resources. This makes it a popular choice among developers for its reliability and support.

  • downshift:

    Downshift has a solid community and is widely used, providing ample resources, examples, and support. Its popularity ensures that developers can find help and documentation easily.

  • @react-aria/listbox:

    @react-aria/listbox is part of the React Aria library, which is maintained by Adobe and has a growing community. While it may not be as widely used as others, it benefits from strong support and documentation.

  • react-autocomplete:

    React Autocomplete has a smaller community compared to others, which may result in fewer resources and examples available. However, it is still a reliable choice for simple implementations.

How to Choose: react-select vs downshift vs @react-aria/listbox vs react-autocomplete
  • react-select:

    Choose React Select if you require a powerful and feature-rich dropdown component. It offers a wide range of features, including multi-select, async options, and customizable styling, making it suitable for complex forms and data selection scenarios.

  • downshift:

    Choose Downshift if you need a highly customizable and flexible solution for building dropdowns and autocomplete components. It provides a low-level API that allows you to implement your own UI while managing the state and accessibility features.

  • @react-aria/listbox:

    Choose @react-aria/listbox if you prioritize accessibility and need a robust solution that adheres to WAI-ARIA standards. It is ideal for applications where screen reader support and keyboard navigation are critical.

  • react-autocomplete:

    Choose React Autocomplete for a straightforward and easy-to-use autocomplete solution. It is suitable for simpler use cases where you want to quickly implement an autocomplete feature without extensive customization requirements.

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.