react-select vs @szhsin/react-menu vs react-dropdown vs react-contextmenu
React Menu and Dropdown Libraries Comparison
3 Years
react-select@szhsin/react-menureact-dropdownreact-contextmenuSimilar Packages:
What's React Menu and Dropdown Libraries?

These libraries provide developers with tools to create interactive menus and dropdowns in React applications. They each offer unique features and functionalities that cater to different use cases, from simple dropdowns to complex context menus, enhancing user experience and interface design.

Package Weekly Downloads Trend
Github Stars Ranking
Stat Detail
Package
Downloads
Stars
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react-select5,868,781
28,009726 kB4722 months agoMIT
@szhsin/react-menu88,084
1,205167 kB13 hours agoMIT
react-dropdown70,941
67224 kB110-MIT
react-contextmenu33,927
1,407-15 years agoMIT
Feature Comparison: react-select vs @szhsin/react-menu vs react-dropdown vs react-contextmenu

Customization

  • react-select:

    react-select is highly customizable, supporting custom components for options, multi-select functionality, and various themes. It allows for extensive styling and behavior customization, making it ideal for applications that require a tailored user experience.

  • @szhsin/react-menu:

    @szhsin/react-menu offers extensive customization options, allowing developers to define their own styles, animations, and behaviors. It supports custom rendering for menu items, making it easy to create unique menu designs that fit the application's theme.

  • react-dropdown:

    react-dropdown is designed for simplicity and offers limited customization options. It allows basic styling through CSS but does not support advanced features like custom item rendering or complex behaviors, making it less suitable for highly customized interfaces.

  • react-contextmenu:

    react-contextmenu provides basic customization options primarily focused on the context menu's appearance. While it allows for some styling, it is less flexible compared to other libraries, as it is designed for quick implementation rather than deep customization.

Accessibility

  • react-select:

    react-select is designed with accessibility in mind, providing keyboard navigation and ARIA support. It is suitable for applications that prioritize accessibility and need to accommodate users with disabilities.

  • @szhsin/react-menu:

    @szhsin/react-menu is built with accessibility in mind, providing keyboard navigation and ARIA attributes to ensure that all users, including those using assistive technologies, can interact with the menu effectively.

  • react-dropdown:

    react-dropdown offers minimal accessibility features. While it can be used in accessible applications, developers may need to implement additional ARIA attributes and keyboard navigation manually for full compliance.

  • react-contextmenu:

    react-contextmenu has basic accessibility features but may require additional work to ensure full compliance with accessibility standards. It does not provide extensive keyboard navigation support out of the box.

Complexity and Learning Curve

  • react-select:

    react-select has a steeper learning curve due to its advanced features and customization options. Developers may need to invest time in understanding its API and how to leverage its full potential for complex selection scenarios.

  • @szhsin/react-menu:

    @szhsin/react-menu has a moderate learning curve due to its extensive customization options and features. Developers may need to spend some time understanding its API and how to implement advanced features effectively.

  • react-dropdown:

    react-dropdown is simple to use and has a gentle learning curve, making it ideal for beginners or those who need basic dropdown functionality without complex features.

  • react-contextmenu:

    react-contextmenu is easy to learn and implement, making it suitable for developers who need a quick solution for context menus without a steep learning curve. Its API is straightforward and requires minimal setup.

Performance

  • react-select:

    react-select is designed to handle large datasets efficiently, with features like virtualized scrolling to improve performance. It is suitable for applications that require handling a significant number of options without sacrificing user experience.

  • @szhsin/react-menu:

    @szhsin/react-menu is optimized for performance, ensuring that rendering and updates are efficient even with complex menus. It minimizes unnecessary re-renders and provides a smooth user experience.

  • react-dropdown:

    react-dropdown is lightweight and performs well for basic dropdown needs. However, it may not handle large datasets efficiently, and performance can degrade with complex interactions.

  • react-contextmenu:

    react-contextmenu performs well for basic context menus, but performance may vary with complex implementations or large datasets. It is generally efficient for simple use cases but may require optimization for more demanding scenarios.

Use Cases

  • react-select:

    react-select is ideal for applications that require advanced selection capabilities, such as forms with multi-select options, tagging systems, or search functionalities.

  • @szhsin/react-menu:

    @szhsin/react-menu is ideal for applications that require rich, interactive menus, such as dashboards, admin panels, or applications with complex navigation needs.

  • react-dropdown:

    react-dropdown is perfect for basic dropdown needs, such as selecting options in forms or simple navigation menus in applications.

  • react-contextmenu:

    react-contextmenu is best suited for applications that need simple context menus, such as file explorers or applications where right-click actions are common.

How to Choose: react-select vs @szhsin/react-menu vs react-dropdown vs react-contextmenu
  • react-select:

    Choose react-select if you need a powerful and flexible select input component that supports multi-select, async loading, and custom styling. This library is ideal for applications that require advanced selection features and a rich user interface.

  • @szhsin/react-menu:

    Choose @szhsin/react-menu if you need a highly customizable and accessible menu component that supports keyboard navigation and is easy to integrate into your existing React application. It is ideal for applications that require a rich menu experience with various configurations.

  • react-dropdown:

    Opt for react-dropdown if you require a simple and lightweight dropdown component that is easy to use and integrate. It is suitable for applications that need basic dropdown functionality without the overhead of more complex features.

  • react-contextmenu:

    Select react-contextmenu if you are looking for a straightforward context menu solution that can be easily attached to any element. This package is perfect for applications that need right-click context menus with minimal setup and configuration.

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.