redux vs mobx vs vuex vs cerebral
State Management Libraries Comparison
1 Year
reduxmobxvuexcerebralSimilar Packages:
What's State Management Libraries?

State management libraries are essential tools in modern web development, providing a structured way to manage application state in a predictable manner. They help developers maintain a single source of truth for the state, enabling easier debugging, testing, and collaboration. These libraries facilitate communication between components, ensuring that changes in state are reflected across the application efficiently. By utilizing these libraries, developers can create more maintainable and scalable applications, especially as complexity grows.

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redux11,970,15161,189290 kB43a year agoMIT
mobx1,769,94927,8744.33 MB662 months agoMIT
vuex1,516,10228,458271 kB144-MIT
cerebral9,5801,998987 kB1a month agoMIT
Feature Comparison: redux vs mobx vs vuex vs cerebral

Architecture

  • redux:

    Redux is based on a predictable state container architecture that enforces strict unidirectional data flow. The state is immutable and can only be changed by dispatching actions, which are processed by pure functions called reducers. This architecture makes it easier to understand how state changes over time.

  • mobx:

    MobX adopts a more flexible architecture that leverages observables and reactions. It allows developers to create state that automatically tracks dependencies, making it easy to manage state changes without the need for boilerplate code. This reactive approach simplifies the development process.

  • vuex:

    Vuex is designed specifically for Vue.js applications, providing a centralized store that holds all application state. It uses a modular architecture, allowing developers to split the store into modules, each with its own state, mutations, actions, and getters, promoting better organization.

  • cerebral:

    Cerebral follows a reactive architecture where the application state is managed through a central store. It employs a clear separation of concerns, allowing developers to define actions and signals that manipulate the state in a predictable manner, promoting a unidirectional data flow.

Reactivity

  • redux:

    Redux employs a more manual approach to reactivity. Components must subscribe to the store and explicitly re-render when state changes occur. While this can lead to more predictable state management, it may require additional boilerplate code and careful management of component updates.

  • mobx:

    MobX offers fine-grained reactivity, meaning that components automatically re-render only when the specific pieces of state they depend on change. This leads to optimal performance and a more intuitive development experience, as developers do not need to manually manage updates.

  • vuex:

    Vuex provides a reactive state management solution that integrates tightly with Vue's reactivity system. When state changes occur, Vue components that depend on that state automatically re-render, ensuring a seamless user experience without additional configuration.

  • cerebral:

    Cerebral utilizes a reactive programming model, where changes in the state automatically trigger updates in the UI. This model allows developers to define how the application should respond to state changes declaratively, leading to a more predictable and maintainable codebase.

Learning Curve

  • redux:

    Redux has a steeper learning curve compared to other libraries due to its strict principles and the need to understand concepts like actions, reducers, and middleware. However, once mastered, it provides powerful tools for managing complex state in large applications.

  • mobx:

    MobX is generally considered easier to learn due to its less rigid structure and minimal boilerplate. Developers can quickly grasp the concepts of observables and reactions, making it a good choice for those new to state management.

  • vuex:

    Vuex is relatively easy to learn for developers already familiar with Vue.js. Its integration with Vue's reactivity system makes it intuitive, but understanding its modular architecture and best practices may take some time.

  • cerebral:

    Cerebral has a moderate learning curve, especially for developers unfamiliar with reactive programming concepts. Its emphasis on a clear separation of concerns and unidirectional data flow may require some adjustment, but it ultimately leads to a more organized codebase.

Middleware Support

  • redux:

    Redux has robust middleware support, allowing developers to intercept actions and manage side effects using libraries like Redux Thunk or Redux Saga. This makes it suitable for applications that require complex asynchronous operations and side effect management.

  • mobx:

    MobX does not have built-in middleware support like Redux, but it allows developers to create custom reactions and side effects easily. This flexibility can be advantageous for simpler applications that do not require extensive middleware.

  • vuex:

    Vuex provides plugins that can act as middleware, allowing developers to extend its functionality and manage side effects. This feature is useful for integrating with external APIs or performing asynchronous operations in a Vue.js application.

  • cerebral:

    Cerebral supports middleware that allows developers to extend its functionality and handle side effects in a clean manner. This enables the integration of asynchronous operations and other complex logic without cluttering the core application logic.

Community and Ecosystem

  • redux:

    Redux boasts a large and active community, with extensive documentation, tutorials, and a wide range of middleware and tools available. Its popularity in the React ecosystem means that developers can find ample resources and support.

  • mobx:

    MobX has a growing community and a rich ecosystem of tools and libraries that complement its functionality. Its simplicity and flexibility have made it popular among developers seeking an intuitive state management solution.

  • vuex:

    Vuex is well-supported within the Vue.js community, with comprehensive documentation and a variety of plugins available. Its integration with Vue makes it a go-to choice for Vue developers looking for a state management solution.

  • cerebral:

    Cerebral has a smaller community compared to Redux and MobX, which may result in fewer resources and third-party libraries. However, it is gaining traction among developers looking for a reactive state management solution.

How to Choose: redux vs mobx vs vuex vs cerebral
  • redux:

    Choose Redux if you need a predictable state container with a strong emphasis on immutability and functional programming principles. It is ideal for large-scale applications where state management needs to be centralized and easily traceable, especially with the help of middleware for side effects.

  • mobx:

    Choose MobX if you prefer a more intuitive and less boilerplate-heavy approach to state management. It allows for automatic tracking of state changes and reactivity, making it easier to manage state in applications where performance and simplicity are key.

  • vuex:

    Choose Vuex if you are working within the Vue.js ecosystem and need a state management solution that integrates seamlessly with Vue components. It provides a centralized store for all components in an application, ensuring that state is managed in a consistent and organized manner.

  • cerebral:

    Choose Cerebral if you want a reactive state management solution that emphasizes a clear separation of concerns and a unidirectional data flow. It is particularly suitable for applications that require complex state management and want to leverage the power of reactive programming.

README for redux

Redux Logo

Redux is a predictable state container for JavaScript apps.

It helps you write applications that behave consistently, run in different environments (client, server, and native), and are easy to test. On top of that, it provides a great developer experience, such as live code editing combined with a time traveling debugger.

You can use Redux together with React, or with any other view library. The Redux core is tiny (2kB, including dependencies), and has a rich ecosystem of addons.

Redux Toolkit is our official recommended approach for writing Redux logic. It wraps around the Redux core, and contains packages and functions that we think are essential for building a Redux app. Redux Toolkit builds in our suggested best practices, simplifies most Redux tasks, prevents common mistakes, and makes it easier to write Redux applications.

GitHub Workflow Status npm version npm downloads redux channel on discord

Installation

Create a React Redux App

The recommended way to start new apps with React and Redux Toolkit is by using our official Redux Toolkit + TS template for Vite, or by creating a new Next.js project using Next's with-redux template.

Both of these already have Redux Toolkit and React-Redux configured appropriately for that build tool, and come with a small example app that demonstrates how to use several of Redux Toolkit's features.

# Vite with our Redux+TS template
# (using the `degit` tool to clone and extract the template)
npx degit reduxjs/redux-templates/packages/vite-template-redux my-app

# Next.js using the `with-redux` template
npx create-next-app --example with-redux my-app

We do not currently have official React Native templates, but recommend these templates for standard React Native and for Expo:

  • https://github.com/rahsheen/react-native-template-redux-typescript
  • https://github.com/rahsheen/expo-template-redux-typescript
npm install @reduxjs/toolkit react-redux

For the Redux core library by itself:

npm install redux

For more details, see the Installation docs page.

Documentation

The Redux core docs are located at https://redux.js.org, and include the full Redux tutorials, as well usage guides on general Redux patterns:

The Redux Toolkit docs are available at https://redux-toolkit.js.org, including API references and usage guides for all of the APIs included in Redux Toolkit.

Learn Redux

Redux Essentials Tutorial

The Redux Essentials tutorial is a "top-down" tutorial that teaches "how to use Redux the right way", using our latest recommended APIs and best practices. We recommend starting there.

Redux Fundamentals Tutorial

The Redux Fundamentals tutorial is a "bottom-up" tutorial that teaches "how Redux works" from first principles and without any abstractions, and why standard Redux usage patterns exist.

Help and Discussion

The #redux channel of the Reactiflux Discord community is our official resource for all questions related to learning and using Redux. Reactiflux is a great place to hang out, ask questions, and learn - please come and join us there!

Before Proceeding Further

Redux is a valuable tool for organizing your state, but you should also consider whether it's appropriate for your situation. Please don't use Redux just because someone said you should - instead, please take some time to understand the potential benefits and tradeoffs of using it.

Here are some suggestions on when it makes sense to use Redux:

  • You have reasonable amounts of data changing over time
  • You need a single source of truth for your state
  • You find that keeping all your state in a top-level component is no longer sufficient

Yes, these guidelines are subjective and vague, but this is for a good reason. The point at which you should integrate Redux into your application is different for every user and different for every application.

For more thoughts on how Redux is meant to be used, please see:

Basic Example

The whole global state of your app is stored in an object tree inside a single store. The only way to change the state tree is to create an action, an object describing what happened, and dispatch it to the store. To specify how state gets updated in response to an action, you write pure reducer functions that calculate a new state based on the old state and the action.

Redux Toolkit simplifies the process of writing Redux logic and setting up the store. With Redux Toolkit, the basic app logic looks like:

import { createSlice, configureStore } from '@reduxjs/toolkit'

const counterSlice = createSlice({
  name: 'counter',
  initialState: {
    value: 0
  },
  reducers: {
    incremented: state => {
      // Redux Toolkit allows us to write "mutating" logic in reducers. It
      // doesn't actually mutate the state because it uses the Immer library,
      // which detects changes to a "draft state" and produces a brand new
      // immutable state based off those changes
      state.value += 1
    },
    decremented: state => {
      state.value -= 1
    }
  }
})

export const { incremented, decremented } = counterSlice.actions

const store = configureStore({
  reducer: counterSlice.reducer
})

// Can still subscribe to the store
store.subscribe(() => console.log(store.getState()))

// Still pass action objects to `dispatch`, but they're created for us
store.dispatch(incremented())
// {value: 1}
store.dispatch(incremented())
// {value: 2}
store.dispatch(decremented())
// {value: 1}

Redux Toolkit allows us to write shorter logic that's easier to read, while still following the original core Redux behavior and data flow.

Logo

You can find the official logo on GitHub.

Change Log

This project adheres to Semantic Versioning. Every release, along with the migration instructions, is documented on the GitHub Releases page.

License

MIT