clsx vs classnames vs classcat
CSS Class Management Libraries Comparison
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What's CSS Class Management Libraries?

CSS Class Management Libraries are tools that help developers dynamically manage and manipulate CSS class names in JavaScript applications. These libraries provide utilities to conditionally apply class names based on certain conditions, such as component state, props, or any other logic. They simplify the process of constructing className strings, making the code cleaner and more maintainable. Libraries like classcat, classnames, and clsx offer different approaches to handling class names, each with its own features and design philosophies. They are particularly useful in React and other component-based frameworks where class name management can become complex.

Package Weekly Downloads Trend
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Stat Detail
Package
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Size
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License
clsx35,192,536
9,3638.55 kB11a year agoMIT
classnames16,932,399
17,77823.6 kB132 years agoMIT
classcat1,985,303
9095.19 kB1a year agoMIT
Feature Comparison: clsx vs classnames vs classcat

Size and Performance

  • clsx:

    clsx is designed to be a lightweight and performant alternative to classnames, with a similar feature set but a smaller size. It offers better performance for combining class names, making it a great choice for performance-sensitive applications.

  • classnames:

    classnames is larger than classcat, but its size is still reasonable for most projects. The trade-off in size comes with its feature richness and flexibility, which can be beneficial for more complex class name management scenarios.

  • classcat:

    classcat is a very small library (around 1KB minified) that provides a simple API for combining class names. Its lightweight nature means it has minimal impact on bundle size and performance, making it ideal for projects where every byte counts.

API Design

  • clsx:

    clsx offers a similar API to classnames, allowing you to pass various types of arguments (strings, objects, arrays) to conditionally include class names. It is designed to be simple and easy to use, with a focus on clarity and performance.

  • classnames:

    classnames provides a flexible API that allows you to pass strings, objects, and arrays to conditionally include class names. Its versatility is one of its biggest strengths, but it can also make the code less readable if overused.

  • classcat:

    classcat has a very simple and intuitive API that focuses on readability. It allows you to pass an object where the keys are class names and the values are booleans indicating whether the class should be included. This makes it easy to understand and use at a glance.

Flexibility

  • clsx:

    clsx is also very flexible, allowing you to combine class names from different sources (strings, objects, arrays) in a clean and efficient way. It strikes a good balance between simplicity and flexibility, making it easy to use for both simple and complex class name management.

  • classnames:

    classnames is highly flexible and allows for complex class name management. You can mix and match strings, objects, and arrays, making it easy to handle a wide variety of use cases. This flexibility is one of the reasons it is so widely used in the React community.

  • classcat:

    classcat is flexible in that it allows you to conditionally include class names based on boolean values. However, it is more limited compared to classnames and clsx in terms of the types of arguments you can pass. It is best suited for straightforward class name management without complex logic.

Ease of Use: Code Examples

  • clsx:

    clsx is designed to be simple and efficient, with a clean API that makes it easy to combine class names. Here’s a quick example:

    import clsx from 'clsx';

const isActive = true;
const isDisabled = false;

const className = clsx(
  'btn',
  isActive && 'btn-active',
  isDisabled ? 'btn-disabled' : null,
);

console.log(className); // Output: "btn btn-active"
  • classnames:

    classnames is known for its intuitive and flexible API. It allows for a wide range of class name combinations, making it easy to use in various scenarios. Here’s an example:

    import classNames from 'classnames';

const isActive = true;
const isDisabled = false;

const className = classNames(
  'btn',
  isActive && 'btn-active',
  isDisabled ? 'btn-disabled' : null,
);

console.log(className); // Output: "btn btn-active"
  • classcat:

    classcat is designed to be simple and easy to use. Its API is straightforward, and it requires very little setup. Here’s a quick example:

    import classcat from 'classcat';

const isActive = true;
const isDisabled = false;

const className = classcat({
  'btn': true,
  'btn-active': isActive,
  'btn-disabled': isDisabled,
});

console.log(className); // Output: "btn btn-active"
How to Choose: clsx vs classnames vs classcat
  • clsx:

    Choose clsx if you want a modern, lightweight alternative to classnames with a similar API but improved performance and a smaller footprint. It is perfect for projects where performance is a concern, and you want a simple yet efficient way to manage class names.

  • classnames:

    Choose classnames if you need a well-established and feature-rich library that supports conditional class name management with a familiar API. It is suitable for projects of all sizes and offers great flexibility in how class names are combined.

  • classcat:

    Choose classcat if you prefer a simple and lightweight solution for managing class names with a focus on readability and ease of use. It is ideal for projects that require minimal overhead and straightforward class name handling.

Similar Npm Packages to clsx

clsx is a utility for constructing className strings conditionally in JavaScript applications, particularly in React. It provides a simple and efficient way to combine class names based on certain conditions, making it easier to manage dynamic styling in components. With its lightweight design and straightforward API, clsx has become a popular choice among developers looking to streamline their class name management.

While clsx is a great option, there are alternatives available that also serve the purpose of conditionally combining class names:

  • classcat is a lightweight utility that allows you to create className strings based on conditions. It offers a simple API similar to clsx, enabling developers to easily manage dynamic class names. classcat is particularly useful for those who prefer a minimalistic approach and want to keep their bundle size small while still having the flexibility to conditionally apply classes.

  • classnames is another popular utility for conditionally joining class names. It has been around for a while and is widely used in the React community. classnames provides a flexible API that allows you to combine class names based on various conditions, including arrays and objects. While it offers more features than clsx, it is slightly larger in size. Developers who need a more feature-rich solution may find classnames to be a suitable alternative.

For a comprehensive comparison of these libraries, check out the following link: Comparing classcat vs classnames vs clsx.

Similar Npm Packages to classnames

classnames is a popular utility for conditionally joining class names together in JavaScript applications, particularly in React. It simplifies the process of dynamically setting class names based on certain conditions, making it easier to manage styles in a clean and readable way. With classnames, developers can easily combine static and dynamic class names, ensuring that the right classes are applied based on the component's state or props.

One notable alternative to classnames is clsx. clsx is a tiny utility that serves a similar purpose, allowing developers to conditionally combine class names. It is designed to be lightweight and efficient, with a minimal API that makes it easy to use. While both classnames and clsx provide similar functionality, clsx is often favored for its smaller bundle size and performance optimizations, especially in projects where minimizing file size is a priority.

For a detailed comparison of classnames and clsx, you can visit: Comparing classnames vs clsx.

Similar Npm Packages to classcat

classcat is a lightweight utility for conditionally joining class names together in JavaScript applications, particularly in React. It simplifies the process of dynamically applying CSS classes based on certain conditions, making it easier to manage styles in a clean and readable way. While classcat is an excellent choice for handling class names, there are several alternatives available in the ecosystem. Here are a few notable ones:

  • classnames is one of the most popular libraries for conditionally joining class names. It allows developers to easily combine class names based on various conditions, such as boolean values or arrays. With its simple API, classnames has become a go-to solution for many React developers looking to manage CSS classes dynamically. Its widespread adoption and robust feature set make it a reliable choice for projects of all sizes.
  • clsx is a tiny utility for constructing className strings conditionally. It is similar to classnames but is designed to be even more lightweight and efficient. clsx supports various input types, including strings, arrays, and objects, allowing for flexible class name management. If you're looking for a minimalistic solution that provides excellent performance without sacrificing functionality, clsx is a great alternative to consider.
  • style-loader is a different approach to managing styles in web applications. It injects CSS into the DOM using JavaScript, allowing for dynamic style changes at runtime. While it doesn't directly handle class name management like the other libraries mentioned, it is often used in conjunction with CSS modules or other styling solutions to facilitate dynamic styling in applications. If you need to manage styles dynamically and are working with Webpack, style-loader can be a valuable addition to your toolset.

To see how classcat compares with classnames, clsx, and style-loader, check out the comparison: Comparing classcat vs classnames vs clsx vs style-loader.

README for clsx

clsx CI codecov licenses

A tiny (239B) utility for constructing className strings conditionally.
Also serves as a faster & smaller drop-in replacement for the classnames module.

This module is available in three formats:

  • ES Module: dist/clsx.mjs
  • CommonJS: dist/clsx.js
  • UMD: dist/clsx.min.js

Install

$ npm install --save clsx

Usage

import clsx from 'clsx';
// or
import { clsx } from 'clsx';

// Strings (variadic)
clsx('foo', true && 'bar', 'baz');
//=> 'foo bar baz'

// Objects
clsx({ foo:true, bar:false, baz:isTrue() });
//=> 'foo baz'

// Objects (variadic)
clsx({ foo:true }, { bar:false }, null, { '--foobar':'hello' });
//=> 'foo --foobar'

// Arrays
clsx(['foo', 0, false, 'bar']);
//=> 'foo bar'

// Arrays (variadic)
clsx(['foo'], ['', 0, false, 'bar'], [['baz', [['hello'], 'there']]]);
//=> 'foo bar baz hello there'

// Kitchen sink (with nesting)
clsx('foo', [1 && 'bar', { baz:false, bat:null }, ['hello', ['world']]], 'cya');
//=> 'foo bar hello world cya'

API

clsx(...input)

Returns: String

input

Type: Mixed

The clsx function can take any number of arguments, each of which can be an Object, Array, Boolean, or String.

Important: Any falsey values are discarded!
Standalone Boolean values are discarded as well.

clsx(true, false, '', null, undefined, 0, NaN);
//=> ''

Modes

There are multiple "versions" of clsx available, which allows you to bring only the functionality you need!

clsx

Size (gzip): 239 bytes
Availability: CommonJS, ES Module, UMD

The default clsx module; see API for info.

import { clsx } from 'clsx';
// or
import clsx from 'clsx';

clsx/lite

Size (gzip): 140 bytes
Availability: CommonJS, ES Module
CAUTION: Accepts ONLY string arguments!

Ideal for applications that only use the string-builder pattern.

Any non-string arguments are ignored!

import { clsx } from 'clsx/lite';
// or
import clsx from 'clsx/lite';

// string
clsx('hello', true && 'foo', false && 'bar');
// => "hello foo"

// NOTE: Any non-string input(s) ignored
clsx({ foo: true });
//=> ""

Benchmarks

For snapshots of cross-browser results, check out the bench directory~!

Support

All versions of Node.js are supported.

All browsers that support Array.isArray are supported (IE9+).

Note: For IE8 support and older, please install clsx@1.0.x and beware of #17.

Tailwind Support

Here some additional (optional) steps to enable classes autocompletion using clsx with Tailwind CSS.

Visual Studio Code

  1. Install the "Tailwind CSS IntelliSense" Visual Studio Code extension

  2. Add the following to your settings.json:

 {
  "tailwindCSS.experimental.classRegex": [
    ["clsx\\(([^)]*)\\)", "(?:'|\"|`)([^']*)(?:'|\"|`)"]
  ]
 }

You may find the clsx/lite module useful within Tailwind contexts. This is especially true if/when your application only composes classes in this pattern:

clsx('text-base', props.active && 'text-primary', props.className);

Related

  • obj-str - A smaller (96B) and similiar utility that only works with Objects.

License

MIT © Luke Edwards

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