Which is Better JavaScript Utility Libraries?
lodash vs immutable vs ramda vs underscore

1 Year
lodashimmutableramdaunderscoreSimilar Packages:
What's JavaScript Utility Libraries?

JavaScript utility libraries provide functions and tools to simplify common programming tasks, such as data manipulation, functional programming, and object manipulation. Choosing the right library depends on the specific requirements of the project and the preferred programming style.

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lodash45,887,76358,927753 days agoOther
immutable15,892,95632,86611819 days agoMIT License
ramda11,221,16323,583153a day agoMIT License
underscore10,704,54227,23952a month agoMIT License
Feature Comparison: lodash vs immutable vs ramda vs underscore

Immutability

  • immutable: Immutable.js provides data structures that are immutable, meaning they cannot be changed once created. This helps prevent unintended side effects and simplifies state management.
  • lodash: Lodash does not enforce immutability by default but offers functions for working with immutable data structures. Developers can choose to use immutability where needed.
  • ramda: Ramda emphasizes functional programming and immutability, providing functions that operate on immutable data structures and promote a more declarative coding style.
  • underscore: Underscore does not focus on immutability but offers utility functions for common tasks like array manipulation, object iteration, and functional programming.

Functional Programming

  • immutable: Immutable.js encourages a functional programming approach by providing functions for working with immutable data structures and composing operations.
  • lodash: Lodash supports functional programming paradigms with functions like map, filter, and reduce that operate on collections and promote a more functional style.
  • ramda: Ramda is designed for functional programming, offering functions that are automatically curried and prioritize data immutability and composition.
  • underscore: Underscore includes functional programming utilities like map, reduce, and filter for working with arrays and objects in a functional style.

Performance

  • immutable: Immutable.js can have performance implications due to the overhead of creating new immutable data structures instead of mutating existing ones.
  • lodash: Lodash is known for its performance optimizations and efficient implementations of common utility functions, making it a popular choice for many projects.
  • ramda: Ramda's focus on immutability and functional programming can lead to more optimized code in certain scenarios, but may require a different mindset for performance considerations.
  • underscore: Underscore is lightweight and efficient for basic utility functions, making it a good choice for projects where performance is a priority.

Community & Support

  • immutable: Immutable.js has a dedicated community but may not be as widely used as other utility libraries like Lodash or Underscore.
  • lodash: Lodash has a large and active community with extensive documentation, tutorials, and support resources available.
  • ramda: Ramda has a niche community of functional programming enthusiasts who appreciate its focus on immutability and declarative coding.
  • underscore: Underscore has been around for a long time and has a solid community of developers who continue to maintain and support the library.

Extensibility

  • immutable: Immutable.js provides a set of core data structures and functions, but may not be as extensible or customizable as other utility libraries.
  • lodash: Lodash is highly extensible, allowing developers to create custom builds with only the functions they need or to extend existing functions with custom behavior.
  • ramda: Ramda is designed to be highly extensible, with a focus on composition and functional programming principles that make it easy to create custom functions and utilities.
  • underscore: Underscore is less extensible compared to libraries like Lodash or Ramda, but offers a wide range of utility functions out of the box for common tasks.
Similar Npm Packages to lodash

lodash is a popular JavaScript utility library that provides a wide range of functions for manipulating and working with arrays, objects, strings, and more. It is known for its consistency, performance, and extensive feature set, making it a go-to choice for many developers when it comes to handling data manipulation tasks in JavaScript projects.

While lodash is widely used and highly regarded, there are other utility libraries in the JavaScript ecosystem that offer similar functionalities. Here are a few alternatives:

  • immutable is a library that provides immutable data structures for JavaScript. It focuses on immutability and persistent data structures, which can be beneficial for managing state in applications.
  • ramda is a functional programming library that emphasizes a functional and declarative style of programming. It provides a set of functions that encourage immutability and composability in JavaScript applications.
  • underscore is a utility library that offers a collection of functions for common programming tasks in JavaScript. It provides a simpler and more lightweight alternative to lodash for basic data manipulation operations.

Check out this comparison: Comparing immutable vs lodash vs ramda vs underscore.

README for lodash

lodash v4.17.21

The Lodash library exported as Node.js modules.

Installation

Using npm:

$ npm i -g npm
$ npm i --save lodash

In Node.js:

// Load the full build.
var _ = require('lodash');
// Load the core build.
var _ = require('lodash/core');
// Load the FP build for immutable auto-curried iteratee-first data-last methods.
var fp = require('lodash/fp');

// Load method categories.
var array = require('lodash/array');
var object = require('lodash/fp/object');

// Cherry-pick methods for smaller browserify/rollup/webpack bundles.
var at = require('lodash/at');
var curryN = require('lodash/fp/curryN');

See the package source for more details.

Note:
Install n_ for Lodash use in the Node.js < 6 REPL.

Support

Tested in Chrome 74-75, Firefox 66-67, IE 11, Edge 18, Safari 11-12, & Node.js 8-12.
Automated browser & CI test runs are available.