react-select vs react-datepicker vs react-datetime vs react-widgets
React Date and Selection Libraries Comparison
1 Year
react-selectreact-datepickerreact-datetimereact-widgetsSimilar Packages:
What's React Date and Selection Libraries?

These libraries provide specialized components for handling date selection, time management, and dropdown selections in React applications. They enhance user experience by offering intuitive interfaces for selecting dates, times, and options, which are essential in forms and interactive applications. Each library has its unique features and design philosophies, catering to different needs in web development.

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react-select5,736,27727,927725 kB4593 months agoMIT
react-datepicker2,704,3428,2591.99 MB140a month agoMIT
react-datetime244,2022,009291 kB1855 months agoMIT
react-widgets43,1712,3541.43 MB565 months agoMIT
Feature Comparison: react-select vs react-datepicker vs react-datetime vs react-widgets

Customization

  • react-select:

    react-select excels in customization, offering a wide range of props to modify styles, behaviors, and even the rendering of options, making it highly adaptable to various UI needs.

  • react-datepicker:

    react-datepicker offers basic customization options such as date formats and styles, but it is primarily focused on simplicity and ease of use, making it less flexible for complex designs.

  • react-datetime:

    react-datetime provides more extensive customization capabilities, allowing developers to define custom input formats and styles, making it suitable for applications with specific design requirements.

  • react-widgets:

    react-widgets allows for significant customization across its components, supporting themes and custom renderers, which is beneficial for creating a cohesive look and feel in applications.

Functionality

  • react-select:

    react-select stands out with its advanced selection capabilities, including multi-select, async options, and custom option rendering, making it suitable for complex forms.

  • react-datepicker:

    react-datepicker focuses on date selection with features like date ranges and disabled dates, making it straightforward for basic use cases without overwhelming the user.

  • react-datetime:

    react-datetime combines both date and time selection in one component, providing a more comprehensive solution for applications that require precise input.

  • react-widgets:

    react-widgets offers a variety of input components beyond just date and time pickers, including dropdowns and combo boxes, making it a versatile choice for diverse input needs.

Accessibility

  • react-select:

    react-select is designed with accessibility in mind, providing keyboard navigation and screen reader support, making it a strong choice for inclusive applications.

  • react-datepicker:

    react-datepicker has basic accessibility features, but may require additional work to ensure full compliance with accessibility standards in complex applications.

  • react-datetime:

    react-datetime includes some accessibility features, but developers need to ensure proper implementation for a fully accessible experience.

  • react-widgets:

    react-widgets emphasizes accessibility across its components, ensuring that all widgets are navigable via keyboard and compatible with screen readers, making it a robust option for accessibility-focused projects.

Performance

  • react-select:

    react-select is optimized for performance, especially in handling large datasets with its async loading capabilities, making it suitable for applications with extensive options.

  • react-datepicker:

    react-datepicker is lightweight and performs well for basic date selection tasks, but may not be optimized for heavy usage scenarios with complex state management.

  • react-datetime:

    react-datetime maintains good performance for both date and time selection, but its complexity may introduce slight overhead compared to simpler components.

  • react-widgets:

    react-widgets provides good performance across its various components, but the complexity of features may require careful management to avoid performance bottlenecks.

Learning Curve

  • react-select:

    react-select can have a steeper learning curve due to its extensive customization options and advanced features, but it offers great flexibility once mastered.

  • react-datepicker:

    react-datepicker has a gentle learning curve, making it easy for developers to implement basic date selection features quickly.

  • react-datetime:

    react-datetime is slightly more complex due to its dual functionality, but still remains accessible for most developers familiar with React.

  • react-widgets:

    react-widgets may require more time to learn due to its comprehensive set of components and features, but it provides a powerful toolkit for building complex forms.

How to Choose: react-select vs react-datepicker vs react-datetime vs react-widgets
  • react-select:

    Select react-select for advanced dropdown functionality, including multi-select options, async loading, and customizable styles. It is ideal for applications that require complex selection scenarios and enhanced user interactions.

  • react-datepicker:

    Choose react-datepicker if you need a simple and lightweight date picker that supports date ranges and custom date formats. It is easy to integrate and offers a straightforward API for basic date selection needs.

  • react-datetime:

    Opt for react-datetime if you require a more versatile component that combines both date and time selection. It provides additional features like localization and custom input formats, making it suitable for applications that need precise time management.

  • react-widgets:

    Use react-widgets if you need a comprehensive set of input components, including date pickers, dropdowns, and more, with built-in support for localization and accessibility. It is great for applications that require a consistent and feature-rich UI.

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.