React Infinite Scrolling and Virtualization Libraries Comparison
react-window vs react-virtualized vs react-infinite-scroll-component vs react-list
1 Year
react-windowreact-virtualizedreact-infinite-scroll-componentreact-listSimilar Packages:
What's React Infinite Scrolling and Virtualization Libraries?

These libraries are designed to enhance performance and user experience in React applications by efficiently rendering lists and handling infinite scrolling. They provide various methods to manage large datasets, ensuring that only the visible items are rendered in the DOM, which significantly improves rendering speed and reduces memory usage. This is particularly important for applications that display long lists or require dynamic loading of content as the user scrolls, making them essential tools for modern web development.

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react-window2,009,07516,003896 kB3a year agoMIT
react-virtualized944,75626,4542.2 MB32 years agoMIT
react-infinite-scroll-component695,7542,892-1934 years agoMIT
react-list298,5391,96337.3 kB71-MIT
Feature Comparison: react-window vs react-virtualized vs react-infinite-scroll-component vs react-list

Virtualization

  • react-window:

    react-window simplifies virtualization by rendering only the visible items in a list or grid. It is lightweight and efficient, making it a great choice for applications that require basic virtualization without the complexity of additional features.

  • react-virtualized:

    react-virtualized offers comprehensive virtualization features, allowing developers to render only the visible portion of a list or grid. It supports dynamic row heights, making it suitable for complex layouts and large datasets, significantly improving performance.

  • react-infinite-scroll-component:

    This package does not implement virtualization; instead, it focuses on loading more items as the user scrolls. It is best for scenarios where the total number of items is manageable, and you want to keep the user experience seamless without complex setups.

  • react-list:

    react-list provides basic virtualization by rendering only the visible items in the list. It is effective for lists with uniform item heights, ensuring that performance is optimized without overwhelming the DOM with hidden elements.

Ease of Use

  • react-window:

    react-window offers a balance between ease of use and performance. Its simpler API compared to react-virtualized makes it easier to implement while still providing essential virtualization features.

  • react-virtualized:

    react-virtualized has a steeper learning curve due to its extensive features and configuration options. It is best for developers who need advanced capabilities and are willing to invest time in understanding its API.

  • react-infinite-scroll-component:

    This library is very easy to integrate and use, requiring minimal configuration. It is designed for developers who want to quickly implement infinite scrolling without diving deep into the complexities of virtualization.

  • react-list:

    react-list is straightforward to use, providing a simple API for rendering lists. It is suitable for developers who need a quick solution for displaying lists without extensive setup or configuration.

Performance Optimization

  • react-window:

    react-window is designed for performance with a minimal footprint. It efficiently renders only the visible items, making it suitable for applications that need quick load times and smooth scrolling experiences.

  • react-virtualized:

    react-virtualized is highly optimized for performance, capable of handling very large datasets efficiently. It minimizes DOM updates and re-renders, making it ideal for applications that require fast rendering and scrolling capabilities.

  • react-infinite-scroll-component:

    This package optimizes performance by loading items on demand, reducing the initial load time. However, it does not optimize rendering for large lists, which could lead to performance issues if not managed properly.

  • react-list:

    react-list optimizes performance by only rendering visible items, which helps in managing memory usage. It is effective for medium-sized lists but may not perform as well with very large datasets compared to more advanced libraries.

Customization

  • react-window:

    react-window offers a good level of customization while maintaining simplicity. It allows developers to customize the rendering of items while keeping the API straightforward, making it suitable for most use cases.

  • react-virtualized:

    react-virtualized provides extensive customization options, allowing developers to tailor the rendering and scrolling behavior to fit specific needs. It is ideal for applications that require a high degree of flexibility and control.

  • react-infinite-scroll-component:

    This library offers limited customization options, focusing primarily on infinite scrolling functionality. It is best for developers who need a quick solution without extensive customization requirements.

  • react-list:

    react-list allows for some customization in terms of item rendering, but it is relatively basic. Developers looking for more control over the rendering process may find it somewhat limiting.

Community and Support

  • react-window:

    react-window has a growing community and is well-documented, making it easy to find examples and support. It is a popular choice for developers looking for a lightweight virtualization solution.

  • react-virtualized:

    react-virtualized has a large community and extensive documentation, providing ample resources for developers. It is well-supported and frequently updated, making it a solid choice for complex applications.

  • react-infinite-scroll-component:

    This package has a growing community and is well-documented, making it easy to find support and examples for implementation. It is suitable for developers looking for a reliable library with community backing.

  • react-list:

    react-list has a smaller community compared to others, which may result in less available support and fewer resources. It is still a viable option for simple use cases but may lack extensive community-driven enhancements.

How to Choose: react-window vs react-virtualized vs react-infinite-scroll-component vs react-list
  • react-window:

    Choose react-window if you need a lightweight alternative to react-virtualized with a simpler API. It is perfect for applications that require basic virtualization without the overhead of additional features, making it suitable for most use cases where performance is a priority.

  • react-virtualized:

    Select react-virtualized for advanced use cases that require extensive features like windowing, dynamic row heights, and complex layouts. It is best suited for applications that need fine-grained control over rendering and scrolling behavior, making it ideal for data-heavy applications.

  • react-infinite-scroll-component:

    Choose this package if you need a straightforward implementation of infinite scrolling with minimal setup. It is ideal for applications where you want to load more items as the user scrolls down, without complex configurations.

  • react-list:

    Opt for react-list if you require a simple, lightweight solution for rendering large lists with basic virtualization. It is suitable for applications where you want to maintain a balance between performance and ease of use, especially when the list items are of uniform height.

README for react-window

react-window

React components for efficiently rendering large lists and tabular data

If you like this project, 🎉 become a sponsor or ☕ buy me a coffee


React window works by only rendering part of a large data set (just enough to fill the viewport). This helps address some common performance bottlenecks:

  1. It reduces the amount of work (and time) required to render the initial view and to process updates.
  2. It reduces the memory footprint by avoiding over-allocation of DOM nodes.

Sponsors

The following wonderful companies have sponsored react-window:

Learn more about becoming a sponsor!

Install

# Yarn
yarn add react-window

# NPM
npm install --save react-window

Usage

Learn more at react-window.now.sh:

Related libraries

  • react-virtualized-auto-sizer: HOC that grows to fit all of the available space and passes the width and height values to its child.
  • react-window-infinite-loader: Helps break large data sets down into chunks that can be just-in-time loaded as they are scrolled into view. It can also be used to create infinite loading lists (e.g. Facebook or Twitter).
  • react-vtree: Lightweight and flexible solution to render large tree structures (e.g., file system).

Frequently asked questions

How is react-window different from react-virtualized?

I wrote react-virtualized several years ago. At the time, I was new to both React and the concept of windowing. Because of this, I made a few API decisions that I later came to regret. One of these was adding too many non-essential features and components. Once you add something to an open source project, removing it is pretty painful for users.

react-window is a complete rewrite of react-virtualized. I didn't try to solve as many problems or support as many use cases. Instead I focused on making the package smaller1 and faster. I also put a lot of thought into making the API (and documentation) as beginner-friendly as possible (with the caveat that windowing is still kind of an advanced use case).

If react-window provides the functionality your project needs, I would strongly recommend using it instead of react-virtualized. However if you need features that only react-virtualized provides, you have two options:

  1. Use react-virtualized. (It's still widely used by a lot of successful projects!)
  2. Create a component that decorates one of the react-window primitives and adds the functionality you need. You may even want to release this component to NPM (as its own, standalone package)! 🙂

1 - Adding a react-virtualized list to a CRA project increases the (gzipped) build size by ~33.5 KB. Adding a react-window list to a CRA project increases the (gzipped) build size by <2 KB.

Can a list or a grid fill 100% the width or height of a page?

Yes. I recommend using the react-virtualized-auto-sizer package:

screen shot 2019-03-07 at 7 29 08 pm

Here's a Code Sandbox demo.

Why is my list blank when I scroll?

If your list looks something like this...

...then you probably forgot to use the style parameter! Libraries like react-window work by absolutely positioning the list items (via an inline style), so don't forget to attach it to the DOM element you render!

screen shot 2019-03-07 at 7 21 48 pm

Can I lazy load data for my list?

Yes. I recommend using the react-window-infinite-loader package:

screen shot 2019-03-07 at 7 32 32 pm

Here's a Code Sandbox demo.

Can I attach custom properties or event handlers?

Yes, using the outerElementType prop.

Screen Shot 2019-03-12 at 8 58 09 AM

Here's a Code Sandbox demo.

Can I add padding to the top and bottom of a list?

Yes, although it requires a bit of inline styling.

Screen Shot 2019-06-02 at 8 38 18 PM

Here's a Code Sandbox demo.

Can I add gutter or padding between items?

Yes, although it requires a bit of inline styling.

Screen Shot 2019-03-26 at 6 33 56 PM

Here's a Code Sandbox demo.

Does this library support "sticky" items?

Yes, although it requires a small amount of user code. Here's a Code Sandbox demo.

License

MIT © bvaughn