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

These libraries are designed to optimize the rendering of large lists or collections of data in React applications. They help improve performance by rendering only the visible items in a list, thus reducing the number of DOM nodes created and improving the overall user experience. Infinite scrolling libraries allow for dynamic loading of content as the user scrolls, enhancing the interactivity of applications that display large datasets.

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react-window3,326,44916,601896 kB37 months agoMIT
react-virtualized1,267,80726,8532.24 MB16 months agoMIT
react-infinite-scroll-component789,7852,998-1974 years agoMIT
react-virtual424,4046,192158 kB73-MIT
virtua113,5342,8931.28 MB77a month agoMIT
Feature Comparison: react-window vs react-virtualized vs react-infinite-scroll-component vs react-virtual vs virtua

Performance Optimization

  • react-window:

    Similar to react-virtualized, react-window focuses on rendering only the visible items in a list or grid. It is designed to be lightweight and efficient, making it a great choice for applications that need to maintain high performance with large datasets.

  • react-virtualized:

    With a variety of optimization techniques, react-virtualized can handle large datasets efficiently. It includes features like windowing and lazy loading, which ensure that only the necessary items are rendered, significantly enhancing performance for complex UIs.

  • react-infinite-scroll-component:

    This package focuses on loading more data as the user scrolls, minimizing the initial load time and improving perceived performance. It handles loading states efficiently, ensuring a smooth user experience without overwhelming the DOM.

  • react-virtual:

    react-virtual optimizes rendering by only creating DOM nodes for items that are currently visible in the viewport. This leads to significant performance improvements, especially with very large lists, as it reduces the number of elements in the DOM.

  • virtua:

    virtua offers advanced performance optimizations, allowing developers to customize the rendering behavior and performance characteristics. It is designed for applications that require a high degree of control over how items are rendered and updated.

Ease of Use

  • react-window:

    react-window is designed to be user-friendly, with a clean API that simplifies the process of implementing virtualization. It strikes a balance between performance and ease of use, making it accessible for most developers.

  • react-virtualized:

    While powerful, react-virtualized has a steeper learning curve due to its extensive features. Developers may need to invest more time to fully utilize its capabilities, especially for complex use cases.

  • react-infinite-scroll-component:

    This package is straightforward to implement, requiring minimal setup. It provides a simple API that allows developers to quickly add infinite scrolling to their components without extensive configuration.

  • react-virtual:

    react-virtual has a simple API that makes it easy to integrate into existing applications. Its minimalistic approach allows developers to get started quickly without a steep learning curve.

  • virtua:

    virtua provides a flexible API that allows for customization, but it may require a deeper understanding of virtualization concepts. It is best suited for developers who need specific optimizations and are comfortable with more complex configurations.

Feature Set

  • react-window:

    react-window provides essential virtualization features with a focus on simplicity. It supports fixed and variable item sizes, making it versatile for various use cases while maintaining a lightweight footprint.

  • react-virtualized:

    react-virtualized includes a rich set of features such as support for variable row heights, cell rendering, and dynamic loading of data. It is ideal for applications that require comprehensive virtualization capabilities.

  • react-infinite-scroll-component:

    This library primarily focuses on infinite scrolling, providing essential features like loading indicators and threshold settings for triggering new data loads. It is ideal for applications that need basic infinite scroll functionality without additional overhead.

  • react-virtual:

    react-virtual offers a minimal feature set focused on virtualization, making it lightweight and efficient. It is suitable for applications that require basic virtualization without the need for advanced features.

  • virtua:

    virtua offers a customizable feature set that allows developers to fine-tune the virtualization experience. It is best for applications that require specific performance optimizations and flexibility in rendering.

Community and Support

  • react-window:

    react-window benefits from a supportive community and clear documentation, making it accessible for developers. Its popularity is increasing, ensuring ongoing support and updates.

  • react-virtualized:

    With a larger user base and extensive documentation, react-virtualized has strong community support. Many resources and examples are available, making it easier for developers to troubleshoot and implement advanced features.

  • react-infinite-scroll-component:

    This package has a growing community and is well-documented, making it easy for developers to find support and resources. It is actively maintained, ensuring compatibility with the latest React versions.

  • react-virtual:

    react-virtual is relatively new but has gained traction for its simplicity and performance. The community is growing, and documentation is clear, helping developers implement it effectively.

  • virtua:

    virtua is less widely adopted compared to others, but it offers good documentation and support for developers willing to explore its features. Community engagement is growing, which may lead to more resources in the future.

Customization

  • react-window:

    react-window strikes a balance between customization and simplicity, allowing developers to adjust item sizes and rendering behavior without overwhelming complexity.

  • react-virtualized:

    react-virtualized provides extensive customization options, allowing developers to tailor the virtualization experience to their specific needs. It is ideal for complex applications that require detailed control over rendering.

  • react-infinite-scroll-component:

    This library offers limited customization options, focusing on ease of use. It is suitable for developers who need a quick solution without extensive customization requirements.

  • react-virtual:

    react-virtual allows for some customization but is primarily focused on performance. It is best for developers who want a straightforward solution with minimal configuration.

  • virtua:

    virtua excels in customization, enabling developers to define their own rendering logic and performance optimizations. It is best suited for applications that require a tailored approach to virtualization.

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

    Choose react-window for a modern and lightweight alternative to react-virtualized. It provides a simpler API and is optimized for rendering large lists and grids, making it a great choice for projects that prioritize performance and ease of use without sacrificing functionality.

  • react-virtualized:

    Opt for react-virtualized if you need a comprehensive library that offers a wide range of features for virtualization, including support for tables, grids, and lists. It is suitable for complex applications that require advanced functionality and customization options for rendering large datasets.

  • react-infinite-scroll-component:

    Choose this package if you need a simple solution for implementing infinite scrolling in your application. It is easy to use and integrates well with any list component, making it suitable for projects that require a straightforward infinite scroll feature without complex configurations.

  • react-virtual:

    Select react-virtual if you want a lightweight solution for rendering large lists with virtualization. It is designed for high performance and minimal overhead, making it ideal for applications that require efficient rendering of large datasets without the need for extensive features.

  • virtua:

    Select virtua if you are looking for a highly customizable virtualization solution that allows for fine-tuning of performance and rendering behavior. It is suitable for applications that require a tailored approach to virtualization and can benefit from its flexibility.

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