react-window vs react-virtualized vs react-infinite-scroller
React Infinite Scrolling Libraries
react-windowreact-virtualizedreact-infinite-scrollerSimilar Packages:
React Infinite Scrolling Libraries

These libraries are designed to efficiently render large lists of data in React applications, enhancing user experience by loading content dynamically as the user scrolls. They help manage performance issues associated with rendering extensive datasets by implementing virtualization techniques, which only render items that are currently visible in the viewport. This approach minimizes the number of DOM nodes created, leading to improved performance and responsiveness in applications that deal with large datasets.

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react-window3,613,11516,985206 kB1a month agoMIT
react-virtualized1,242,77827,0362.24 MB110 months agoMIT
react-infinite-scroller429,4053,30830.3 kB98-MIT
Feature Comparison: react-window vs react-virtualized vs react-infinite-scroller

Performance Optimization

  • react-window:

    react-window provides efficient rendering by only displaying items that are currently in the viewport, similar to react-virtualized but with a smaller footprint. It is optimized for performance with a simpler API, making it easy to integrate into applications.

  • react-virtualized:

    react-virtualized excels in performance by rendering only the visible items in the list, significantly reducing the number of DOM nodes and improving rendering speed. It supports features like dynamic row heights and cell caching, making it suitable for complex data presentations.

  • react-infinite-scroller:

    react-infinite-scroller optimizes performance by loading additional items only when the user approaches the end of the list, reducing the initial load time and memory usage. However, it does not implement virtualization, which may lead to performance issues with very large datasets.

Ease of Use

  • react-window:

    react-window strikes a balance between simplicity and functionality. It offers a straightforward API that is easy to grasp, making it accessible for developers while still providing the essential features needed for efficient list rendering.

  • react-virtualized:

    react-virtualized has a steeper learning curve due to its extensive feature set and configuration options. While powerful, it may require more time to understand and implement effectively, especially for developers unfamiliar with virtualization concepts.

  • react-infinite-scroller:

    react-infinite-scroller is designed for ease of use, with a simple API that allows developers to quickly implement infinite scrolling without much configuration. It is particularly user-friendly for those new to React or those who require a quick solution.

Flexibility and Customization

  • react-window:

    react-window offers a good level of customization while maintaining simplicity. It allows developers to adjust item sizes and styles easily, making it adaptable for various use cases without overwhelming complexity.

  • react-virtualized:

    react-virtualized provides extensive customization capabilities, allowing developers to create complex layouts and behaviors. Its flexibility makes it suitable for a wide range of applications, from simple lists to intricate data grids.

  • react-infinite-scroller:

    react-infinite-scroller offers limited customization options, focusing primarily on infinite scrolling. It is best suited for applications that require a straightforward implementation without extensive customization needs.

Community and Support

  • react-window:

    react-window, being a more recent library, has a growing community and good documentation. While it may not have as extensive a support network as react-virtualized, it is gaining traction and has sufficient resources for most common use cases.

  • react-virtualized:

    react-virtualized boasts a larger community and extensive documentation, providing ample resources for developers. This support can be invaluable for troubleshooting and finding best practices when implementing complex features.

  • react-infinite-scroller:

    react-infinite-scroller has a smaller community compared to the other two libraries, which may result in fewer resources and examples available for troubleshooting and implementation guidance.

Use Cases

  • react-window:

    react-window is perfect for straightforward lists and grids where performance is essential, but the complexity of features is not required. It works well for applications that prioritize speed and simplicity.

  • react-virtualized:

    react-virtualized is best suited for applications with complex data presentations, such as dashboards or data tables, where performance and flexibility are crucial due to the large volume of data being displayed.

  • react-infinite-scroller:

    react-infinite-scroller is ideal for applications that require simple infinite scrolling, such as social media feeds or image galleries, where loading more items as the user scrolls is the primary requirement.

How to Choose: react-window vs react-virtualized vs react-infinite-scroller
  • react-window:

    Select react-window for a lightweight alternative to react-virtualized, focusing on simplicity and performance. It is ideal for applications that need basic virtualization without the overhead of additional features, making it a great choice for straightforward lists.

  • react-virtualized:

    Opt for react-virtualized if you require advanced features such as windowing, dynamic row heights, and complex grid layouts. It provides a comprehensive set of components for efficiently rendering large lists and tables, making it suitable for applications with complex data structures.

  • react-infinite-scroller:

    Choose react-infinite-scroller if you need a simple and straightforward solution for implementing infinite scrolling in your application. It is easy to set up and works well for lists where you want to load more items as the user scrolls down.

README for react-window

react-window

react-window is a component library that helps render large lists of data quickly and without the performance problems that often go along with rendering a lot of data. It's used in a lot of places, from React DevTools to the Replay browser.

Support

If you like this project there are several ways to support it:

The following wonderful companies and individuals have sponsored react-window:

Installation

Begin by installing the library from NPM:

npm install react-window

TypeScript types

TypeScript definitions are included within the published dist folder

Documentation

Documentation for this project is available at react-window.vercel.app; version 1.x documentation can be found at react-window-v1.vercel.app.

List

Required props

NameDescription
rowComponent

React component responsible for rendering a row.

This component will receive an index and style prop by default. Additionally it will receive prop values passed to rowProps.

ℹ️ The prop types for this component are exported as RowComponentProps

rowCount

Number of items to be rendered in the list.

rowHeight

Row height; the following formats are supported:

  • number of pixels (number)
  • percentage of the grid's current height (string)
  • function that returns the row height (in pixels) given an index and cellProps
  • dynamic row height cache returned by the useDynamicRowHeight hook

⚠️ Dynamic row heights are not as efficient as predetermined sizes. It's recommended to provide your own height values if they can be determined ahead of time.

rowProps

Additional props to be passed to the row-rendering component. List will automatically re-render rows when values in this object change.

⚠️ This object must not contain ariaAttributes, index, or style props.

Optional props

NameDescription
className

CSS class name.

style

Optional CSS properties. The list of rows will fill the height defined by this style.

children

Additional content to be rendered within the list (above cells). This property can be used to render things like overlays or tooltips.

defaultHeight

Default height of list for initial render. This value is important for server rendering.

listRef

Ref used to interact with this component's imperative API.

This API has imperative methods for scrolling and a getter for the outermost DOM element.

ℹ️ The useListRef and useListCallbackRef hooks are exported for convenience use in TypeScript projects.

onResize

Callback notified when the List's outermost HTMLElement resizes. This may be used to (re)scroll a row into view.

onRowsRendered

Callback notified when the range of visible rows changes.

overscanCount

How many additional rows to render outside of the visible area. This can reduce visual flickering near the edges of a list when scrolling.

tagName

Can be used to override the root HTML element rendered by the List component. The default value is "div", meaning that List renders an HTMLDivElement as its root.

⚠️ In most use cases the default ARIA roles are sufficient and this prop is not needed.

Grid

Required props

NameDescription
cellComponent

React component responsible for rendering a cell.

This component will receive an index and style prop by default. Additionally it will receive prop values passed to cellProps.

ℹ️ The prop types for this component are exported as CellComponentProps

cellProps

Additional props to be passed to the cell-rendering component. Grid will automatically re-render cells when values in this object change.

⚠️ This object must not contain ariaAttributes, columnIndex, rowIndex, or style props.

columnCount

Number of columns to be rendered in the grid.

columnWidth

Column width; the following formats are supported:

  • number of pixels (number)
  • percentage of the grid's current width (string)
  • function that returns the row width (in pixels) given an index and cellProps
rowCount

Number of rows to be rendered in the grid.

rowHeight

Row height; the following formats are supported:

  • number of pixels (number)
  • percentage of the grid's current height (string)
  • function that returns the row height (in pixels) given an index and cellProps

Optional props

NameDescription
className

CSS class name.

dir

Corresponds to the HTML dir attribute: https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Reference/Global_attributes/dir

style

Optional CSS properties. The grid of cells will fill the height and width defined by this style.

children

Additional content to be rendered within the grid (above cells). This property can be used to render things like overlays or tooltips.

defaultHeight

Default height of grid for initial render. This value is important for server rendering.

defaultWidth

Default width of grid for initial render. This value is important for server rendering.

gridRef

Ref used to interact with this component's imperative API.

This API has imperative methods for scrolling and a getter for the outermost DOM element.

ℹ️ The useGridRef and useGridCallbackRef hooks are exported for convenience use in TypeScript projects.

onCellsRendered

Callback notified when the range of rendered cells changes.

onResize

Callback notified when the Grid's outermost HTMLElement resizes. This may be used to (re)scroll a cell into view.

overscanCount

How many additional rows/columns to render outside of the visible area. This can reduce visual flickering near the edges of a grid when scrolling.

tagName

Can be used to override the root HTML element rendered by the List component. The default value is "div", meaning that List renders an HTMLDivElement as its root.

⚠️ In most use cases the default ARIA roles are sufficient and this prop is not needed.