React Infinite Scrolling Libraries Comparison
react-window vs react-virtualized vs react-infinite-scroller
1 Year
react-windowreact-virtualizedreact-infinite-scrollerSimilar Packages:
What's 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-window1,958,53615,999896 kB3a year agoMIT
react-virtualized929,46526,4502.2 MB32 years agoMIT
react-infinite-scroller372,5443,29830.3 kB97-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 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