Improving performance in a React application involves optimizing rendering, reducing unnecessary re-renders, optimizing assets, and improving the efficiency of state and effect management. Here are key strategies:
- Optimize Rendering and Re-renders
- Use React.memo: Memoize functional components to prevent unnecessary re-renders when props haven't changed.
- Use useCallback & useMemo: useCallback: Memoizes functions to prevent re-creation on every render. useMemo: Memoizes expensive calculations to avoid redundant computations.
- Avoid Inline Functions and Objects in JSX: Inline functions and objects create a new reference on each render, triggering unnecessary updates.
Key Prop for Lists: Use stable and unique keys when rendering lists to help React identify changes efficiently.
Optimize State and Context Usage
Keep State Local When Possible: Global state updates trigger re-renders for all components using that state.
Use Context Sparingly: Avoid deeply nested contexts, as every update will re-render all consumers.
Use Zustand, Jotai, or Recoil Instead of Context: For global state management, these libraries are more performant than React Context.
Optimize Effects and Rendering
Remove Unnecessary useEffect Dependencies: Ensure useEffect dependencies are properly managed to avoid unnecessary re-runs.
Debounce or Throttle Expensive Operations: Use lodash.debounce or lodash.throttle for events like search input or scroll handlers.
Virtualization for Large Lists & Tables
Use React Window or React Virtualized for rendering only the visible portion of large lists, tables, or grids.
Optimize Component Updates
Batch Updates: React 18 automatically batches state updates, but in older versions, use ReactDOM.unstable_batchedUpdates().
Avoid Deeply Nested Component Trees: Flattening component structures reduces reconciliation time.
Code Splitting and Lazy Loading
Use React.lazy & Suspense: Load components only when needed.
Dynamic Imports: Split large JS bundles using import().Optimize Assets and Loading
Compress Images: Use WebP, AVIF, or optimized PNGs/JPEGs.
Lazy Load Images: Use loading="lazy" or libraries like react-lazyload.
Use SVGs Instead of PNGs: When applicable.Minify and Compress JS/CSS: Use Webpack, Terser, or ESBuild.
Optimize Network Performance
Use GraphQL with Apollo or Relay: Fetch only required data instead of over-fetching.
Reduce API Calls with Caching: Use React Query (TanStack Query) to cache responses.
Enable Gzip or Brotli Compression: Reduce file sizes for faster loading.
Optimize Web Workers and Offload Heavy Computations
Use Web Workers for CPU-intensive tasks to avoid blocking the main thread.
Use Concurrent Features in React 18+
Use React Concurrent Mode: Enables priority-based rendering.
Use startTransition: Helps defer non-urgent updates.
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