React Performance Hacks: 7 Tips You Need to Know

Do you want to extract the highest possible value from your React applications? You have come to the ideal place. This blog post provides seven essential suggestions to help optimize React performance. We will explain how to quicken your application and make sure it functions as best as possible. Topics of discussion include decreasing unneeded re-renders, utilizing memoization, and implementing PureComponent. Read further to gain knowledge about extracting the utmost value from your React applications and sustaining them to function smoothly.

1) Use the production build

When working with React, it's imperative to keep in mind to incorporate the production build when you are ready to send your application. The production build has been maximized for performance and is much swifter than the development build. Furthermore, it diminishes the magnitude of your package and has fewer debugging capabilities making it highly efficient.
In order to make a production build, run the command "npm run build" in your terminal. This will form a folder named "build" which consists of all the required documents for production deployment. Ensure that you encompass this folder when sending your application.

Incorporating the production build will heighten the effectiveness of your React application. It eliminates redundant debugging features and diminishes the size of your bundle, making it more prompt and competent. Remember to apply the production build when deploying your application for optimal performance.

2) Use memoization

Memoization is a programming technique that stores the results of expensive function calls and returns the cached result when the same inputs occur again. It is an optimization technique that can help improve the performance of React applications.

When a components props or state changes, React re-renders the component. This can be expensive, as it might involve making API calls, executing complex algorithms, or manipulating large data structures. Memoization can help by caching the results of a function call and returning it without having to re-execute the computation.

This is particularly useful for components that have expensive render functions, as memoization prevents the need to recompute expensive calculations for every render pass. Additionally, memoization can also be used to cache API responses so that redundant API calls are not made.

There are several libraries available for memoization in React such as lodash/memoize and reselect. To use one of these libraries, you simply need to wrap the function call inside the library's function call.

For example, if you wanted to memoize a function named calculateNumber:
const calculateNumber = (a, b) => { //Do some expensive computation here }
const memoizedCalculateNumber = memoize(calculateNumber);
When memoizedCalculateNumber is called with the same parameters, it will return the cached result instead of re-computing the result.

By using memoization in your React application, you can reduce the amount of unnecessary re-renders and improve performance. It is especially useful for components with expensive render functions and components that make frequent API requests.

3) Use PureComponent

PureComponent is an optimal choice to upgrade React performance. Essentially, it is an ordinary component that employs the shouldComponentUpdate lifecycle technique with a superficial assessment of props and state. Thus, when props or state are offered to a PureComponent, a shallow comparison of the present values to the fresh ones will take place. If the values remain the same, the component will not be re-rendered. This helps to avoid superfluous rendering, thus enhancing application performance.

It is imperative to realize, however, that PureComponents merely do superficial examinations. If objects or arrays are assigned as props or state, they must be unaltered for this system to work correctly. If these are modifiable, the shallow comparison will continually give back false, even if the values have not been changed.

Utilizing PureComponents can be an efficacious way to augment performance in React applications. However, be sure to affirm that any objects and arrays being assigned as props or state are immutable, or else the shallow comparison may generate undesired consequences.

4) Use the shouldComponentUpdate lifecycle method

The shouldComponentUpdate lifecycle method is an effective way to enhance the efficiency of React performance. It allows you to decide whether a component needs to be re-rendered or not, so as to keep away from futile re-rendering of components with same state and props. With the shouldComponentUpdate method incorporated into your React application, you can maximize the application's efficiency by keeping away from unnecessary re-rendering.
When this method is put into effect, it evaluates if any props or state has changed, then chooses whether or not to render the component.
As an illustration, when the list of items on your application does not undergo changes, the shouldComponentUpdate lifecycle method can be used to prevent unneeded re-rendering. Moreover, it can be utilized to confirm if a prop has shifted and re-render the component solely when it is essential.

The shouldComponentUpdate lifecycle method enables you to amplify the performance of your React application by steering clear of superfluous re-rendering of components that remain constant. As such, it is an invaluable tool that must be exploited when feasible.
*Read More: Top React Libraries You Should Try in 2023
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5) Use the react-addons-perf package

React has provided a powerful and helpful tool in the form of react-addons-perf that allows users to gauge and examine the efficiency of their React applications. This package offers an uncomplicated means of detecting areas where there may be issues with the speed and quality of performance.

Through the react-addons-perf API, users are enabled to observe the duration that it takes for certain components to be rendered. In the event of any components taking a long time to load, this API enables developers to search for and identify areas for improvement.

Furthermore, react-addons-perf's API offers detailed insights into which lifecycle methods are causing the slow-down, making it a beneficial asset in cases involving large quantities of data and complex logic. Best of all, this open-source package is completely free, with thorough documentation to aid developers as they start their performance optimisation journey. With the API calls documented, it becomes possible to target and reduce the inefficiencies that the API identifies.

6) Use the Chrome React DevTools extension

The Chrome React DevTools extension is an incredibly useful resource for maximizing React performance. With this extension, developers have the capability to debug and monitor React applications in real-time. It offers a visual illustration of the component tree and also allows one to examine component state, props, and other elements. Furthermore, it offers the opportunity to spot potential performance problems by inspecting component re-renders and estimating their cost.

Through the extension, developers are capable of swiftly identifying inefficient code and recognizing any rendering complications. Moreover, they have the ability to recognize how data is traversing a component hierarchy to have a more profound understanding of the origin of a performance issue. Furthermore, they are able to measure component render times to figure out which components are the most expensive.

To sum up, the Chrome React DevTools extension is a highly effective tool for improving React performance. It grants an exhaustive outlook of component state, props, and other elements as well as a visibility into component re-renders and render costs, thus making it simple to discover performance concerns and upgrade application code.

7) Use webpack

Webpack is a highly efficient module bundler that assembles modules with dependencies into static assets. By configuring webpack for React, you can streamline your production build and boost performance. Furthermore, webpack can be used to segment code into multiple bundles to serve distinct parts of the application to different users. This reduces the size of each bundle, thereby amplifying performance. Moreover, webpack boasts additional performance optimization strategies such as tree shaking, code splitting, and minification. Overall, webpack is an incredibly powerful tool to use in order to amplify the speed and performance of your React applications without putting in extensive effort.

Conclusion

React is a formidable and multi-faceted instrument for developing user interfaces. But, unless it is deployed accurately, one may confront functionality challenges that could seriously impinge on the user experience. Through implementing the tips provided in this article, you can ensure your React applications are as effective and reliable as feasible. However, these hints are just the start. If you truly want to optimize React performance, you should hire front-end developers in India who can assist you to unlock the complete potential of the framework. With their help, you can ensure your React applications function optimally so your users get the best possible experience.