React has become the dominant force in modern frontend development, powering everything from small startups to massive enterprise applications. Its component-based architecture, declarative approach, and extensive ecosystem make it a favorite among developers. But as React applications grow in complexity, so do concerns about performance. Are we trading speed and efficiency for the convenience of React? Or is React unfairly blamed for performance issues that stem from improper usage? Let’s break it down.

## **1. Virtual DOM Overhead and Re-renders**

One of React’s biggest selling points is its Virtual DOM, which minimizes direct DOM manipulations by batching updates. In theory, this leads to better performance. However, in practice, inefficient state management and unnecessary re-renders can lead to sluggish apps.

Consider a common mistake: unnecessary state updates triggering frequent re-renders.

```ts
const [count, setCount] = useState(0);

const increment = () => {
  setCount(count + 1); *// Causes component re-render every click*
};

return (
  <button onClick={increment}>Clicked {count} times\</button>
);
```

This may seem harmless, but imagine a scenario where a large component tree is being re-rendered unnecessarily because of a deeply nested state update. The performance impact compounds quickly.

Another example is passing new object references as props, causing child components to re-render when they don’t need to:

```ts
const Parent = () => {
  const data = { value: 42 }; // New object reference on every render
  return <Child data={data} />;
};
```

Using **useMemo** or **useCallback** can help mitigate these issues.

## **2. Optimizations Exist, But They’re Underused**

React provides several built-in tools to improve performance, yet many developers either don’t use them or misuse them. Features like memoization (**React.memo**, **useMemo**, **useCallback**), lazy loading (**React.lazy**, **Suspense**), and code splitting can significantly boost app speed, but they require conscious effort. For example, memoizing components prevents unnecessary re-renders:

```ts
const Child = React.memo(({ data }) => {
  console.log("Rendering Child");
  return <div>{data.value}\</div>;
});
```

Yet, many React apps don’t implement these optimizations, leading to bloated and sluggish interfaces. React itself isn’t slow—it’s the way we use it.

For a deeper dive into React performance optimizations, check out my blog post:[ <u>React Performance Optimization Strategies</u>](https://aexol.com/posts/react-performance/).

## **3. Over-Reliance on Client-Side Rendering**

One of React’s biggest performance drawbacks stems from client-side rendering (CSR). In CSR-heavy applications, the browser must download JavaScript, execute it, and then render the page, leading to slow time-to-first-paint and poor SEO.

This is where frameworks like Next.js and Remix step in, offering server-side rendering (SSR) and static site generation (SSG) to mitigate React’s rendering delays. Consider the difference:

* **CSR (Traditional React SPA):** Blank screen → Load JS → Render content
* **SSR (Next.js):** Server sends pre-rendered content → Hydrate on client
* **SSG (Next.js, Astro):** Pre-built pages served instantly

Adopting SSR/SSG can significantly improve perceived performance, yet many teams continue to build monolithic SPAs that struggle with load times.

## **4. Is React the Problem, or Are We the Problem?**

React itself isn’t inherently slow—poor implementation is. The real issue is:

1. **Developers ignoring performance best practices** (e.g., not memoizing components, inefficient state management).
2. **Overuse of client-side rendering** when SSR/SSG could be better suited.
3. **Unnecessary JavaScript bloat**—many React projects ship excessive JavaScript due to bundling everything into one massive file.

### **How to Fix It**

* Use **React.memo, useMemo, and useCallback** to prevent unnecessary renders.
* Prefer **server-side rendering (SSR) or static generation (SSG)** for faster initial loads.
* **Reduce bundle size** with code splitting, tree shaking, and lazy loading.
* Avoid excessive global state—use **context selectively** and rely on **local state where possible**.

Profile and debug with **React DevTools**, checking for unnecessary renders.

## **5. Verdict: React Isn’t the Villain - Bad Practices Are**

React isn’t killing web performance—poor optimization habits are. When used correctly, React can deliver highly performant applications. But developers need to take responsibility for how they structure state, manage rendering, and ship JavaScript.

So, is React slow? Not inherently. However, if your React application is experiencing performance issues, it may be worth evaluating your implementation.

Is React Killing Web Performance?


In the evolving landscape of front-end development, state management libraries are at the heart of building robust, scalable applications. Over the years, developers have had a plethora of tools to choose from, ranging from the classic Redux to newer contenders like Zustand, Recoil, and Jotai. Yet, as the front-end ecosystem has grown, many developers have labeled Redux as "outdated" or "too complex" and opted for seemingly simpler solutions. But is Redux really obsolete, or is it simply being misused?

Let’s take a closer look at the state of state management, the reasons behind Redux’s diminishing popularity, and how you can use it effectively without falling into common pitfalls.

## **The Current Landscape of State Management Libraries**

State management has never been a one-size-fits-all scenario. As applications grow in complexity, developers often face challenges in maintaining state consistency, scalability, and performance. Modern libraries like Zustand, Recoil, and Jotai have gained traction because they offer:

1. **Simplified APIs:** These libraries reduce boilerplate, making it quicker to implement and manage state.
2. **Fine-grained reactivity:** Zustand and Jotai, for instance, allow for selective updates, ensuring only components dependent on specific pieces of state re-render.
3. **Modern React paradigms:** These libraries align closely with React’s modern features, such as hooks, context, and concurrent rendering.

In contrast, Redux’s verbose syntax and perceived complexity have led developers to dismiss it as antiquated. However, this perception is often rooted in misapplication rather than inherent flaws.

## **Why Redux Fell Out of Favor**

1. **Boilerplate Overhead:** Early Redux implementations required a significant amount of boilerplate code for actions, reducers, and selectors. This led to frustration, especially for smaller projects where such structure felt over-engineered.


2. **Misuse as a Global Store:** Many developers adopted Redux to manage all application state, including local UI state, which added unnecessary complexity. Redux is best suited for managing **global state** that spans across components, such as authentication, user settings, or shared data between distant parts of an application.


3. **React’s Built-in Solutions:** React itself has evolved to include excellent solutions for state management. With tools like **useState,** **useReducer,** and **useContext,** many state management needs can be addressed natively without requiring additional libraries. These solutions are often simpler and more aligned with React’s core principles.
4. **Slow Adoption of Modern Features:** For a time, Redux lagged in adopting modern React patterns. With the advent of hooks and functional components, other libraries integrated these paradigms more seamlessly.
5. **Lack of Guidance:** Redux’s flexibility is both its strength and its downfall. Without clear guidance, developers often misuse it, leading to poorly structured and hard-to-maintain applications.

## **Making Redux Work for You**

Redux remains a powerful and viable state management solution when used correctly. Here’s how to make the most of it:

### **1. Embrace Redux Toolkit**

Redux Toolkit (RTK) addresses many of the issues developers faced with vanilla Redux. It simplifies common patterns, reduces boilerplate, and includes utilities like:

* **createSlice:** Combines actions and reducers into a single definition.
* **createAsyncThunk:** Streamlines async operations and side effects.
* **immer:** Handles immutable updates without the complexity of writing pure functions manually.

By adopting RTK, you can achieve the same structure and scalability as classic Redux with a fraction of the code.

### **2. Focus on Global State**

Reserve Redux for managing state that truly needs to be global. Use React’s **useState** or **useReducer** hooks for local component state. By compartmentalizing state management, you can reduce unnecessary complexity and improve maintainability.

### **3. Leverage Modern React Features**

Take advantage of React’s concurrent features and hooks. For example:

* Use **useSelector** with memoization libraries like Reselect to optimize component re-renders.
* Combine Redux with context selectively for specific use cases, such as sharing theme settings or locale data.

### **4. Keep Middleware Lightweight**

While tools like Redux-Saga and Redux-Thunk are powerful, they’re not always necessary. Consider simpler alternatives, such as RTK Query, for managing API calls and caching. This reduces complexity and keeps your codebase lean.

### **5. Measure Before You Replace**

Switching to a new library often introduces a new learning curve and technical debt. Evaluate whether the benefits of moving away from Redux outweigh the cost. In many cases, optimizing your existing Redux implementation can yield better results than migrating to a new solution.

## **Conclusion**

Redux isn’t dead - it’s **evolving**. The introduction of Redux Toolkit has made it more accessible and efficient, ensuring it remains a relevant option for state management in modern applications. The key is to use it wisely, reserving it for scenarios where its architecture truly shines. By adopting best practices and leveraging modern tools, you can harness the power of Redux without falling into the traps that give it a bad reputation.

So before you declare Redux obsolete, take a step back and ask: Am I using it correctly?

Posts by Tomasz Gajda