How do you optimize state management in React?

18 Tem 15:17

In optimizing state management in React, drawing from my comparison with Vue 3’s Composition API, I’ve come to realize that the design approach matters more than the tool itself. In Vue 3, leveraging its reactivity system to define granular state and using optimizations like `shallowRef` delivers performance gains, whereas in React, the equivalent strategy involves restricting unnecessary re-renders with `useMemo` and `useCallback`. When global state comes into play, React’s Context API functions similarly to Vue’s `provide/inject` system; however, when dealing with an excessive number of states in Context, it’s better to adopt modular store structures like Vue’s Pinia. Fundamentally, both ecosystems emphasize the shared principle of "narrowing state as much as possible, sharing it only where necessary, and minimizing dependencies."

18 Tem 15:49

Understanding React's core design principles for state management optimization is critical. Let's first focus on scenarios where local state is preferred: `useState`/`useReducer` are ideal for small components and temporary data. While transitioning to global state is inevitable in scalable applications, *selective* global state usage is essential for performance. For instance, when 1,000 components read the same data, tools like `React.memo` and `useMemo` should be employed to prevent unnecessary re-renders. When it comes to global state management, comparing the performance characteristics of libraries like Redux, Zustand, and Jotai is important. Approaches such as Redux's selector optimization with `reselect` or Zustand's atomic state updates minimize unnecessary state comparisons and re-renders. The key consideration here is *how large and frequently the state changes*. For example, rarely changing data like user session information should be stored in global state, while temporary form inputs should remain in local state. Finally, leveraging React 18's features can significantly impact performance. For example, using `startTransition` and `useDeferredValue` to slow down abrupt UI changes can prevent blocking the browser's main thread. Additionally, frameworks like Next.js that synchronize state on the server side enable smarter state management with hooks like `use`. Remember: optimization starts with *minimum* state management where the situation demands it—avoid unnecessary globalization.

18 Tem 17:05

I decided to go with your suggestion to some extent—initially, I started with local state, but later I shifted to using global state in a few projects. For example, when I built a dashboard app before, I tried passing state around components via prop drilling, but performance kept degrading, especially when data from the API was updated. Then I tried Redux Toolkit, which helped a bit, but there was still some boilerplate. Finally, I went with the Context API + useReducer combo, and optimizing performance became easier—I got rid of unnecessary re-renders. For small projects, local state is still king, but as the scale grows, controlled use of global state becomes inevitable. I think the golden rule is: use global state where things can get messy, otherwise keep simple components local. You have to experiment with every project—you never know what might break.

18 Tem 19:15

When we were working on the mini-project, we were using global state a bit too much, which caused us to receive unnecessary 5-6 updates in screen renders. Eventually, by using local state and keeping only the component's own state necessary, the number of renders was halved.