Why should you use React Redux?

As technology advances, users expect more advanced features and improved performance to the software they are using. Every month new frameworks, tools, and libraries came to the market for web development. But it is not a sensible thing on your part to jump on every single one of them without knowing their benefits. Though Redux is not a new concept, it is nevertheless quite popular. Here we’ll discuss all react-redux, and Why you should use React Redux?

What is Redux?

Redux has been created to help you write javascript apps consistently across server, client, and native environments. It is mostly used as a state management tool with ReactJS development services and can be used with other javascript libraries or frameworks. It is lightweight and hence there is no need for you to be concerned about it making the asset size of your app larger. Your app’s state is kept within a store with Redux and every component can access any state required by it from the store.

Advantages of using Redux-

1. Simple debugging and testing-

Redux DevTools can be used for a better understanding of what is taking place in the application.

2. Hook monitoring tools-

It can be possible to hook monitoring tools to the state of the app to monitor in real time. This will improve your app’s visibility, and you can monitor different metrics.

3. Predictable results-

Each action generates a predictable result. State store works as the sole source of truth. So it is possible for you to stay away from data inconsistency faults and you need not be concerned about data synchronization issues between components.

4. Rapidly test reducer functions-

Reducer functions happen to be your functions, and accordingly, they will deliver the identical output for the identical input. Subsequently, it is easy to test unadulterated capacities. Consequently, it is easy to test pure functions.

Why you should use React Redux?

1. Community-

React Redux is supported by a huge community of users. This makes it quite easy to ask for help, use libraries built on top of Redux, understand the most effective practices, and use your knowledge in various app development.

2. It is as Redux UI bindings-

While it is possible to use Redux with any UI layer, it was initially intended for React use. You’ll come across UI binding layers for many other frameworks, but the reduc team is responsible to maintain directly React Redux. 

As React’s official Redux binding, React-redux is updated with any changes in API from both libraries to ensure that React components behave as expected. Design principles of React are adopted by its intended use, that is creating declarative components. 

3. Optimizations in performance-

Despite the fact that React is fast, any update made to a component will make it render every component within that part of the component tree again. It requires some work and if there is no modification in the information for any particular component, then re-rendering will be wasted as there will be no change in the requested UI output.

One of the best ways to improve the performance will be to avoid unwanted re-renders like components re-render only when their data has been modified. Various performance optimizations are implemented by React Redux internally so that component re-renders only when it is imperative to do so.

Additionally, you will ensure that each connected component just extracts the specific snippets of data from the store state required by that component by connecting a few components in the React component tree. Meaning that it will be imperative to re-render your component less frequently since, on most instances, those specific parts of information have not been changed.

When you should use Redux?

In the front-end world, there is a significant debate regarding redux. Many individuals preferred it but some others criticized it. 

Redux allows you to manage the state of your app in one place and keep the modifications in the app as easily traceable and predictable. In such a way, it becomes simpler to reason about modifications taking place in the application. But all those advantages come with constraints and trade-offs. For instance, it has been seen that Redux is responsible to add boilerplate code that helps in making simple things somewhat overwhelming. But, it significantly depends on architectural decisions. The simple reply to this query is that you will understand it for yourself once you require redux. 

In case you are still confused about whether you need it, there is no need to do so. This happens when your app will develop to the scale where it will become difficult to manage the app state, and you will be starting to search for how to make it simple and easy.

When should you not choose Redux?

If you’re a beginner, it will be a good decision to go with Redux. Applications that have simple UI changes will not need a complicated pattern like Redux on most occasions. But outdated sharing of states between various components works very well and improves the code’s maintainability.

If the data is derived from one data source in each view, you can avoid the use of Redux. If you don’t require data from multiple sources, it is not necessary to introduce redux. Because it will not result in data inconsistency problems while accessing one data source in each view.

Also, ensure to verify whether you need redux prior to applying its complexity. Keep in mind that, Redux happens to be an in-memory state store. Meaning that you will be losing the complete app state if the app crashes. Also, it means that you need to use a caching solution to create a backup for app state, which will create extra overhead.

Best practices for Redux-

Here are some best practices to follow while building large-scale applications with React and Redux.

1. Differentiate Presentational Components and Container Components.

2. Use bind action creators for dispatching actions

3. Try to avoid using setState and component lifecycle hooks when using Redux:

4.Using .bind() in best way

5. Use Accessor Functions

6. Write cleaner code using ES6 Features

7. Use Flow Types

8. Use Axios library for HTTP requests over jQuery ajax:

9. Use styled-components to style your components

10. Test your React components

11. Use ES Lint for better coding conventions.

Wrap up-

Though react-redux is not that much new, but still most of you get confused about whether to choose it or not. Hence here we came with detailed information about React Redux, its advantages, and when to use it or not to use. If you are going to develop app and are confused about Redux, this blog will surely help you in your best decision. If you’re still confused, consult with Solace experts. We are here to help you through consultation and development with React. You can hire react developers of the Solace team for effective development. Connect with solace and get a free quote for reactjs development. We will be happy to help you.

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