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Guide · Open source

How to use react-window: render long lists and tables in React

Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data

react-window is a TypeScript component library for React that renders long lists and tabular data without the slowdowns that come from drawing thousands of items at once. This guide is for React developers whose pages stutter when showing many rows. After reading it you will know what the library is for, what it needs to run, how to get it into a project, and when a different tool may fit better.

react-windowbvaughn/react-window · ★ 17.2k · MIT

Quick start

  1. 1Check prerequisites. Confirm that Node.js and React are available in your project.
  2. 2Get the library. Install react-window with your package manager, or clone the repository as shown in the source README.
  3. 3Read the homepage docs. Open https://react-window.vercel.app/ to find the component API and examples.
  4. 4Plan your data. Decide how many rows you render and the height of each row.
  5. 5Build a list component. Render only the visible portion of your data using the library's components.
  6. 6Test with real data. Load a large dataset and check that scrolling stays smooth.

What react-window does and who it is for

react-window is a component library that helps render large lists of data quickly, avoiding the performance problems that often come with rendering a lot of data. The README says it is used in places such as React DevTools and the Replay browser.

It is a code library for developers building React interfaces. It is not a finished app or a tool non-developers can run on their own.

  • Good fit: React developers showing long lists or large tables in a web interface.
  • Good fit: teams whose pages slow down or stutter when rendering many rows.
  • Not a fit: projects that do not use React, because the components are built for React.
  • Not a fit: teams that need built-in sorting and editing, since the README describes only rendering components.

What you need before installing react-window

The prerequisites listed for this project are Node.js and React. Make sure both are set up in the project you plan to add react-window to.

  • Node.js
  • React

Install react-window in your project

The source README gives a clone command for the repository. If you are adding the library to an existing React project, the usual route is your package manager, which is how this project is listed as installed. Check the project's homepage at https://react-window.vercel.app/ for current setup details.

git clone https://github.com/bvaughn/react-window

Render a long list with react-window

The core idea is that react-window renders only the portion of a long list that is visible, instead of creating every row up front. The source README confirms the purpose of the library but does not include a usage example, so consult the homepage and the repository for the component API and code samples before writing your own list.

  • Plan your list data first: know how many items there are and the height of each row.
  • Keep row rendering simple so each visible row is cheap to draw.
  • Use the homepage documentation for the exact component props.

Know how react-window compares to other options

Several projects solve a similar problem. The comparable projects named for this item are react-virtualized, TanStack Virtual and react-virtuoso. Choose based on your needs: react-window is described here as a small, focused component library rather than a full data grid.

  • react-virtualized: a comparable project for virtualised lists.
  • TanStack Virtual: a comparable project for virtualised rendering.
  • react-virtuoso: a comparable project for virtualised lists.
  • react-window: a small, focused library for rendering lists and tabular data in React.

What people use it for

  • Showing a long feed or list of records in a React web interface.
  • Displaying a large table of rows where rendering all rows at once slows the page.
  • Building internal dashboards that list thousands of items.
  • Adding a focused list or table component to a React project without adopting a full data grid.

Frequently asked questions

Is react-window free to use?

react-window is licensed under the MIT licence, as stated in this directory's listing. Check the licence file in the repository for the full terms.

What do I need to use react-window?

The prerequisites listed are Node.js and React. It is a code library, so you need to be comfortable adding it to a React project.

How do I install react-window?

The package-manager install method is listed for this project, and the source README includes a git clone command for the repository. Refer to the homepage at https://react-window.vercel.app/ for current setup steps.

Is react-window written in TypeScript?

Yes, the project's language is listed as TypeScript. It is a component library for React.

What are alternatives to react-window?

The comparable projects listed are react-virtualized, TanStack Virtual and react-virtuoso. react-window is described as a small, focused library rather than a full data grid.

Does react-window have sorting and editing built in?

No. The README describes only rendering components, so if you need built-in sorting and editing, look for a complete data grid instead.

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Our verdict

react-window suits React developers who need to show long lists or large tables without slow rendering and who want a small, focused library. It is not a good choice for non-developers, projects not built on React, or teams that need a complete data grid with sorting and editing out of the box.

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