Site performance and content delivery are two factors that dictate whether a visitor stays and interacts or hits backspace and disappears. Today, users expect the content to load correctly fast, and there is room for websites with not-so-decent dwell time.
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React suspense is an enhancement with which you can write more responsive and smoother web applications. Before React 16, React.lazy() enabled developers to classify and differentiate between speedy components and their sluggish counterparts, and any element labeled lazy was downloaded first and rendered second.
However, React 18 brought some cool new enhancements like React suspense to the mainstream. The functionality has launched in React 16 yet picked up steam two updates later. So, without further ado, let’s explore React suspense, its use cases, and some mistakes to avoid when you turn to use them.
React suspense is a low-level interface that delays rendering to enhance the end-user experience. Its use improves user experience by stopping a partially-loaded webpage from displaying half-cooked. Even though it extends the wait time, the delay is often worth the wait as the final product is a rightly loaded webpage.
Yet still, it is better to display it right than to load empty spaces fast. Adding React suspense, as a wrapper to an expensive element, helps resolve such issues and makes the webpage more responsive.
Let’s understand how React suspense works with an example. In the code below, the function wraps the component that renders a logo with a fallback spinner to keep the users informed while they wait. The strategy is much better than displaying a blurry image while a clearer copy loads from the storage.
//Logo is a component that fetches an image from a CDN import Logo from '.LoadLogo.js' <Suspense fallback={<h1>Loading . . .</h1>}> <Logo /> </Suspense>
Below is another example of React suspense in action. In the example below, the feature restricts the component from displaying an empty page.
import loadData from './api/loadData.js'; const data = loadData('users.json'); <Suspense fallback={<h1>Loading . . .</h1>}> <Users /> </Suspense> const Users = () => { const people = data.read(); return ( <div> {people.map(person => { <p key={person.id}>{person.name}</p> })} </div> ); };
Many people use React suspense and Transitions APIs interchangeably. In truth, the two are similar but not the same.
React suspense tracks readiness before rendering a component and pushes forward an alternative until the original loads. On the other hand, transition API prioritizes events and dictates the order.
To understand transition API better, see how a search engine delays the result from loading until the user presses enter. Below is the code to see how Transitions API work in React.
import {startTransition} from 'react'; // Set the input value but don't initiate the search setInputValue(input); startTransition(() => { // Set the final search value, then initiate search setSearchQuery(input); });
When used correctly, React suspense component can make a massive difference and elevate webpage performance and user experience. Below are three use cases where the feature works like a charm.
– For rendering media – Media download from an external server to a client’s site takes up time, even more when the bandwidth is low. React suspense can be used here to add a fallback option while users wait for the content to download.
– For external data fetching – Much like media download, fetching data from external sources also takes time due to concurrency issues and race conditions.
– Code splitting – Here React suspense component can be used to execute content delivery on demand or in parallel with others.
React suspense is no-less a game-changer, as it improves user experience and website performance. However, it is not always ideal. For instance, using the feature when you must use an API like Transition defeats its purpose and makes it futile.
So, it is essential to understand when and when not to use React suspense. When used correctly, the feature can ensure users or clients don’t get frustrated with half-cooked images and media on a webpage.
In the absence of React suspense, React, by default, loads a blurry component or image until the original loads. Adding a spinner or loader via React suspense here can change the game and ensure the users don’t leave the site annoyed.
Also Read: Understanding React useMemo Hook With Example
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