?? Boosting React Native Performance with InteractionManager ??

As React Native developers, providing a smooth and responsive user experience is a top priority. But what happens when animations or user interactions are interrupted by complex tasks?

Several built-in features are available that help developers optimize their apps for performance. One such feature is the?InteractionManager ??

What is InteractionManager?

InteractionManager is a powerful utility in React Native that allows developers to delay specific tasks until after user interactions, like animations, are completed. By using this tool, we can prioritize user interactions and ensure smooth, jank-free experiences.

How Does InteractionManager.runAfterInteractions() Work?

The primary method, InteractionManager.runAfterInteractions(), takes a function as an argument and delays its execution until after any ongoing animations or interactions finish. This approach lets animations or transitions complete first, making the application feel more polished and responsive.

Why use runAfterInteractions()?

• Improved User Experience: Your app feels smoother and more responsive, which leads to a more polished, professional feel.
• Enhanced App Performance: By delaying complex tasks, you reduce the load on the main thread during animations, making the app run more efficiently.

Here’s a general overview of how InteractionManager works in React Native:

1. Import the InteractionManager module:

import { InteractionManager } from 'react-native';        

2. Schedule tasks using the runAfterInteractions() method:

InteractionManager.runAfterInteractions(() => {
  // Your code to run after interactions
});        

Example: Delaying Expensive Operations in a Component

import React, { useEffect, useState } from 'react';
import { View, Text, InteractionManager, ActivityIndicator } from 'react-native';

const Component = () => {
  const [isLoading, setIsLoading] = useState(true);
  const [data, setData] = useState(null);

  useEffect(() => {
    InteractionManager.runAfterInteractions(() => {
      const result = performExpensiveComputation();

      fetch('https://api.example.com/data')
        .then(response => response.json())
        .then(apiData => {
          setData(apiData);
          setIsLoading(false);
        })
        .catch(error => {
          console.error(error);
          setIsLoading(false);
        });
    });
  }, []);

  const performExpensiveComputation = () => {
    let result = 0;
    for (let i = 0; i < 1000000000; i++) {
      result += i;
    }
    return result;
  };

  return (
    <View>
      {isLoading ? (
        <ActivityIndicator size="large" />
      ) : (
        <View>
          <Text>My Component</Text>
          {data && (
            <Text>Data: {JSON.stringify(data)}</Text>
          )}
        </View>
      )}
    </View>
  );
};

export default Component;
        

In this example:

• Expensive Operations: We simulate a computationally intensive task and a network request, both delayed until the animations are complete.
• Improved UI: The UI remains responsive while waiting for these operations to finish.

Using InteractionManager effectively can transform the responsiveness of your app. It helps prioritize animations and user interactions, creating a seamless, lag-free experience. Whether you’re handling data fetching or processing intensive computations, runAfterInteractions ensures your app remains smooth and polished. Give it a try in your React Native projects for a noticeable improvement!