Using React Suspense + RSC to enhance the UX
Why should you care?
If you're serious about improving the user experience of your web application and staying ahead of the competition, you need to read this article. It discusses how using React Suspense and React Server Components (RSC) can make a massive difference in your app's performance and user experience. By implementing these tools,
Problem
When it comes to data fetching, there are two traditional methods that can be used without the use of React Suspense. These are fetch-on-render and fetch-then-render.
Fetch-on-render is a method where data fetching begins as soon as the component is rendered. This method is straightforward and easy to implement. However, it has one significant issue. If a component relies on data from another component, it will not start fetching data until the first component has completed its fetch operation. This results in a waterfall approach, where data fetching occurs sequentially, blocking each other. This can lead to slower loading times and a poor user experience.
?? Render Component 1 → Fetch Data → Render Component 2 → Fetch Data
Fetch-then-render is another traditional method, where data is fetched before the component is rendered. This approach can solve the issues with fetch-on-render, as all components can fetch their data simultaneously. However, this method has its own issue. If a component is not needed or is not visible, it still fetches data, leading to unnecessary network requests and slower performance.
领英推荐
?? Fetch all Data -> Render Component 1 → Render Component 2
React Suspense is a tool that can help overcome these issues and improve the user experience of your web application. By enabling components to suspend rendering while they wait for data, React Suspense can make data fetching more efficient and intuitive.
How does Suspense Work?
Suspense is a powerful tool in application development as it keeps users engaged while the data is being fetched. This feature allows the application to indicate which specific part is waiting for the data, providing users with a clear picture of what is happening behind the scenes. During the waiting period, the application can display a fallback UI, which can be customized to keep the user interested. Once the data is ready, the application updates the UI with the latest information, providing users with a satisfactory experience. Furthermore, suspense can be implemented in various aspects of the application, such as animations and image loading, to improve user experience and reduce the risk of losing their attention.
Summary
One of the main advantages of using React Suspense and React Server Components (RSC) is that data fetching is initiated as early as possible, without blocking rendering. This means that the user does not have to wait as long for the app to become responsive, which can greatly improve the overall user experience.
Another benefit of using Suspense is that it provides more intuitive loading states, eliminating the need for a lot of conditional statements in your components. This can make your code simpler and easier to read.
Suspense also prevents race conditions, which can occur when multiple components try to fetch data at the same time. By pausing rendering until the data is ready, Suspense ensures that all components get the data they need at the same time.