Virtualization renders only visible items, enabling smooth scrolling of large lists. Here's how to implement it.
Why Virtualization?
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react-window
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Variable Size List
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Virtual Grid
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TanStack Virtual
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Infinite Scroll
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Custom Virtualization
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Windowed Table
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Scroll Restoration
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Best Practices
Implementation:
✓ Use overscan for smooth scrolling
✓ Memoize row components
✓ Handle dynamic heights properly
✓ Reset virtualizer on data changes
Performance:
✓ Avoid inline styles in rows
✓ Use itemData for shared data
✓ Debounce scroll handlers
✓ Profile with React DevTools
UX:
✓ Show loading placeholders
✓ Preserve scroll position
✓ Handle empty states
✓ Support keyboard navigation
Conclusion
Virtualization enables smooth rendering of large lists by only rendering visible items. Use react-window for simple cases, TanStack Virtual for dynamic sizing, and implement infinite scroll for paginated data. Always memoize row components and handle scroll restoration.