Zustand vs redux-thunk: What are the differences?

Introduction

In this article, we will explore the key differences between Zustand and redux-thunk. Zustand and redux-thunk are both state management libraries for JavaScript applications, but they have some distinct characteristics that set them apart. Let's dive into the details.

1. Ease of Use: Zustand is a lightweight state management library that aims to provide a simple and intuitive API for managing application state. It offers a minimalistic approach to state management, making it easy to understand and use. On the other hand, redux-thunk is a middleware for Redux that allows writing asynchronous logic in actions. It requires a more complex setup and understanding of Redux concepts.

2. Performance: Zustand is designed to be highly performant, thanks to its optimized reactivity engine. It leverages the React hook API, which enables efficient state updates and renders. On the other hand, redux-thunk introduces additional middleware and higher-order functions, which can impact performance in certain scenarios, especially when dealing with a large number of actions or complex asynchronous flows.

3. Bundle Size: Zustand is known for its small footprint due to its minimalistic design. It weighs only a few kilobytes when gzipped, making it an excellent choice for applications where file size matters. On the other hand, redux-thunk is part of the Redux ecosystem, which adds some overhead to the bundle size. Redux itself is known for having a larger bundle size compared to Zustand.

4. Middleware Support: Zustand does not natively support middlewares like redux-thunk. However, Zustand provides an extendable API that allows developers to implement custom middleware-like functionality if needed. On the other hand, redux-thunk is specifically designed as a middleware for Redux. It seamlessly integrates with the existing Redux middleware ecosystem and provides a straightforward way to handle asynchronous actions.

5. Development Experience: Zustand aims to provide a modern, developer-friendly experience by leveraging the power of React hooks. It embraces the functional programming paradigm and encourages a more declarative and concise coding style. On the other hand, redux-thunk follows the traditional Redux pattern, which requires more boilerplate code and can be less intuitive for developers new to Redux.

6. Community and Ecosystem: Redux has a massive and active community, which translates into a vast ecosystem of third-party libraries, tutorials, and community support. Redux-thunk benefits from this ecosystem, with many plugins and extensions available for various use cases. Zustand, being a relatively newer library, has a smaller community and ecosystem, but it is growing steadily.

In summary, Zustand and redux-thunk offer different approaches to state management. Zustand focuses on simplicity, performance, and a minimalistic design, while redux-thunk leverages the power of Redux middleware for handling asynchronous actions. The choice between the two depends on your specific requirements and preferences.