Redux is suitable for large and complex projects, with powerful functions but high learning costs and long code. It is recommended to use Redux Toolkit to simplify development; 2. The Context API is suitable for small projects or static global configurations, simple to use but poor performance, and is not suitable for high-frequency update states; 3. Zustand stands out with minimalist APIs and efficient updates, suitable for small and medium-sized projects and rapid development, without the need for providers and supports selective updates, and is the preferred solution for modern projects; the final choice should be based on the scale of the project, team needs and performance requirements.

React's state management is key to building maintainable and scalable applications. As the complexity of the project increases, how to efficiently manage state has become a problem that developers must face. Currently, mainstream solutions include the Context APIs of Redux , Zustand and React . The three have their own advantages and disadvantages and are suitable for different scenarios. The following compares the design ideas, usage methods, performance, learning costs, etc. to help you make the right choice.

1. Redux: the old-fashioned king, powerful but complex

Redux is the earliest popular state management library, based on the principles of "single data source" and "immutable updates", and is widely used in large-scale applications.

advantage:

• Highly predictable : The state change process is clarified through action and reducer, which is easy to debug.
• Strong ecosystem : Supports middleware (such as Redux Thunk, Redux Saga), DevTools time travel debugging.
• Suitable for large projects : Clear state flow during team collaboration, easy to maintain.

shortcoming:

• There are many boilerplate codes : action, reducer, store need to be defined, and the code is verbose.
• High learning cost : novices need to understand concepts such as store, dispatch, reducer, middleware, etc.
• Performance overhead : Deep nested state updates may trigger unnecessary re-rendering and need to be coordinated with reselect optimization.

Applicable scenarios:

• Large-scale application with complex state structure.
• It requires advanced functions such as time travel, logging, server rendering, etc.

Tip: Now the official recommendation is to use Redux Toolkit (RTK) , which greatly simplifies the use of Redux and reduces boilerplate code.

2. Context API: Lightweight built-in, suitable for simple sharing

React's own Context API is used to pass state across components to avoid "props drilling".

advantage:

• No additional dependencies required : native support, out of the box.
• Easy to use : Create a context, wrap the component with Provider , and read it with useContext .
• Suitable for global configurations such as theme, language, user login status, etc.

shortcoming:

• Performance issue : The value change of Provider triggers all child components to re-render (even if the value is not used).
• Not suitable for high-frequency update status : such as counters, form inputs, etc.
• Lack of state update logic encapsulation : logic is scattered when multiple contexts are logically difficult to manage.

Recommended usage:

 const UserContext = React.createContext();

function App() {
  const [user, setUser] = useState(null);
  Return (
    <UserContext.Provider value={{ user, setUser }}>
      <Child />
    </UserContext.Provider>
  );
}

Applicable scenarios:

• Small project or local state sharing.
• Global configurations that are not updated frequently (such as topics, permissions).

3. Zustand: Minimalist design, modern first choice

Zustand is a popular lightweight state library in recent years, with the core concept of "simple is beauty".

advantage:

• Minimalist API : A create function defines the entire store without action or reducer.
• No Provider nesting : directly import the store to use to avoid hierarchical pollution.
• Automatic dependency tracking : Subscribe only to the used status fields to avoid unnecessary rendering.
• Support middleware, persistence, asynchronous : rich in ecology and strong scalability.

Example:

 import { create } from 'zustand';

const useStore = create((set) => ({
  count: 0,
  increment: () => set((state) => ({ count: state.count 1 })),
}));

// Use function Counter() in the component {
  const { count, increment } = useStore();
  return <button onClick={increment}>{count}</button>;
}

shortcoming:

• Relatively new, the community and information are not as rich as Redux.
• Debug tools are weaker than Redux DevTools (although basic logs are supported).

Applicable scenarios:

• Small and medium-sized projects.
• To get rid of Redux complexity, centralized state management is required.
• Rapid development and prototype design.

Comparative summary

How to choose?

• Choose Redux (RTK) : The team is large, the project is complex, and requires strict state flow tracking and debugging.
• Choose Zustand : pursues concise and rapid development, with concentrated state logic but do not want to write too many templates.
• Select the Context API : Just share a small amount of static configuration and do not want to introduce third-party libraries.

Basically that's it. Zustand is a more modern and efficient choice if the advanced features of Redux are not required for most new projects; while the Context API is more suitable for the "configuration class" state. Redux still firmly sits on the throne of large enterprise-level applications, but it is no longer the only answer.

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