What is the difference between React Table and Material UI Table?

React Table is a headless UI library providing table logic and hooks without styling, requiring manual integration with UI frameworks. Material UI Table is a fully styled component following Material Design guidelines with pre-built UI elements. React Table offers more flexibility but requires more implementation work, while Material UI Table provides ready-to-use components with less customization.

What is a Material React Table?

Material React Table is a comprehensive table library built on Material UI components that combines powerful data management features with Material Design aesthetics. It offers built-in sorting, filtering, pagination, row selection, and cell customization while maintaining the Material UI look and feel. It simplifies complex table implementations by providing a declarative API for advanced features.

Which table is best for React?

The best table for React depends on project requirements. Material React Table is ideal for projects needing comprehensive features with minimal setup and Material Design aesthetics. MUI-Datatables works well for simpler needs with Material UI styling. React Table with custom styling is best for applications requiring maximum flexibility and customization with minimal bundle size.

Best Material UI Table React Solutions for Data Management

Managing large data sets in React applications requires powerful, flexible, and user-friendly table components. Material UI tables offer the perfect balance of functionality and aesthetics, allowing developers to build data-rich interfaces with minimal effort.

This blog post examines the best Material React Table solutions that can transform how you handle data display in your applications.

Understanding the Material UI Table Ecosystem

Material UI provides a comprehensive set of table components that adhere to Material Design principles. These components allow developers to create great tables and offer advanced features like sorting, filtering, and pagination right out of the box.

At its core, a Material UI table consists of several key elements:

• Table - The main container component

• Table Header - Contains the header row with column headers

• Table Body - Houses the rows of data

• Table Cell - Individual data cells that display information

Let's visualize the structure of a typical Material UI table:

Basic Material UI Table Implementation

Before we dive into more advanced solutions, let's understand how a basic Material UI table is implemented:

import React from 'react';
import {
  Table,
  TableBody,
  TableCell,
  TableContainer,
  TableHead,
  TableRow,
  Paper
} from '@mui/material';

function BasicTable() {
  // Sample data array
  const rows = [
    { id: 1, name: 'John Doe', age: 25, role: 'Developer' },
    { id: 2, name: 'Jane Smith', age: 32, role: 'Designer' },
    { id: 3, name: 'Bob Johnson', age: 45, role: 'Manager' },
  ];

  return (
    <TableContainer component={Paper}>
      <Table>
        <TableHead>
          <TableRow>
            <TableCell>ID</TableCell>
            <TableCell>Name</TableCell>
            <TableCell>Age</TableCell>
            <TableCell>Role</TableCell>
          </TableRow>
        </TableHead>
        <TableBody>
          {rows.map((row) => (
            <TableRow key={row.id}>
              <TableCell>{row.id}</TableCell>
              <TableCell>{row.name}</TableCell>
              <TableCell>{row.age}</TableCell>
              <TableCell>{row.role}</TableCell>
            </TableRow>
          ))}
        </TableBody>
      </Table>
    </TableContainer>
  );
}

This simple example demonstrates how table data is structured and displayed using Material UI table components. However, more robust solutions are needed for applications with complex data requirements.

Top Material React Table Libraries

1. Material React Table

Material React Table is a powerful library built on Material UI that offers a complete table solution with all the advanced features you might need.

Key Features:

• Column sorting with customizable sort direction

• Advanced filtering options

• Pagination for handling large data sets

• Row selection with row checkboxes

• Support for nested data and tree data structures

• Customizable cell rendering

• Server-side data processing

Basic Implementation:

import React from 'react';
import { MaterialReactTable } from 'material-react-table';

function AdvancedTable() {
  // Define columns with appropriate settings
  const columns = [
    {
      accessorKey: 'id',
      header: 'ID',
      enableSorting: true,
    },
    {
      accessorKey: 'name',
      header: 'Name',
      enableSorting: true,
      enableFiltering: true,
    },
    {
      accessorKey: 'age',
      header: 'Age',
      enableSorting: true,
    },
    {
      accessorKey: 'role',
      header: 'Role',
      enableSorting: true,
      enableFiltering: true,
    },
  ];

  // Sample data array
  const data = [
    { id: 1, name: 'John Doe', age: 25, role: 'Developer' },
    { id: 2, name: 'Jane Smith', age: 32, role: 'Designer' },
    { id: 3, name: 'Bob Johnson', age: 45, role: 'Manager' },
  ];

  return (
    <MaterialReactTable
      columns={columns}
      data={data}
      enableRowSelection
      enableColumnFiltering
      enableSorting
      enablePagination
      initialState={{
        pagination: {
          pageSize: 10,
          pageIndex: 0,
        },
      }}
    />
  );
}

2. MUI-Datatables

MUI-Datatables is another popular choice that extends Material UI tables with additional functionality.

Key Features:

• Responsive design for various screen sizes

• Built-in search bar functionality

• Customizable filtering options

• Multiple row selection with checkboxes

• Custom rendering for column headers and cells

• Export options (CSV, PDF)

3. React-Table with Material UI

Combining the flexibility of React-Table with Material UI styling provides a highly customizable solution:

Advanced Features for Material UI Tables

Row Selection

Row selection is a common requirement in data management interfaces. With Material React Table, implementing row selection with checkboxes is straightforward:

This allows users to select one or multiple rows for batch operations. The component provides both API methods and UI elements to manage row selection effectively.

Custom Cell Rendering

For complex data display needs, custom cell rendering is invaluable:

This example shows how to render custom status indicators and action buttons within table cells.

Advanced Filtering

Material React Table provides sophisticated filtering capabilities:

Implementation example:

Handling Nested Data

For complex data structures, Material React Table offers excellent support for nested data:

This approach lets you access deeply nested properties using dot notation in the accessorKey.

Performance Optimization for Large Data Sets

When working with large data sets, performance becomes a critical concern. Here are some strategies to optimize Material UI table performance:

1. Virtual Scrolling

For tables with thousands of rows, virtual scrolling can significantly improve performance by rendering only visible rows:

2. Server-Side Processing

For extremely large data sets, server-side processing is recommended:

Comparison of Material UI Table Solutions

Let's compare the top Material UI table solutions based on key features:

Feature	Material React Table	MUI-Datatables	React-Table with MUI
Sorting	✅ Advanced	✅ Basic	✅ Customizable
Filtering	✅ Advanced	✅ Basic	✅ Customizable
Pagination	✅ Built-in	✅ Built-in	✅ Manual Implementation
Row Selection	✅ Checkbox + API	✅ Checkbox	✅ Manual Implementation
Custom Cell Rendering	✅ Simple API	✅ Basic	✅ Fully Customizable
Nested Data	✅ Built-in Support	⚠️ Limited	✅ Manual Implementation
Tree Data	✅ Built-in	❌ Not Supported	⚠️ Complex Implementation
Server-side Processing	✅ Built-in	✅ Basic	✅ Manual Implementation
Bundle Size	⚠️ Larger	✅ Medium	✅ Smaller (modular)
Ease of Use	✅ Simple API	✅ Simple API	⚠️ More Code Required

Building a Complete Data Management Interface

Let's build a comprehensive example using Material React Table with sorting, filtering, pagination, and row selection:

This example incorporates many of the advanced features discussed and shows how to build a complete data management interface with Material React Table.

Best Practices for Material UI Tables

1. Column Definition Best Practices

Define columns with appropriate configuration options:

2. Optimizing Performance

• Use virtualization for large data sets

• Implement server-side processing when necessary

• Memoize columns and data definitions

• Use appropriate rendering techniques for complex cells

3. Enhancing User Experience

• Implement responsive design for mobile users

• Add meaningful tooltips for actions and complex data

• Use consistent icon patterns for actions

• Provide clear visual cues for interactive elements

4. Efficient State Management

For complex tables with many features enabled, state management becomes crucial:

The Bottom Line!

Material UI table components offer powerful solutions for managing and displaying data in React applications. From basic tables to advanced data grids with sorting, filtering, and row selection, the ecosystem provides tools for every level of complexity.

Material React Table is a comprehensive solution that combines ease of use with powerful features, making it an excellent choice for most projects. Alternatives like MUI-Datatables or custom implementations with React-Table can also be effective for specific needs.

By leveraging these table components, developers can create intuitive, performant data management interfaces that align with Material Design principles while meeting complex business requirements.

Remember that the right table solution depends on your specific project needs. When making your choice, consider factors like data volume, feature requirements, and performance constraints.

import React from 'react';
import MUIDataTable from 'mui-datatables';

function MuiDataTable() {
  const columns = [
    {
      name: 'id',
      label: 'ID',
      options: {
        sort: true,
      },
    },
    {
      name: 'name',
      label: 'Name',
      options: {
        sort: true,
        filter: true,
      },
    },
    {
      name: 'age',
      label: 'Age',
      options: {
        sort: true,
      },
    },
    {
      name: 'role',
      label: 'Role',
      options: {
        sort: true,
        filter: true,
      },
    },
  ];

  const data = [
    [1, 'John Doe', 25, 'Developer'],
    [2, 'Jane Smith', 32, 'Designer'],
    [3, 'Bob Johnson', 45, 'Manager'],
  ];

  const options = {
    filterType: 'dropdown',
    responsive: 'standard',
    selectableRows: 'multiple',
    rowsPerPage: 10,
    page: 0,
  };

  return (
    <MUIDataTable
      title="Employee Data"
      data={data}
      columns={columns}
      options={options}
    />
  );
}

import React from 'react';
import { useTable, useSorting, useFilters, usePagination } from 'react-table';
import {
  Table,
  TableBody,
  TableCell,
  TableContainer,
  TableHead,
  TableRow,
  Paper,
  TablePagination,
} from '@mui/material';

function ReactTableWithMUI() {
  const columns = React.useMemo(
    () => [
      {
        Header: 'ID',
        accessor: 'id',
      },
      {
        Header: 'Name',
        accessor: 'name',
      },
      {
        Header: 'Age',
        accessor: 'age',
      },
      {
        Header: 'Role',
        accessor: 'role',
      },
    ],
    []
  );

  const data = React.useMemo(
    () => [
      { id: 1, name: 'John Doe', age: 25, role: 'Developer' },
      { id: 2, name: 'Jane Smith', age: 32, role: 'Designer' },
      { id: 3, name: 'Bob Johnson', age: 45, role: 'Manager' },
    ],
    []
  );

  const {
    getTableProps,
    getTableBodyProps,
    headerGroups,
    page,
    prepareRow,
    pageCount,
    gotoPage,
    setPageSize,
    state: { pageIndex, pageSize },
  } = useTable(
    {
      columns,
      data,
      initialState: { pageIndex: 0, pageSize: 10 },
    },
    useSorting,
    useFilters,
    usePagination
  );

  const handleChangePage = (event, newPage) => {
    gotoPage(newPage);
  };

  const handleChangeRowsPerPage = (event) => {
    setPageSize(parseInt(event.target.value, 10));
  };

  return (
    <Paper>
      <TableContainer>
        <Table {...getTableProps()}>
          <TableHead>
            {headerGroups.map((headerGroup) => (
              <TableRow {...headerGroup.getHeaderGroupProps()}>
                {headerGroup.headers.map((column) => (
                  <TableCell {...column.getHeaderProps()}>
                    {column.render('Header')}
                  </TableCell>
                ))}
              </TableRow>
            ))}
          </TableHead>
          <TableBody {...getTableBodyProps()}>
            {page.map((row) => {
              prepareRow(row);
              return (
                <TableRow {...row.getRowProps()}>
                  {row.cells.map((cell) => (
                    <TableCell {...cell.getCellProps()}>
                      {cell.render('Cell')}
                    </TableCell>
                  ))}
                </TableRow>
              );
            })}
          </TableBody>
        </Table>
      </TableContainer>
      <TablePagination
        component="div"
        count={data.length}
        page={pageIndex}
        onPageChange={handleChangePage}
        rowsPerPage={pageSize}
        onRowsPerPageChange={handleChangeRowsPerPage}
      />
    </Paper>
  );
}

<MaterialReactTable
  columns={columns}
  data={data}
  enableRowSelection
  onRowSelectionChange={setRowSelection}
  state={{ rowSelection }}
/>

const columns = [
  // ... other columns
  {
    accessorKey: 'status',
    header: 'Status',
    Cell: ({ cell }) => (
      <div>
        {cell.getValue() === 'active' ? (
          <Chip color="success" label="Active" />
        ) : (
          <Chip color="error" label="Inactive" />
        )}
      </div>
    ),
  },
  {
    accessorKey: 'actions',
    header: 'Actions',
    Cell: ({ row }) => (
      <div>
        <IconButton onClick={() => handleEdit(row.original)}>
          <EditIcon />
        </IconButton>
        <IconButton onClick={() => handleDelete(row.original.id)}>
          <DeleteIcon />
        </IconButton>
      </div>
    ),
  },
];

const columns = [
  {
    accessorKey: 'name',
    header: 'Name',
    filterFn: 'contains',
  },
  {
    accessorKey: 'age',
    header: 'Age',
    filterFn: 'between',
  },
  {
    accessorKey: 'date',
    header: 'Date',
    filterFn: 'dateBetween',
  }
];

<MaterialReactTable
  columns={columns}
  data={data}
  enableColumnFiltering
  enableGlobalFilter
  initialState={{
    columnFilters: [
      {
        id: 'name',
        value: 'John',
      },
    ],
  }}
/>

const data = [
  {
    id: 1,
    name: 'John Doe',
    details: {
      address: {
        street: '123 Main St',
        city: 'Boston',
        state: 'MA',
      },
      contact: {
        email: 'john@example.com',
        phone: '555-1234',
      },
    },
  },
  // More data...
];

const columns = [
  {
    accessorKey: 'id',
    header: 'ID',
  },
  {
    accessorKey: 'name',
    header: 'Name',
  },
  {
    accessorKey: 'details.address.city',
    header: 'City',
  },
  {
    accessorKey: 'details.contact.email',
    header: 'Email',
  },
];

<MaterialReactTable
  columns={columns}
  data={largeDataArray}
  enablePagination={false}
  enableVirtualization
  muiTableContainerProps={{ sx: { maxHeight: '600px' } }}
/>

function ServerSideTable() {
  const [data, setData] = useState([]);
  const [loading, setLoading] = useState(false);
  const [pagination, setPagination] = useState({
    pageIndex: 0,
    pageSize: 10,
  });
  const [sorting, setSorting] = useState([]);
  const [columnFilters, setColumnFilters] = useState([]);

  useEffect(() => {
    const fetchData = async () => {
      setLoading(true);
      // Construct query parameters based on pagination, sorting, and filtering state
      const queryParams = new URLSearchParams({
        page: pagination.pageIndex,
        size: pagination.pageSize,
        sort: sorting.length > 0 ? `${sorting[0].id}:${sorting[0].desc ? 'desc' : 'asc'}` : '',
        // Add filter parameters
      });

      const response = await fetch(`/api/data?${queryParams}`);
      const json = await response.json();

      setData(json.data);
      setLoading(false);
    };

    fetchData();
  }, [pagination, sorting, columnFilters]);

  return (
    <MaterialReactTable
      columns={columns}
      data={data}
      enableRowSelection
      manualPagination
      manualSorting
      manualFiltering
      onPaginationChange={setPagination}
      onSortingChange={setSorting}
      onColumnFiltersChange={setColumnFilters}
      state={{
        pagination,
        sorting,
        columnFilters,
        isLoading: loading,
      }}
      rowCount={10000} // Total number of rows from server
    />
  );
}

import React, { useState } from 'react';
import { MaterialReactTable } from 'material-react-table';
import { Button, Box, Tooltip, IconButton } from '@mui/material';
import DeleteIcon from '@mui/icons-material/Delete';
import EditIcon from '@mui/icons-material/Edit';

function CompleteDataTable() {
  const [rowSelection, setRowSelection] = useState({});

  const columns = [
    {
      accessorKey: 'id',
      header: 'ID',
      enableSorting: true,
      size: 100,
    },
    {
      accessorKey: 'name',
      header: 'Name',
      enableSorting: true,
      enableFiltering: true,
      size: 150,
      filterFn: 'contains',
    },
    {
      accessorKey: 'email',
      header: 'Email',
      enableSorting: true,
      enableFiltering: true,
      size: 200,
    },
    {
      accessorKey: 'role',
      header: 'Role',
      enableSorting: true,
      enableFiltering: true,
      size: 150,
      filterFn: 'equals',
      filterSelectOptions: [
        { text: 'Admin', value: 'admin' },
        { text: 'User', value: 'user' },
        { text: 'Manager', value: 'manager' },
      ],
      filterVariant: 'select',
    },
    {
      accessorKey: 'status',
      header: 'Status',
      enableSorting: true,
      enableFiltering: true,
      filterVariant: 'select',
      filterSelectOptions: [
        { text: 'Active', value: 'active' },
        { text: 'Inactive', value: 'inactive' },
      ],
      Cell: ({ cell }) => (
        <span
          style={{
            color: cell.getValue() === 'active' ? 'green' : 'red',
            fontWeight: 'bold',
          }}
        >
          {cell.getValue()}
        </span>
      ),
    },
    {
      accessorKey: 'lastLogin',
      header: 'Last Login',
      enableSorting: true,
      Cell: ({ cell }) => new Date(cell.getValue()).toLocaleString(),
    },
    {
      id: 'actions',
      header: 'Actions',
      enableSorting: false,
      enableFiltering: false,
      Cell: ({ row }) => (
        <Box sx={{ display: 'flex' }}>
          <Tooltip title="Edit">
            <IconButton onClick={() => handleEdit(row.original)}>
              <EditIcon />
            </IconButton>
          </Tooltip>
          <Tooltip title="Delete">
            <IconButton color="error" onClick={() => handleDelete(row.original.id)}>
              <DeleteIcon />
            </IconButton>
          </Tooltip>
        </Box>
      ),
    },
  ];

  // Sample data array
  const data = [
    {
      id: 1,
      name: 'John Smith',
      email: 'john@example.com',
      role: 'admin',
      status: 'active',
      lastLogin: '2025-03-15T10:30:00',
    },
    {
      id: 2,
      name: 'Jane Doe',
      email: 'jane@example.com',
      role: 'user',
      status: 'active',
      lastLogin: '2025-03-10T08:45:00',
    },
    {
      id: 3,
      name: 'Bob Johnson',
      email: 'bob@example.com',
      role: 'manager',
      status: 'inactive',
      lastLogin: '2025-02-28T16:20:00',
    },
    // More data rows...
  ];

  const handleEdit = (rowData) => {
    console.log('Edit row:', rowData);
    // Implement edit functionality
  };

  const handleDelete = (id) => {
    console.log('Delete row with ID:', id);
    // Implement delete functionality
  };

  const handleBulkDelete = () => {
    const selectedIds = Object.keys(rowSelection).map(
      (index) => data[parseInt(index)].id
    );
    console.log('Delete selected rows with IDs:', selectedIds);
    // Implement bulk delete functionality
  };

  return (
    <Box sx={{ p: 2 }}>
      <MaterialReactTable
        columns={columns}
        data={data}
        enableRowSelection
        enableColumnFiltering
        enableGlobalFilter
        enablePagination
        enableSorting
        enableColumnResizing
        enableColumnOrdering
        onRowSelectionChange={setRowSelection}
        state={{ rowSelection }}
        positionToolbarAlertBanner="bottom"
        renderTopToolbarCustomActions={({ table }) => (
          <Box sx={{ display: 'flex', gap: 2, p: 1 }}>
            <Button
              variant="contained"
              color="primary"
              onClick={() => console.log('Add new user')}
            >
              Add New
            </Button>
            <Button
              variant="contained"
              color="error"
              disabled={Object.keys(rowSelection).length === 0}
              onClick={handleBulkDelete}
            >
              Delete Selected
            </Button>
          </Box>
        )}
        muiTablePaginationProps={{
          rowsPerPageOptions: [5, 10, 25, 50, 100],
          showFirstButton: true,
          showLastButton: true,
        }}
        initialState={{
          pagination: {
            pageSize: 10,
            pageIndex: 0,
          },
          sorting: [
            {
              id: 'name',
              desc: false,
            },
          ],
        }}
      />
    </Box>
  );
}

const columns = [
  {
    accessorKey: 'id',
    header: 'ID',
    enableSorting: true,
    enableFiltering: false, // No need to filter IDs typically
    size: 80, // Fixed width for ID column
  },
  {
    accessorKey: 'name',
    header: 'Name',
    enableSorting: true,
    enableFiltering: true,
    minSize: 150, // Minimum width
    maxSize: 300, // Maximum width
  },
  // More columns...
];

// Example of column header with tooltip
{
  accessorKey: 'priority',
  header: () => (
    <Tooltip title="Task priority level affects scheduling">
      <div>Priority Level</div>
    </Tooltip>
  ),
  // Other configuration
}

function OptimizedTable() {
  // Memoize columns definition
  const columns = React.useMemo(() => [
    // Column definitions
  ], []);

  // Memoize data when it doesn't change frequently
  const data = React.useMemo(() => [
    // Data array
  ], []);

  // Use state for various table features
  const [pagination, setPagination] = useState({
    pageIndex: 0,
    pageSize: 10,
  });
  const [sorting, setSorting] = useState([]);
  const [rowSelection, setRowSelection] = useState({});
  const [columnFilters, setColumnFilters] = useState([]);

  return (
    <MaterialReactTable
      columns={columns}
      data={data}
      onPaginationChange={setPagination}
      onSortingChange={setSorting}
      onRowSelectionChange={setRowSelection}
      onColumnFiltersChange={setColumnFilters}
      state={{
        pagination,
        sorting,
        rowSelection,
        columnFilters,
      }}
      // Other props
    />
  );
}

Top Material UI Table React Options For Easy Data Handling

Ankit Virani

Got a Figma? Or just a shower 🚿 thought?

About the Author

Ankit Virani

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Top Material UI Table React Options For Easy Data Handling

Ankit Virani

Got a Figma? Or just a shower 🚿 thought?

About the Author

Ankit Virani

Related questions

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Understanding the Material UI Table Ecosystem

Basic Material UI Table Implementation

Top Material React Table Libraries

1. Material React Table

Key Features:

Basic Implementation:

2. MUI-Datatables

Key Features:

3. React-Table with Material UI

Advanced Features for Material UI Tables

Row Selection

Custom Cell Rendering

Advanced Filtering

Handling Nested Data

Performance Optimization for Large Data Sets

1. Virtual Scrolling

2. Server-Side Processing

Comparison of Material UI Table Solutions

Building a Complete Data Management Interface

Best Practices for Material UI Tables

1. Column Definition Best Practices

2. Optimizing Performance

3. Enhancing User Experience

4. Efficient State Management

The Bottom Line!