Loading Component in React for Seamless User Experience

In the world of web applications, user experience is paramount. As React developers, we often find ourselves dealing with components that need to fetch data or perform some form of asynchronous operations, such as an API call or an AJAX request. This can lead to a delay in rendering the component, which can negatively impact the user experience. This is where the concept of a loading component comes into play.

‍

What is a Loading Component?

A loading component in React is a component that displays a loading state to the user while the app is fetching data or performing some other asynchronous operation. This loading state can take many forms, such as a loading spinner, a loader icon, or even a full-screen loading animation. The main purpose of a loading component is to provide feedback to the user that the app is working on their request and to keep them engaged while they wait.

‍

Creating a Loading Component in React

Creating a loading component in React is relatively straightforward. First, we need to import React and create a new functional component. Let's call this component Loading.

import React from 'react';

function Loading() {
  return (
    <div className="loader-container">
      <div className="loader">Loading...</div>
    </div>
  );
}

export default Loading;

In this example, the Loading component simply returns a div with the text "Loading...". In a real-world application, you might want to replace this with a more visually appealing loading animation or loading spinner.

‍

The Loader Component in React

The loader component in React is a component that displays a loading indicator to the user while some data is being fetched or some operation is being performed. This component can be as simple as a text message saying "Loading..." or as complex as a full-screen animation.

Creating a loader component in React is similar to creating any other component. The main difference is that the loader component needs to be displayed conditionally, based on whether or not the data has been loaded.

import React, { useState, useEffect } from 'react';
import Loading from './Loading';

function MyComponent() {
  const [isLoading, setIsLoading] = useState(true);

  useEffect(() => {
    // Simulate an API call
    setTimeout(() => {
      setIsLoading(false);
    }, 2000);
  }, []);

  if (isLoading) {
    return <Loading />;
  }

  return (
    <div>
      <h1>Data Loaded!</h1>
    </div>
  );
}

export default MyComponent;

In this example, we're using the useState and useEffect hooks from React to simulate an API call. The isLoading state variable is initially set to true, which means that the Loading component will be displayed. After 2 seconds, setIsLoading is called with false as the argument, which updates the isLoading state variable and causes the MyComponent component to re-render. This time, the Loading component is not displayed, and instead, the text "Data Loaded!" is displayed.

‍

Adding a Loading Screen in React

Adding a loading screen in React is similar to adding a loader component. The main difference is that a loading screen typically covers the entire viewport and often includes a loading animation or spinner.

To add a loading screen, you can create a new component (let's call it LoadingScreen) and style it so that it covers the entire viewport. You can then conditionally render this component based on whether or not your data has been loaded.

import React, { useState, useEffect } from 'react';
import LoadingScreen from './LoadingScreen';

function MyComponent() {
  const [isLoading, setIsLoading] = useState(true);

  useEffect(() => {
    // Simulate an API call
    setTimeout(() => {
      setIsLoading(false);
    }, 2000);
  }, []);

  if (isLoading) {
    return <LoadingScreen />;
  }

  return (
    <div>
      <h1>Data Loaded!</h1>
    </div>
  );
}

export default MyComponent;

In this example, we're using the same useState and useEffect hooks to simulate an API call. The isLoading state variable is initially set to true which means that the LoadingScreen component will be displayed. After 2 seconds, setIsLoading is called with false as the argument, which updates thee isLoading state variable and causes the MyComponent component to re-render. This time, the LoadingScreen component is not displayed, and instead, the text "Data Loaded!" is displayed.

‍

Dynamically Loading a Component in React

React provides a built-in way to dynamically load components using a feature called code splitting. Code splitting allows you to split your code into small chunks which you can then load on demand. This can significantly improve the loading time of your app, especially for larger apps.

To dynamically load a component in React, you can use the React.lazy function. This function lets you render a dynamic import as a regular component.

import React, { Suspense } from 'react';

const OtherComponent = React.lazy(() => import('./OtherComponent'));

function MyComponent() {
  return (
    <div>
      <Suspense fallback={<div>Loading...</div>}>
        <OtherComponent />
      </Suspense>
    </div>
  );
}

export default MyComponent;

React.lazy is used in this example to dynamically load the OtherComponent component. The Suspense component wraps the OtherComponent and specifies a fallback prop in the event that the OtherComponent is not yet loaded. The fallback prop takes any React elements you want to render while the component is loading.

‍

Implementing Loading in React JS

Implementing loading in React involves creating a loading component and then conditionally rendering it based on whether or not your data has been loaded. You can use the useState and useEffect hooks to manage your loading state.

In this example, the useState hook is used to create a state variable isLoading that is initially set to true. The useEffect hook is used to simulate an API call that takes 2 seconds to complete. Once the API call is complete, setIsLoading is called with false as the argument, which updates the isLoading state variable and causes the MyComponent component to re-render. This time, instead of rendering the Loading component, the text "Data Loaded!" is displayed.

‍

React App Loading Slow?

React apps can sometimes load slowly due to a variety of reasons. One common reason is that the app is trying to load too much data at once. This can be mitigated by implementing code splitting and lazy loading, which allows you to load only the components that are necessary for the current view.

Another common reason for slow loading times is inefficient rendering. If a component is re-rendered unnecessarily, it can cause the app to slow down. This can be mitigated by using the shouldComponentUpdate lifecycle method or the React.memo function to prevent unnecessary re-renders.

Finally, slow API calls can also cause your app to load slowly. This can be mitigated by optimizing your API calls, for example by implementing pagination or by caching the results of expensive API calls.

‍

Making React Load Faster

There are several strategies to make your React app load faster:

Code Splitting: This technique allows you to split your code into small chunks that can be loaded on demand. This can significantly reduce the initial load time of your app.
Lazy Loading: This technique allows you to load components only when they are needed. This can help to reduce the amount of data that needs to be loaded initially.
Optimizing API Calls: If your app relies on API calls, optimizing these calls can significantly improve your app's loading time. This can be done by implementing pagination, caching the results of expensive API calls, or by using a more efficient data format.
Preloading Data: If you know that certain data will be needed in the future, you can preload this data in the background. This can help to make your app feel more responsive, as the data will already be available when it is needed.
Using a Loading Component: While this doesn't technically make your app load faster, using a loading component can improve the perceived performance of your app. By providing immediate feedback to the user, you can make the loading process feel faster and more responsive.

‍

React Loading Structure

The React loading structure typically involves a loading state, a loading component, and conditional rendering based on the loading state. The loading state is usually managed using the useState hook, and the loading component is displayed based on this state.

Here is an example of a typical React loading structure:

import React, { useState, useEffect } from 'react';
import Loading from './Loading';

function MyComponent() {
  const [isLoading, setIsLoading] = useState(true);

  useEffect(() => {
    // Simulate an API call
    setTimeout(() => {
      setIsLoading(false);
    }, 2000);
  }, []);

  if (isLoading) {
    return <Loading />;
  }

  return (
    <div>
      <h1>Data Loaded!</h1>
    </div>
  );
}

export default MyComponent;

‍

Conclusion

In conclusion, a loading component is a crucial part of any React application. It not only improves the user experience by providing immediate feedback, but it also allows for better performance by enabling features like code splitting and lazy loading. By understanding how to create and use a loading component, you can significantly improve the performance and user experience of your React applications.

Flutter

React

Android

iOS

Node.js

Plugin

Templates

Screen Library

About Us

Career

Contact Us

Documention

Discord

Blogs

Webflow

Airtable

Notion

Chargebee

Freshteam

Spotify

Slack

Google Sheets

Enhancing User Experience with the Loading Component in React

Rakesh Purohit

Rakesh Purohit

What is a Loading Component?

Creating a Loading Component in React

The Loader Component in React

Adding a Loading Screen in React

Dynamically Loading a Component in React

Implementing Loading in React JS

React App Loading Slow?

Making React Load Faster

React Loading Structure

Conclusion

Frequently asked questions

Frequently asked questions

You’ve made it this far. Let’s build your first application

Products

Design to code

Learning

Comparison

Company

Double down for a greener Earth