Code splitting is a technique used in React applications to improve performance and user experience by splitting the application’s bundle into smaller chunks that are loaded dynamically as needed.
Reasons to use code splitting:
- Faster Initial Page Load: By splitting the application bundle into smaller chunks, only the necessary code for the initial view is loaded, reducing the initial download size and improving the time it takes for the page to load. This can significantly improve the performance of the application, especially on slower network connections or devices.
- Improved Time to Interactivity: With code splitting, the critical code needed to render the initial view of the application can be loaded quickly, allowing users to interact with the application sooner. Non-essential code or components can be loaded asynchronously in the background, improving the overall responsiveness of the application.
- Optimized for Dynamic Routes or Views: In applications with dynamic routing or views, code splitting allows you to load only the code necessary for each route or view when it is accessed. This can reduce the initial bundle size and improve the performance of navigation within the application.
- Reduced Memory Usage: Loading smaller chunks of code dynamically as needed can help reduce the memory footprint of the application, especially for larger applications with many components and dependencies. This can lead to improved performance and stability, particularly on devices with limited resources.
- Better Caching and Resource Management: Code splitting can also improve caching and resource management by allowing the browser to cache individual chunks of code separately. This can lead to faster subsequent page loads and better utilization of browser caching mechanisms, resulting in a smoother user experience.