useDeferredValue Explained: Keeping React UIs Responsive
useDeferredValue Explained
useDeferredValue is a React concurrent hook that lets you delay rendering of non-urgent values so your UI stays responsive.
🧩 What Problem Does useDeferredValue Solve?
It helps prevent UI lag when rendering is expensive but user input must remain fast.
⚙️ Basic Usage
import { useDeferredValue, useState } from "react";
function Search() {
const [query, setQuery] = useState("");
const deferredQuery = useDeferredValue(query);
return (
<>
<input value={query} onChange={(e) => setQuery(e.target.value)} />
<Results query={deferredQuery} />
</>
);
}
🧠 Mental Model
queryupdates immediatelydeferredQueryupdates when React has time
🔍 How It Works Under the Hood
- Deferred updates are marked low priority
- Urgent updates interrupt them
- Intermediate renders may be skipped
⚡ useDeferredValue vs useTransition
| Feature | useDeferredValue | useTransition |
|---|---|---|
| Controls | Value | State update |
| API | Passive | Active |
| Pending flag | ❌ | ✅ |
🧱 Example: Filtering a Large List
const deferredFilter = useDeferredValue(filter);
⚠️ Notes
- Not a debounce
- Requires React 18+
- Delays rendering, not state
✅ Summary
useDeferredValue improves UX by prioritizing urgent updates and deferring expensive rendering.
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