Redux Toolkit: A Modern Approach to Redux

Overview

Redux, a popular state management library for JavaScript applications, has been a staple for many developers. However, it can often involve boilerplate code and complex setups. Redux Toolkit aims to simplify this process by providing a set of tools and utilities that make working with Redux more efficient and enjoyable.

Before we proceed, I would highly recommend to read my previous article about Redux - A Powerful State Management Library.

Redux toolkit is a recommended way to write Redux logic. The core Redux library is intentionally flexible, allowing you to decide how to set up the store, structure your state, and write your reducers. While this flexibility can be helpful, it’s not always necessary. Sometimes, you just want a straightforward way to get started with sensible defaults. Other times, when building larger applications, you may find yourself writing repetitive code and wish for a more efficient approach.

Redux Toolkit was designed to address three common challenges developers face with Redux:

1. "Configuring a Redux store feels overly complex."
2. "I need to install multiple packages to make Redux fully functional."
3. "Redux involves writing a lot of boilerplate code."

Key Components of Redux Toolkit

1. createSlice: This function allows you to define a Redux slice, which is a self-contained piece of state and its associated actions and reducers. It significantly reduces the amount of boilerplate code required to create Redux actions and reducers.

2. createAsyncThunk: This function helps you create asynchronous actions that handle loading, success, and error states. It simplifies asynchronous data fetching and error

handling.

3. configureStore: This function is used to configure the Redux store, including middleware like Redux Thunk and Redux Logger. It provides a streamlined way to set up the store.

Pros of Redux Toolkit

• Reduced Boilerplate: Significantly less code to write, especially for actions and reducers.
• Improved Code Readability: Cleaner and more concise code structure.
• Enhanced Developer Experience: Simpler API and better tooling.
• Asynchronous Actions Made Easy: Simplified handling of asynchronous operations.

Cons of Redux Toolkit

• Steeper Learning Curve: While it simplifies Redux, there's still a learning curve, especially for beginners.
• Bundle Size: Although RTK (Redux Toolkit) simplifies setup, it introduces additional dependencies (e.g., Immer, Redux Thunk), which can marginally increase the bundle size.
• Abstraction Overhead : RTK introduces abstraction, which can make it harder to understand what’s happening under the hood, especially for those who prefer a more hands-on approach to Redux.

Benefits of Using Redux Toolkit

• Potential Overreliance: It's important to use it judiciously and not overuse it for simple state
• Faster Development: Spend less time on boilerplate and more time on core features.
• Cleaner Codebase: More readable and maintainable code.
• Improved State Management: Better organization and handling of complex states.
• Enhanced Asynchronous Operations: Simpler and more robust asynchronous actions.

Use Cases

Redux Toolkit is well-suited for a wide range of applications, including:

1. Large-scale web applications: Managing complex state across multiple components.
2. Single-Page Applications (SPAs): Efficiently handling state changes in dynamic UIs.
3. Real-time applications: Synchronising state with server-side updates.
4. Mobile applications: Optimising state management for performance and responsiveness.

Implementation Example

Let's create a simple counter app to demonstrate how to use Redux:

1. Install Redux Toolkit:

npm install @reduxjs/toolkit react-redux        

2. Define the Counter Slice: counterSlice.js

import { createSlice } from '@reduxjs/toolkit';

const initialState = {
  value: 0,
};

const counterSlice = createSlice({
  name: 'counter',
  initialState,
  reducers: {
    increment: (state) => {
      state.value += 1;
    },
    decrement: (state) => {
      state.value -= 1;
    },
  },
});

export const { increment, decrement } = counterSlice.actions;

export default counterSlice.reducer;        

3. Create a Redux Store: store.js

import { configureStore } from '@reduxjs/toolkit';
import counterSlice from './counterSlice';

const store = configureStore({
  reducer: {
    counter: counterSlice,
  },
});

export default store;        

4. Set up the Redux Provider : index.js:

Wrap your app with the Provider component to connect React to Redux.

import React from 'react';
import ReactDOM from 'react-dom';
import { Provider } from 'react-redux';
import { store } from './store';
import App from './App';
import './index.css';

ReactDOM.render(
  <Provider store={store}>
    <App />
  </Provider>,
  document.getElementById('root')
);
        

5. Use the Counter Slice in a Component:

import React from 'react';
import { useDispatch, useSelector } from 'react-redux';
import { increment, decrement } from './counterSlice';

function App() {
  const count = useSelector((state) => state.counter.value);
  const dispatch = useDispatch();

  return (
    <div>
      <p>Count: {count}</p>
      <button onClick={() => dispatch(increment())}>Increment</button>
      <button onClick={() => dispatch(decrement())}>Decrement</button>
    </div>
  );
}

export default App;        

By following these steps, you can efficiently set up and manage state in your React applications using Redux Toolkit.

Stay tuned for one most used lightweight state management for frontend apps.