Exploring useSyncExternalStore, a lesser-known React Hook
Blog post from LogRocket
React's useSyncExternalStore Hook is a powerful tool for subscribing to external data stores, offering real-time snapshots and preventing the re-rendering issues commonly associated with the useEffect Hook. Unlike useEffect, which often introduces delays in rendering due to its asynchronous nature, useSyncExternalStore provides instantaneous updates, making it suitable for scenarios where data exists outside of the React tree. This Hook is particularly beneficial for managing data from external APIs, WebSocket connections, and browser storage, as it allows for seamless integration and synchronization with external data sources. By setting up a global state accessible across all React components, useSyncExternalStore enhances performance and simplifies state management compared to the per-component state management of useState. This capability makes it an attractive option for developers seeking to optimize their React applications, especially in cases where existing React APIs are insufficient for handling external data.