PixelPerfectUI

Contents of React Interview Questions

Comprehensive collection of React interview questions and answers covering hooks, components, state management, and best practices.

What are the benefits and limitations of Code Splitting?

Code splitting is a powerful optimization technique in React, but like everything else, it comes with its own set of advantages and challenges.

✅ Benefits of Code Splitting:

  1. Faster Initial Load Time:
    Only the essential code is loaded first. Users can interact with the app faster without waiting for the entire bundle.

  2. Better Performance on Slow Networks:
    By delivering smaller chunks, you reduce the amount of data users need to download upfront.

  3. Efficient Resource Usage:
    Users may never visit certain parts of your app (e.g., admin dashboard). With code splitting, those parts are not loaded unnecessarily.

  4. Improved User Experience:
    Using Suspense fallback loaders gives users visual feedback (like spinners or skeleton screens), making loading feel smoother and less frustrating.

  5. Maintainability:
    Smaller files are easier to debug and maintain than a huge monolithic bundle.

⚡ Limitations of Code Splitting:

  1. Initial Complexity:
    Setting up code splitting properly (especially in large apps) can require careful planning and structure.

  2. Increased Number of Network Requests:
    Each dynamically imported module results in a new HTTP request. If not managed well, it can introduce slight delays.

  3. Potential Flash of Loading State (FOL):
    Lazy-loaded components show a fallback UI. If loading takes too long, users might feel a disruption.

  4. SEO Challenges:
    If server-side rendering (SSR) isn’t used properly with code splitting, it could impact SEO because search engines may not see all content immediately.

  5. Bundle Splitting Overhead:
    Over-splitting your app into too many tiny chunks can lead to overhead that negates the performance benefits.

Real-world Example:

An e-commerce website might lazy load the "Reviews" or "Recommended Products" section only when a user scrolls near them.
This keeps the product page lightweight and quick to open, while still delivering full functionality when needed.

Summary Table: Benefits vs Limitations

BenefitsLimitations
Faster initial loadAdds setup complexity
Better on slow networksMore network requests
Only load what's neededRisk of poor UX if loading is slow
Smoother user experiencePotential SEO issues without SSR
Easier maintenanceChunk management overhead