Top React Components Libraries

Next.js is a React-based framework for building server-side rendered and statically generated web applications.

Code Example

import { useRouter } from 'next/router'

function MyComponent() {
  const router = useRouter()
  return <p>Current route: {router.pathname}</p>
}

Pros

• Provides built-in server-side rendering and static site generation, unlike many other React-based projects
• Offers automatic code splitting and optimized performance out of the box
• Integrates seamlessly with Vercel's deployment platform for easy hosting and scaling

Cons

• Has a steeper learning curve compared to simpler React UI libraries like Material-UI or Chakra UI
• May be overkill for small, client-side only applications where frameworks like Preact might be more suitable
• Lacks some of the extensive component libraries found in projects like Ant Design or React Bootstrap

Material-UI is a popular React UI framework that implements Google's Material Design.

Code Example

import { Button } from '@mui/material';

<Button variant="contained" color="primary">
  Hello World
</Button>

Pros

• Comprehensive set of pre-built components following Material Design guidelines
• Extensive customization options through theming and component props
• Large and active community with frequent updates and improvements

Cons

• Steeper learning curve compared to some lighter-weight alternatives
• Can be overkill for smaller projects or those not following Material Design
• Performance can be impacted when using many components or complex theming

shadcn-ui/ui is a collection of re-usable components built using Radix UI and Tailwind CSS, designed for easy customization and integration into React projects.

Code Example

import { Button } from "@/components/ui/button"

<Button variant="outline">Click me</Button>

Pros

• Offers a balance between customization and pre-built components, unlike fully pre-styled libraries like Material-UI or Chakra UI
• Integrates seamlessly with Tailwind CSS, making it easy to adapt to existing Tailwind projects
• Provides accessible and well-documented components, similar to more established libraries like Radix UI

Cons

• Less comprehensive than larger component libraries like Material-UI or Ant Design
• Requires more setup and configuration compared to plug-and-play solutions like React Bootstrap
• Has a smaller community and ecosystem compared to more established projects like Next.js or Storybook

Storybook is an open-source tool for developing UI components in isolation, allowing developers to create, test, and document components separately from the main application.

Code Example

import { Button } from './Button';

export default {
  title: 'Example/Button',
  component: Button,
};

export const Primary = () => <Button primary>Button</Button>;

Pros

• Provides a dedicated environment for component development, making it easier to focus on individual UI elements.
• Offers extensive documentation and addon ecosystem, enhancing the development experience.
• Supports multiple frontend frameworks, making it versatile for different project types.

Cons

• Requires additional setup and configuration, which can be time-consuming for smaller projects.
• Can increase project complexity and build times, especially for large applications.
• May have a steeper learning curve compared to simpler component libraries or UI frameworks.

brillout/awesome-react-components is a curated list of React components and libraries.

Pros

• Provides a comprehensive collection of React components and libraries in one place
• Regularly updated with new and popular components
• Offers a wide range of categories, making it easy to find specific types of components

Cons

• Not a code library itself, so it doesn't provide direct implementation
• May include outdated or less maintained components alongside popular ones
• Requires additional research to determine the best component for specific use cases