Unlock the Power of Sortable Tables in React
Creating a table to present data in an application can be a daunting task, especially when it comes to adding a sorting functionality. While there are libraries like React Table that can help, sometimes using libraries isn’t the best fit, especially if you want a simple table with total flexibility. In this tutorial, we’ll cover how to create a sortable table from scratch using React.
Creating the Table Markup
We’ll start by creating a React project with Create React App and setting up the development server. Next, we’ll create the table markup, splitting it into different component files for better organization. We’ll have a Table component as the parent, holding the TableHead and TableBody components.
Fetching and Rendering Table Data
Usually, we fetch table data from an API or backend server asynchronously. For this tutorial, we’ll generate some mock data from Mockaroo and store it in a JSON file. We’ll then import the data and store it in the state, passing it to the TableBody component via props.
Sorting the Table Data
To sort the table data, we’ll use the JavaScript sort() function, which knows how to collate and order items. We’ll also use the localeCompare() function to handle different data types, including strings, numbers, and dates.
Handling the onClick Event and Sorting Data
When we click a table header, we’ll keep track of the sort order and column using the useState Hook. We’ll then define the logic to switch the order on every header click, updating the table data accordingly.
Making the Table Reusable
To make the table reusable, we’ll extract the sorting logic into a custom Hook called useSortableTable. This will enable us to reuse the sorting functionality in different table components.
Enabling or Disabling Sorting for Specific Columns
We’ll add a sortable key to the columns items and specify a Boolean value to allow or disallow sorting for any column.
Displaying Icons to Indicate Sorting Direction
We’ll dynamically add class names to the table header element to display arrow icons indicating the sorting direction.
Implementing Editable Table Cells
To implement editable table cells, we’ll use the native input element, rendering it in place of a table cell when clicked. We’ll then handle the state updates as typical in React.
Optimizing Performance for Large Datasets
Finally, we’ll cover some strategies for optimizing performance when rendering large datasets in React, including pagination, virtualization, memoization, server-side sorting, and lazy loading.
By following this tutorial, you’ll learn how to create a sortable table from scratch using React, reuse the table logic, and optimize performance for large datasets.