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JavaScript Data Grid Libraries
Learn how you can use JavaScript data grid libraries to improve functionality and design elements while creating web or mobile applications.
The use of JavaScript data grid libraries in web and mobile apps has grown significantly. These tools can be utilized to make web designs for your site and add powerful functionality to any front-end web design.
In this article, I have compiled a list of the top 5 JavaScript libraries for developers. Feel free to familiarize yourself with some JavaScript best practices we’ve gathered as well.
What is a JavaScript Library?
A JavaScript library is a collection of pre-written JavaScript snippets that you can use to perform common tasks such as making requests to a server, manipulating the DOM, or animating elements on a page. Some popular JavaScript libraries include jQuery, React, and Vue.js. These libraries can make it easier to develop web applications by providing a set of reusable components and functions to build your app. They can help improve the performance of your app by providing optimized code that has been tested and debugged.
What is a JavaScript Data Grid Library?
A JavaScript data grid library is a software library that provides an organized way of displaying and manipulating large amounts of tabular data in a web browser. It allows developers to create interactive tables and grids that can be integrated into web applications. JavaScript data grid libraries also provide features such as sorting, filtering, and paging to help users navigate and understand the data. There are many JavaScript data grid libraries available, each with its own set of features and characteristics.
Why Data Grids are Important
Improved performance: Data grids can store and retrieve data more quickly than traditional databases, making them useful for applications that require fast access to large amounts of data.
Scalability: Data grids are designed to scale horizontally, meaning that they can easily handle increases in data volume and user requests by adding more servers to the grid.
High availability: Data grids can automatically replicate data across multiple servers, which makes them resistant to individual server failures and helps ensure that data is always available.
Data partitioning: Data grids can distribute data across multiple servers, which can make it easier to process large amounts of data in parallel.
Flexible data storage: Data grids can store a wide variety of data types, including structured, semi-structured, and unstructured data.
Ease of use: Many data grid libraries come with intuitive APIs and other tools that make it easy for developers to work with data grids.
Integration with other technologies: Data grids can be easily integrated with other technologies, such as in-memory databases and distributed cache systems.
Cost-effectiveness: Data grids can be more cost-effective than traditional databases for certain workloads, as they can handle large amounts of data and traffic with fewer resources.
The 5 Best Data Grid Libraries for your Project
1. AG Grid
AG Grid is a JavaScript data grid that allows you to manage large datasets with a lot of plug-and-play functionality. Although it was initially made for Angular, it now also supports JavaScript, React, and Vue. It supports real-time data streaming. It provides a simple open-source community version that is free to use, as well as a licensed, paid enterprise edition with more features. If you are working on a significant project, you should think about how using this data grid will benefit you and ease the burden of creating one from the start.
Features of AG Grid
Cell Rendering
CSV and Excel import/export
Chart integration
Keyboard navigation
Internationalization
Advanced in-table editing
Row and range selection
Installation
To install ag-grid
, you can use npm (Node Package Manager) or yarn package manager.
2. Handsontable
Handsontable is a JavaScript component that combines data grid features with a spreadsheet-like UX.
It works with well-known frameworks like Vue, React, and Angular. It’s simple to implement, flexible, and adaptable. It can be expanded with unique plugins, and you can edit the source code to customize it for your own product.
Features of Handsontable
Filtering data
Export to file
Validating data
Multiple column sorting
Merging cells
Freezing rows/columns
Context menu
Resizing rows/ columns
Hiding rows/columns
Comments
Sorting
Scrollbars
Installation
To install Handsontable, you can use npm by running the following command in your terminal:
3. Grid.js
Grid.js is a typescript-based JavaScript table plugin.
It supports JavaScript, Angular, React, and Vue. It is open source and free. You can create an advanced JavaScript table using clear and easy procedures thanks to the simplicity of Grid.js.
Features of Grid.js
Easy to use
React Native Support
Supports modern web browsers
Installation
Make sure you have Node.js and npm installed on your computer. Once you have Node.js and npm installed, you can install Grid.js using npm by running the following command in your terminal or command prompt:
This will install the latest version of Grid.js and all its dependencies.
4. Kendo UI
The Kendo UI grid is a data grid that is part of the Kendo UI library. There are versions of the Kendo UI Library for jQuery, Angular, Vue, and React. A community forum and feedback site are available. Customers that buy licenses receive expanded support services. The library is not a free or open-source project.
Features of Kendo UI
Row and toolbar templates
Filtering, sorting, selection, searching, and drag-and-drop
Globalization and localization
Column menus and multi-column headers
Inline, pop-up, and batch data editing
Installation
Kendo UI can be installed using npm by running the following command in your terminal or command prompt:
5. SlickGrid
SlickGrid is a free, open-source library built upon jQuery and jQuery UI.
For developers trying to design quick, adaptable, and feature-rich grid components, it offers an excellent balance of performance and customization. The grid is designed to accept an external component as a data source.
Features of SlickGrid
Virtual scrolling
Inline editing
Customization
Column resizing
Column reordering
Pluggable cell for matters and editors
Full keyboard navigation
Installation
To install SlickGrid, you can use npm. Then, open a terminal and navigate to the directory where you want to install SlickGrid. Run the following command:
What to Consider Before Choosing a JavaScript Data Grid Library
There are several things to consider before choosing a JavaScript data grid library:
Features: Consider the features that you need in a data grid library. For example, do you need support for filtering, sorting, searching, pagination, or inline editing?
Compatibility: Make sure that the library is compatible with the frameworks and libraries that you are using in your project.
Performance: Consider the performance of the library, especially if you are working with large datasets.
Documentation and community support: Check the documentation to see if it is easy to understand and comprehensive. It is also a good idea to check the community support for the library to see if there are active forums or if the library is being actively maintained.
License: Make sure the library is licensed in a way that allows you to use it in your project.
Integration: Consider how easy it is to integrate the library into your project. Do you need to write a lot of custom code to get it working, or is it easy to set up and get started with?
Conclusion
JavaScript data grid libraries have become an essential tool for web development. They are popular due to their ability to provide a fast, flexible, and efficient way to manage or present large amounts of data. There are many options available, each with its own unique features, capabilities, and limitations. Developers can choose from a variety of data grid libraries based on their specific needs and preferences. Whether you are looking for a library that provides a simple and easy-to-use interface, or one that offers advanced features, there is a JavaScript data grid library out there for you.