When building modern React applications, efficient data fetching and caching are crucial for performance and user experience. In 2025, React Query and SWR remain the two most popular choices for handling server state in React. But which one is the best for your project?

In this blog, we’ll compare React Query and SWR based on features, performance, use cases, and real-world examples. By the end, you’ll have a clear understanding of which library best fits your needs.

What is React Query?

React Query is a powerful data-fetching and state management library that simplifies handling asynchronous data in React applications. It provides features like caching, background synchronization, pagination, and optimistic updates.

Key Features of React Query:

✅ Automatic caching – No need to manually store responses.
✅ Background synchronization – Keeps data fresh by refetching in the background.
✅ Optimistic updates – Instantly update UI before the server confirms changes.
✅ Pagination & infinite queries – Fetch data in chunks efficiently.
✅ Mutation management – Handle POST, PUT, DELETE operations seamlessly.

React Query Example:

import { useQuery, useMutation, QueryClient, QueryClientProvider } from 'react-query';

const queryClient = new QueryClient();

function fetchPosts() {
  return fetch('https://jsonplaceholder.typicode.com/posts').then(res => res.json());
}

function Posts() {
  const { data, error, isLoading } = useQuery('posts', fetchPosts);

  if (isLoading) return <p>Loading...</p>;
  if (error) return <p>Error loading data!</p>;

  return (
    <ul>
      {data.map(post => (
        <li key={post.id}>{post.title}</li>
      ))}
    </ul>
  );
}

export default function App() {
  return (
    <QueryClientProvider client={queryClient}>
      <Posts />
    </QueryClientProvider>
  );
}

What is SWR?

SWR (Stale-While-Revalidate) is a lightweight data-fetching library developed by Vercel. It focuses on performance by caching data and refetching it in the background for a seamless user experience.

Key Features of SWR:

✅ Fast and lightweight – Smaller bundle size compared to React Query.
✅ Stale-while-revalidate – Shows cached data first, then updates in the background.
✅ Automatic retries – Retries failed requests.
✅ SSR and Suspense support – Works well with Next.js.
✅ Built-in fetcher function – Uses native fetch for simplicity.

SWR Example

import useSWR from 'swr';

const fetcher = (url) => fetch(url).then((res) => res.json());

function Posts() {
  const { data, error, isLoading } = useSWR('https://jsonplaceholder.typicode.com/posts', fetcher);

  if (isLoading) return <p>Loading...</p>;
  if (error) return <p>Error loading data!</p>;

  return (
    <ul>
      {data.map(post => (
        <li key={post.id}>{post.title}</li>
      ))}
    </ul>
  );
}

export default function App() {
  return <Posts />;
}

When to Use React Query?

Use React Query if:

• Your app requires complex state management (CRUD operations, caching, mutations).

• You need built-in pagination, infinite scrolling, or optimistic updates.

• You are building a large-scale application with dynamic data.

When to Use SWR?

Use SWR if:

• You want a lightweight solution for simple data fetching.

• Your app primarily reads data without many mutations.

• You are using Next.js and need seamless SSR support.

Both React Query and SWR are fantastic choices for managing server state in React applications. Understanding their strengths and limitations will help you make the best decision for your project.

Which library do you prefer in 2025? Let me know in the comments! 😊

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