When to Choose a UI Component Library for a React Project?

About starting a new React Project? Did you decide on what type of component you will land upon? Will you design it from scratch or use the popular UI component libraries? We also often swing into the same dilemma. Most of the times the situation provokes using a ready-to-use UI component library, and sometimes the condition is vice versa. In this write-up, we will help to segregate such conditions and apply the options which can bring the perfect results for your project development.

Let's start with understanding the concept of UI component Libraries for our noob developers.

What is a UI Component Library?

A dynamic collection of pre-made components, such as inputs and dialogues that may be used as building blocks for layouts in your application is known as a UI component library. You can arrange them in various ways due to their modular design to achieve customized and one-of-a-kind effects. Each library has its unique design features, with many adaptable themes. React Bootstrap, Ant Design, Material UI, and Semantic UI are well-known libraries.

As of now, you must have had an idea about the UI component library. Before going into a deeper aspect, we need to understand why using the UI component library is essential.

A Few Reasons Why You Should Choose Component Library?

Everything needs to have a reason to prove its worth. Similarly, we must find out the reason behind using the UI Component library is, of course, to save the developers' time. But this is not only the reason. Here are also some more reasons to use UI Component libraries.

Here are a few reasons why you should use the UI component library:

Speed:

As the component of the library is pre-built, the screen development time will automatically decrease. While using this library, you don't have to start your work from scratch, but you can mix and match the elements. It also often provides layout features like a responsive grid and input validation.

Customization:

Of course, the power of customization is no less than a boon. You can easily access this book by using the UI component library. You can cut the boring look with the same design language daily, as the component library allows you to have a friendly-looking default theme. Though the approach might differ depending on the library's nature, they all can change how things look.

Easy to use:

As the nature of the library is no code mode, it is easy to use. The libraries are so well aligned with clear documentation that anyone, even non-technical personnel, can effortlessly understand it. The best part is simply copying and pasting code to complete your work.

So, these were some of the benefits of using UI components. Now shifting back to our core topic, let's discuss some user cases using the UI Component library.

When to use UI Component Library for your React Project?

We all can agree on the fact that the benefits of UI components are truly undeniable. But these can always be equally helpful, and this is debatable. It completely relies upon the nature of your project.

In simple words, if we want to quote, we can say that the UI component library can only be helpful to a more functional project than that of visual effects.

Confused?

Let us understand it with these examples:

Administration Pannel:

While developing an administration panel, all you need is an intuitive and responsive interface so that people can easily operate the app. In such development conditions, the priority is smooth functionality, not the visual appearance. Hence, this is the ideal condition for using the UI component library.

Proof of Concept:

You can use UI components for your prototyping to have an intuitive design. You can get the best interface and use them when you must test your app functionality with almost minimal resources. Component libraries are excellent for prototyping as they make it possible to develop interfaces quickly.

Aligned Interest Projects:

Component libraries come with a crucial warning: you must ensure everyone working on the project is on the same page. Before moving on, you should keep everyone aware of the benefits and drawbacks of the solution once the designer and client have agreed on the library. You can control client expectations by making the library's features clear from the beginning.

No Design Projects:

As the name suggests, sometimes you need an intuitive and engaging application that does not involve much visual design. The UI component library is all you need in such a design need.

From the above case scenario, we can summarize the concept that the UI component helps you get a robust, agile and intuitive development but is a weak option for visual beautification.

So, now after having a complete overview of to be or not to be, it's time to dive into the next concept of understanding how to choose a UI Component library.

How to Pick on your UI Component?

Before choosing your UI component library, you should be careful in your research. Define your criteria according to your needs and requirements. Post that, you need to consider the following points:

Number of Components:

You must ensure that the quantity of components offered is available and that they fulfil your requirements. Some libraries only implement the bare minimum, leaving the rest up to you. This can be useful, but it becomes a challenge in some circumstances when there are few teams and application logic must take precedence over design.

The exposed properties:

Have a good start by having a library with the necessary components. You should examine the exposed characteristics, though. The attributes determine how the app appears and feels. Library libraries should contain adequate characteristics to prevent building too many components and causing maintenance problems.

Personalization:

An essential aspect of the component library is how they allow you to have a personalized touch. According to the app's nature, some are happy with minimal customization, and some need extensive. These libraries are the "much needed" helping hand in the way, but you need to be more vigilant.

You should keep these elements in mind, as they can help you choose the perfect UI component Library for your application development.