Need advice about which tool to choose?Ask the StackShare community!

Redux Observable

105
45
+ 1
0
redux-thunk

1.1K
182
+ 1
6
Add tool

Redux Observable vs redux-thunk: What are the differences?

Key Differences between Redux Observable and redux-thunk

1. Type of Middleware: Redux Observable is an advanced middleware for handling asynchronous actions in Redux, while redux-thunk is a middleware that allows writing asynchronous logic in Redux using plain JavaScript functions.

2. Action Dispatch Mechanism: In Redux Observable, actions are dispatched using the Epic concept, which is a function that takes an input stream of actions and returns an output stream of actions. This allows for more complex asynchronous flows to be easily managed. On the other hand, redux-thunk dispatches actions directly from action creators, allowing for simpler async logic but with less flexibility.

3. Complexity and Learning Curve: Redux Observable has a steeper learning curve compared to redux-thunk. It requires a good understanding of Reactive Programming, as it is built on top of RxJS observables. Redux-thunk, on the other hand, is easier to grasp as it is based on standard JavaScript functions.

4. Middleware Dependencies: Redux-thunk is a standalone middleware that can be easily integrated into any Redux application. In contrast, Redux Observable has additional dependencies on RxJS and requires additional setup for configuring and combining epics.

5. Time-based Asynchronous Actions: Redux Observable excels in handling time-based asynchronous actions, such as debouncing, throttling, and delaying actions based on different conditions. These can be easily achieved using the operators provided by RxJS. Redux-thunk does not provide built-in support for time-based actions and requires custom implementations.

6. Testing and Debugging: Redux Observable provides better testing and debugging capabilities compared to redux-thunk. It allows for easier testing of epics as they are pure functions, and provides debugging tools like time-traveling with the Redux DevTools extension. Redux-thunk, being less complex, may be easier to debug but has limited testing capabilities.

In summary, Redux Observable is a more advanced middleware that uses Reactive Programming and RxJS observables to handle complex asynchronous actions, while redux-thunk is a simpler middleware that allows basic asynchronous logic using plain JavaScript functions. Redux Observable provides more flexibility and advanced features, but comes with a steeper learning curve and additional dependencies. Redux-thunk, on the other hand, is easier to use and has a smaller footprint, but lacks some of the advanced capabilities provided by Redux Observable.

Get Advice from developers at your company using StackShare Enterprise. Sign up for StackShare Enterprise.
Learn More
Pros of Redux Observable
Pros of redux-thunk
    Be the first to leave a pro
    • 6
      Easy

    Sign up to add or upvote prosMake informed product decisions

    - No public GitHub repository available -

    What is Redux Observable?

    It allows developers to dispatch a function that returns an observable, promise or iterable of action(s). Compose and cancel async actions to create side effects and more.

    What is redux-thunk?

    Redux Thunk middleware allows you to write action creators that return a function instead of an action. The thunk can be used to delay the dispatch of an action, or to dispatch only if a certain condition is met. The inner function receives the store methods dispatch and getState as parameters.

    Need advice about which tool to choose?Ask the StackShare community!

    What companies use Redux Observable?
    What companies use redux-thunk?
    See which teams inside your own company are using Redux Observable or redux-thunk.
    Sign up for StackShare EnterpriseLearn More

    Sign up to get full access to all the companiesMake informed product decisions

    What tools integrate with Redux Observable?
    What tools integrate with redux-thunk?
      No integrations found
      What are some alternatives to Redux Observable and redux-thunk?
      redux-saga
      An alternative side effect model for Redux apps
      MobX
      MobX is a battle tested library that makes state management simple and scalable by transparently applying functional reactive programming (TFRP). React and MobX together are a powerful combination. React renders the application state by providing mechanisms to translate it into a tree of renderable components. MobX provides the mechanism to store and update the application state that React then uses.
      Redux
      It helps you write applications that behave consistently, run in different environments (client, server, and native), and are easy to test. t provides a great experience, such as live code editing combined with a time traveling debugger.
      RxJS
      RxJS is a library for reactive programming using Observables, to make it easier to compose asynchronous or callback-based code. This project is a rewrite of Reactive-Extensions/RxJS with better performance, better modularity, better debuggable call stacks, while staying mostly backwards compatible, with some breaking changes that reduce the API surface.
      vuex
      Vuex is a state management pattern + library for Vue.js applications. It serves as a centralized store for all the components in an application, with rules ensuring that the state can only be mutated in a predictable fashion. It also integrates with Vue's official devtools extension to provide advanced features such as zero-config time-travel debugging and state snapshot export / import.
      See all alternatives