kaminari vs will_paginate: What are the differences?

Introduction

This Markdown code provides a comparison between two popular pagination libraries: kaminari and will_paginate. These libraries are used in web development to separate large datasets into multiple pages, enhancing the user experience and improving performance. Below are the key differences between the two libraries.

1. Installation and Compatibility: Kaminari is compatible with both Rails and Sinatra frameworks, while will_paginate is primarily designed for Rails applications only. Kaminari can be installed as a gem in your project, while will_paginate requires manual installation by adding it to your Gemfile.

2. Syntax and Functionality: Kaminari utilizes a chaining syntax to paginate ActiveRecord queries, whereas will_paginate uses a method-based syntax. Kaminari provides more advanced features such as customizable views and AJAX support out of the box, while will_paginate requires additional setup for these functionalities.

3. Customization: Kaminari offers more customization options for pagination, allowing developers to define their own CSS classes, modify the default views, and implement custom pagination styles. Will_paginate also provides some customization options, but the level of control is not as extensive as Kaminari.

4. Query Compatibility: While both libraries work well with regular ActiveRecord queries, Kaminari has better compatibility with more complex queries involving joins, eager loading, and scopes. Will_paginate may require additional modifications or the use of specific ActiveRecord methods to handle these situations.

5. ActiveRecord Relation: Kaminari seamlessly integrates with ActiveRecord relations, allowing pagination directly on query results. Will_paginate, on the other hand, operates on arrays, which means it requires additional steps to paginate query results.

6. Pagination UI: Kaminari provides a clean and modern pagination UI by default, whereas will_paginate has a more basic and generic UI. Kaminari's default styling is more appealing and easily customizable, while will_paginate requires more manual CSS modifications to achieve a desired UI.

In summary, kaminari and will_paginate differ in terms of compatibility, syntax, customization options, query compatibility, integration with ActiveRecord relations, and pagination UI. While both libraries serve the purpose of pagination effectively, kaminari offers a more comprehensive and customizable solution for handling pagination in web applications.