The useless useCallback: React performance myths unpacked, with Dominik Dorfmeister

Dominik Dorfmeister unpacks the pitfalls of React’s useCallback and useMemo, revealing how these hooks often introduce more complexity than performance gains. He explores the promise of the React Compiler, the practical power of the “latest ref” pattern, and strategies to boost code readability and maintainability at scale.

Learn why overusing useEffect and manual memoization can do more harm than good, and how teams can level up their PR reviews and performance practices using tools like the ESLint React Compiler plugin.

Links

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tkdodo.eu
Github: https://github.com/tkdodo
X: https://x.com/TkDodo

Resources

The Useless useCallback: https://tkdodo.eu/blog/the-useless-use-callback

Chapters

00:00 Why talk about useCallback and useMemo
00:40 Are useCallback and useMemo actually useless?
02:00 When (if ever) memoization is worth it
07:30 Pitfalls of overusing memoization in PRs and team guidelines
12:10 Latest ref pattern as an alternative
18:40 React Compiler and ESLint support
23:30 Why self-reviews help catch unnecessary memoization
28:10 Do React docs encourage over-optimization?
33:00 Advice for React developers

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Special Guest: Dominik Dorfmeister.