Observe the initial behavior

Oct 13, 2025 by leolavanderia.com.br 21 views

Introduction

When working with complex menu systems in React applications, it's not uncommon to encounter performance issues. One such issue is the sluggish behavior of hover tracking when switching between menus with and without submenus. In this article, we'll delve into the details of this problem, explore the reproduction steps, and discuss the expected behavior. We'll also examine a workaround that can help alleviate this issue.

Describe the Bug

When switching rendering between a menu that contains a submenu and a menu that doesn't contain a submenu, the state updating check for hovering becomes extremely sluggish. This can lead to a poor user experience, especially in applications where menu interactions are frequent.

To Reproduce

To reproduce this issue, follow these steps:

Render a nested menu: Start by rendering a menu that contains a submenu using the <ControlledMenu> component from the React-Menu library. Include both <SubMenu> and <MenuItem> components within the menu.
Observe the initial behavior: Observe that the hover checking is nice and speedy. The menu responds quickly to hover events, and the state updates are smooth.
Rerender the menu: Rerender the menu with new <MenuItem> components without the <SubMenu> components.
Observe the sluggish behavior: Observe that hover checking is now sluggish. The menu takes longer to respond to hover events, and the state updates are delayed.

Expected Behavior

The expected behavior is that the hover state updates just as fast as before. The menu should continue to respond quickly to hover events, and the state updates should remain smooth.

Workaround Found

If you have a stable key prop on the <ControlledMenu> component, which is updated whenever you change which context menu you are rendering, this problem goes away. By providing a unique key for each menu instance, React can efficiently manage the component tree and prevent the sluggish behavior.

Code Example

Here's an example code snippet that demonstrates the issue:

import React, { useState } from 'react';
import { ControlledMenu, SubMenu, MenuItem } from 'react-menu';

const App = () => {
  const [menuItems, setMenuItems] = useState([
    { label: 'Item 1' },
    { label: 'Item 2' },
    { label: 'Item 3' },
  ]);

  const handleMenuChange = () => {
    setMenuItems([
      { label: 'Item 1' },
      { label: 'Item 2' },
      { label: 'Item 3' },
    ]);
  };

  return (
    <div>
      <ControlledMenu
        items={menuItems}
        onItemSelect={(item) => console.log(item.label)}
      />
      <button onClick={handleMenuChange}>Change Menu</button>
    </div>
  );
};

In this example, the menuItems state is updated when the button is clicked, which triggers a rerender of the menu. However, if the key prop is not provided, the menu becomes sluggish.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the sluggish behavior of hover tracking when switching between menus with and without submenus is a known issue in React-Menu. By providing a stable key prop on the <ControlledMenu> component, you can alleviate this issue and ensure a smooth user experience. Remember to update the key prop whenever you change the context menu to prevent the sluggish behavior.

Troubleshooting Tips

If you're still experiencing issues with sluggish hover tracking, try the following troubleshooting tips:

Check that the key prop is being updated correctly when changing the context menu.
Verify that the menu items are being rendered correctly and that there are no unnecessary re-renders.
Use the React DevTools to inspect the component tree and identify any potential issues.

Introduction

In our previous article, we explored the issue of sluggish hover tracking when switching between menus with and without submenus in React applications. We also discussed a workaround that can help alleviate this issue by providing a stable key prop on the <ControlledMenu> component. In this article, we'll answer some frequently asked questions (FAQs) related to this issue.

Q: What causes the sluggish behavior of hover tracking?

A: The sluggish behavior of hover tracking is caused by the state updating check for hovering becoming extremely slow when switching between menus with and without submenus. This is due to the way React handles the component tree and the re-renders that occur when the menu is updated.

Q: Why does the sluggish behavior occur only when switching between menus with and without submenus?

A: The sluggish behavior occurs only when switching between menus with and without submenus because the menu items are being re-rendered and the state is being updated. When the menu is updated, React needs to re-render the component tree, which can lead to a delay in the hover tracking.

Q: Can I use a different library or component to resolve this issue?

A: Yes, you can use a different library or component to resolve this issue. However, it's essential to ensure that the new library or component is compatible with your existing codebase and doesn't introduce any new issues.

Q: How can I optimize my menu component to improve performance?

A: To optimize your menu component, you can try the following:

Use a stable key prop on the <ControlledMenu> component.
Use memoization to cache the menu items and prevent unnecessary re-renders.
Use a virtualized list to improve performance when dealing with large datasets.
Optimize the rendering of the menu items by using a more efficient rendering algorithm.

Q: Can I use a workaround to resolve this issue temporarily?

A: Yes, you can use a workaround to resolve this issue temporarily. One possible workaround is to use a different menu component that doesn't exhibit this issue. Alternatively, you can use a custom implementation of the menu component that optimizes the rendering and state updating.

Q: How can I prevent this issue from occurring in the future?

A: To prevent this issue from occurring in the future, you can follow best practices for optimizing your menu component, such as:

Using a stable key prop on the <ControlledMenu> component.
Memoizing the menu items to prevent unnecessary re-renders.
Using a virtualized list to improve performance when dealing with large datasets.
Optimizing the rendering of the menu items by using a more efficient rendering algorithm.

Q: Can I get help from the React-Menu community or the library maintainers?

A: Yes, you can get help from the React-Menu community or the library maintainers. You can reach out to them through the library's documentation, GitHub issues, or community forums. They may be able to provide additional guidance or assistance in resolving this issue.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the sluggish behavior of hover tracking when switching between menus with and without submenus is a known issue in React applications. By providing a stable key prop on the <ControlledMenu> component, you can alleviate this issue and ensure a smooth user experience. Remember to optimize your menu component by using memoization, virtualized lists, and efficient rendering algorithms to prevent this issue from occurring in the future.