In the ever-evolving React ecosystem, state management remains a critical aspect of building scalable and maintainable applications. While Redux has long been the go-to solution, newer libraries like Zustand and @tanstack/react-query (formerly React Query) have taken the spotlight, offering a simpler, more efficient, and modern approach. Together, they form a powerful duo that’s become the trendiest state management solution for projects of all sizes. So, what makes Zustand and TanStack React Query so special, and why is Redux losing its shine? Let’s dive in!

Zustand is a lightweight, hook-based state management library for React, developed by the pmndrs team. Unlike traditional state management libraries, Zustand provides a minimalistic API that leverages React Hooks to manage state in a simple, intuitive way. It’s designed to be flexible, performant, and easy to use, with a bundle size of just ~1KB (gzipped). Zustand allows you to create stores to manage global state without the boilerplate-heavy structure of Redux.
Here’s a quick example of a Zustand store:
1import create from 'zustand';
2
3interface CounterState {
4 count: number;
5 increase: () => void;
6 decrease: () => void;
7}
8
9const useCounterStore = create<CounterState>((set) => ({
10 count: 0,
11 increase: () => set((state) => ({ count: state.count + 1 })),
12 decrease: () => set((state) => ({ count: state.count - 1 })),
13}));
14
15export default useCounterStore;You can then use this store in a component:
1import useCounterStore from './counterStore';
2
3const Counter = () => {
4 const { count, increase, decrease } = useCounterStore();
5 return (
6 <div>
7 <p>Count: {count}</p>
8 <button onClick={increase}>Increase</button>
9 <button onClick={decrease}>Decrease</button>
10 </div>
11 );
12};Zustand’s simplicity, small size, and seamless integration with React Hooks make it a favorite for developers.
@tanstack/react-query is not a traditional state management library but a powerful tool for managing server state (data fetched from APIs). It simplifies data fetching, caching, synchronization, and error handling, making it an ideal companion for managing asynchronous data in React applications. React Query handles tasks like:
Here’s an example of fetching data with React Query:
1import { useQuery } from '@tanstack/react-query';
2
3const fetchTodos = async () => {
4 const response = await fetch('/api/todos');
5 return response.json();
6};
7
8const TodoList = () => {
9 const { data, isLoading, error } = useQuery(['todos'], fetchTodos);
10
11 if (isLoading) return <div>Loading...</div>;
12 if (error) return <div>Error: {error.message}</div>;
13
14 return (
15 <ul>
16 {data.map((todo) => (
17 <li key={todo.id}>{todo.title}</li>
18 ))}
19 </ul>
20 );
21};React Query’s focus on server state makes it a perfect complement to libraries like Zustand, which excels at managing client state.
The combination of Zustand and TanStack React Query has become a trend because it addresses the full spectrum of state management needs—client state (UI-related data) and server state (API data)—in a way that’s simple, scalable, and efficient. Here’s why this duo is dominating:
Zustand and React Query split responsibilities cleanly:
This separation avoids the complexity of forcing one library to handle both types of state, which Redux often struggles with. For example, Redux requires middleware like redux-thunk or redux-saga to manage async operations, adding boilerplate and complexity.
Zustand eliminates the need for Redux’s verbose setup (actions, reducers, dispatchers). Its API is intuitive and hook-based, requiring minimal code to get started. React Query further simplifies server state management by abstracting away the complexities of fetching, caching, and error handling. Together, they reduce development time and make codebases easier to maintain.
The Zustand + React Query combo scales effortlessly:
Both libraries are designed for modern React (Hooks and TypeScript). Zustand leverages Hooks for a natural developer experience, while React Query integrates seamlessly with React’s rendering model. They also support TypeScript natively, ensuring type-safe codebases without extra configuration.
Zustand and React Query have rapidly growing communities. Zustand’s middleware (e.g., devtools for Redux DevTools integration) and React Query’s extensive documentation and plugins make them developer-friendly. Projects like Awesome Zustand and TanStack’s ecosystem provide resources, examples, and integrations, ensuring long-term support.
Redux, once the king of state management, is no longer the default choice for many developers. Here’s why it’s being overshadowed by Zustand and React Query:
Redux requires defining actions, reducers, and dispatchers, leading to verbose code. Even with Redux Toolkit, which reduces some boilerplate, it’s still more complex than Zustand’s minimal API. For example, creating a simple counter in Redux involves multiple files, whereas Zustand handles it in a single store.
Redux wasn’t designed for server state management. Handling async operations requires middleware like redux-thunk or redux-saga, which add complexity and learning curves. React Query, by contrast, is purpose-built for server state, offering caching, refetching, and error handling out of the box.
Redux’s global store can lead to unnecessary re-renders if not optimized with tools like reselect. Zustand’s selective updates and React Query’s caching ensure better performance with less effort. For large applications, Redux can become a bottleneck if not carefully managed.
Redux’s concepts (e.g., actions, reducers, immutability) can be intimidating for beginners. Zustand’s hook-based API and React Query’s straightforward query system are more approachable, especially for developers familiar with React Hooks.
Redux predates React Hooks and Concurrent Mode, making it feel less native to modern React workflows. Zustand and React Query are built with Hooks and TypeScript in mind, aligning better with React’s current direction.
| Feature | Zustand + React Query | Zustand + React Query Redux |
| Boilerplate | Minimal, hook-based API | High, even with Redux Toolkit |
| Server State | React Query excels with caching, refetching | Requires middleware (thunk, saga) |
| Client State | Zustand’s simple stores | Complex actions/reducers |
| Performance | Selective updates, efficient caching | Can cause re-renders, needs optimization |
| Learning Curve | Easy, Hooks-based | Steeper, complex concepts |
| Bundle Size | ~1KB (Zustand) + ~10KB (React Query) | Larger, especially with middleware |
| Scalability | Great for small to large projects | Best for large, complex projects |
The Zustand + React Query combination shines because it’s flexible and scalable:
For example, in a social media app, Zustand can manage UI state (e.g., active tab, user preferences), while React Query handles API calls for posts, comments, and notifications, ensuring efficient data fetching and caching.
Zustand and @tanstack/react-query represent the future of state management in React. Their simplicity, performance, and flexibility make them the go-to choice for projects of all sizes, from quick prototypes to enterprise-grade applications. Redux, while still relevant for certain use cases, is being outpaced by these modern alternatives due to its complexity and outdated design.
If you’re looking to streamline your state management and build efficient, scalable React apps, give Zustand and React Query a try. Start with Zustand at zustand-demo.pmnd.rs and explore React Query at tanstack.com/query. Your codebase—and your team—will thank you!