Top 10 React Libraries to Watch in 2025

React has established itself as one of the most popular front-end libraries for building user interfaces. With its component-based architecture and strong community support, React continues to evolve, giving rise to innovative libraries that enhance its capabilities. As we step into 2025, let’s explore the top 10 React libraries that every developer should consider incorporating into their applications.

1. React Query

React Query has become the go-to library for managing server state in React applications. Instead of manually managing loading, error, and success states, React Query automates this process, making data fetching a breeze.

• Feature Highlights: Caching, automatic background updates, and request deduplication.
• Example Usage:

import { useQuery } from 'react-query';

const { data, error, isLoading } = useQuery('todos', fetchTodos);

React Query’s ability to manage complex data states leads to improved performance and a better user experience.

2. Recoil

Recoil is a state management library for React that provides a more flexible and scalable way to handle the global state compared to traditional options like Redux. It enables developers to work with atoms and selectors for efficient state management.

• Feature Highlights: Derived states via selectors and easy integration with existing React codebases.
• Example Usage:

import { atom, useRecoilState } from 'recoil';

const todoState = atom({
  key: 'todoState',
  default: [],
});

const TodoList = () => {
  const [todos, setTodos] = useRecoilState(todoState);

Recoil seamlessly integrates into React’s component model, making state management simpler and more intuitive.

3. Styled Components

For developers who prefer styling their components with CSS-in-JS, Styled Components remains a top choice in 2025. This library allows you to write styled components using ES6 syntax.

• Feature Highlights: Scoped styles, dynamic styling, and theming.
• Example Usage:

import styled from 'styled-components';

const Button = styled.button`
  background: green;
  color: white;
  padding: 10px;
  border: none;
  border-radius: 5px;
`;

const App = () => Click Me;

Styled Components enhance component reusability while keeping your styles organized and maintainable.

4. React Router

React Router remains the standard routing library for React applications, allowing developers to create dynamic and responsive navigation easily. With features like lazy loading and nested routes, it simplifies building complex UIs.

• Feature Highlights: Declarative routing and seamless integration with React.
• Example Usage:

import { BrowserRouter as Router, Route, Switch } from 'react-router-dom';

const App = () => (
  
    
      
      
    
  
);

React Router’s component-driven approach enhances developer productivity and application scalability.

5. Formik

Handling forms can be challenging in React, but Formik simplifies form management, validation, and submission. It allows developers to build complex forms with ease.

• Feature Highlights: Field validation and easy integration with third-party libraries.
• Example Usage:

import { Formik } from 'formik';

const MyForm = () => (
   console.log(values)}
  >
    {({ handleChange, handleSubmit }) => (
      
        
        Submit
      
    )}
  
);

Formik’s simplicity and powerful features make it a must-have for complex forms in React applications.

6. Ant Design

If you need a comprehensive design system, look no further than Ant Design. This library offers a wide range of high-quality UI components that adhere to the Ant Design specification, improving the development speed and consistency of your UI.

• Feature Highlights: Rich component library and customizable themes.
• Example Usage:

import { Button } from 'antd';

const App = () => Ant Design Button;

Ant Design’s polished components significantly enhance user interface quality and user experience.

7. Lottie for React

Lottie for React is a library that brings animations to your applications effortlessly. It renders animations created in Adobe After Effects in real-time, giving developers an edge in creating engaging UIs.

• Feature Highlights: Lightweight, easy to integrate, and versatile animations.
• Example Usage:

import Lottie from 'react-lottie';
import animationData from './animation.json';

const Animation = () => (
  
);

With Lottie, developers can create stunning animations that elevate user experience without compromising performance.

8. React Beautiful DnD

When it comes to drag-and-drop functionality, React Beautiful DnD is the go-to library for many developers. Built to handle complex drag-and-drop interactions, it integrates smoothly with React components.

• Feature Highlights: Beautifully animated drag-and-drop experience.
• Example Usage:

import { DragDropContext, Droppable, Draggable } from 'react-beautiful-dnd';

const App = () => (
   console.log(result)}>
    
      {(provided) => (
        

          
            {(provided) => 
Item 1
}
          
        
      )}
    
  
);

React Beautiful DnD ensures that drag-and-drop functionality is both intuitive and visually appealing for users.

9. React Hook Form

Managing form state can be cumbersome, but React Hook Form simplifies this via React hooks. It optimizes performance by minimizing re-renders, making it exceptionally fast for complex forms.

• Feature Highlights: Minimal re-renders and built-in validation support.
• Example Usage:

import { useForm } from 'react-hook-form';

const MyForm = () => {
  const { register, handleSubmit } = useForm();

  const onSubmit = data => console.log(data);
  
  return (
    
      
      
    
  );
};

React Hook Form makes form management in React simple, efficient, and enjoyable.

10. Next.js

For developers seeking a framework that seamlessly integrates with React, Next.js is an exciting option. It brings server-side rendering, static site generation, and API routes to the React ecosystem.

• Feature Highlights: Automatic code splitting and built-in routing.
• Example Usage:

import Link from 'next/link';

const Home = () => (
  
    Go to About Page
  
);

Next.js significantly boosts performance and SEO for React applications, making it an invaluable addition to modern web development.

Conclusion

As the React ecosystem continues to flourish in 2025, these ten libraries stand out as essential tools for any developer’s toolkit. Whether you’re looking to manage global state, create visually stunning UIs, or enhance your application’s performance, there’s a library here to meet your needs. Embracing these libraries will not only improve your development experience but will also lead to better applications that delight users.

Stay tuned for ongoing developments in the React ecosystem and continue to explore and experiment with these libraries as you build your next project!