Choosing the right Data Grid is essential for building fast, user-friendly applications. Below is a concise overview of the most reliable JavaScript grids on the market — their capabilities, strengths, licensing, and when each one makes the most sense.

What a Data Grid Is

A data grid (or data table) displays information in a tabular format and supports operations like sorting, filtering, editing, and data visualization. While you can build your own grid, ready-made solutions save time and offer wide functionality.

Top JavaScript Data Grids

Webix Grid

Webix Grid is a standalone JavaScript grid available via npm. Known for exceptional rendering speed thanks to optimized rendering logic. Additionally, its lightweight packaging and modular structure make Webix a practical choice if you’re exploring which free grid integrates most easily with web components, as it embeds cleanly into custom elements and component-based architectures.

Core features

• Auto-configured columns
• Dynamic index columns
• Row/column spans
• Config loading from server or external files
• Subrows, subviews, split mode
• Drag-and-drop between grids
• 17 filters, 12 editors
• Support for math formulas
• Sparklines, skins

Strengths

• Consistent performance with large datasets
• Highly customizable
• No external dependencies
• Simple installation

Pricing

• Free (GPLv3)
• Commercial license from $749

Best for: enterprise web-apps and high-performance dashboards and apps where rendering speed matters most. Webix Grid also makes it easy to match the look and feel of a custom ui library or design system, thanks to its Skin Builder, configurable styling layers, and flexibility in adapting UI behavior.

AG Grid

AG Grid is a native JS grid with React, Angular, and Vue wrappers. Enterprise-ready and optimized for heavy data workloads.

Core features

• Built-in charts and sparklines
• Tree data support
• Rich animation system
• Extensive API
• Pivoting and advanced grouping
• Tool panels and design system

Strengths

• Enterprise-grade processing
• Deep customization
• Easy backend integration

Pricing

• Free MIT version
• Commercial license from $999

Best for: enterprise systems relying on interactive visualizations and pivoting.

DHTMLX Grid

DHTMLX Grid is a standalone JS grid designed for enterprise analytics. Comes in open-source and PRO editions.

Core features

• Advanced grouping and multi-sorting
• Custom summary rows
• Row expanders and TreeGrid mode
• Smooth drag-and-drop
• HTML content inside cells
• Various editors
• Frozen rows/columns
• Export to PDF, PNG, Excel, CSV

Strengths

• Excellent performance with large datasets
• Flexible configuration
• Spreadsheet-like interactions
• Easy integration with modern frameworks and REST APIs

Pricing

• Free GPL v2.0 version
• PRO version from $749

Best for: analytics dashboards and hierarchical data structures.

Bryntum Grid

Bryntum Grid is built in native JavaScript with React, Angular, and Vue wrappers. Uses a unique subgrid architecture for advanced layout control.

Core features

• Row pinning
• Grouped, draggable headers
• Infinite scroll
• Summary cells
• Frozen columns
• Separate scrollable subgrids
• SASS-based themes

Strengths

• Flexible API
• Highly configurable UI
• Clear separation via subgrids
• Thorough testing (Siesta)

Pricing

• Commercial license only, from $600/developer

Best for: apps with complex layouts and interactive UI requirements.

Syncfusion DataGrid

Syncfusion DataGrid is a part of the Syncfusion component suite. Filled with enterprise-focused features and optimized for corporate workflows.

Core features

• Column pinning/spanning
• Column menu (grouping, filtering, autofit)
• Popup row editing
• Custom validation
• Reactive aggregates
• Built-in charts

Strengths

• Mobile-first design
• Modular feature system
• Excel-like editing
• Strong performance at scale

Pricing

• Free community version
• Commercial license (pricing on request)

Best for: apps built around the Syncfusion ecosystem or requiring full enterprise infrastructure.

Handsontable

Handsontable is a hybrid between a grid and a spreadsheet. Offers an Excel-like user experience with 400+ supported formulas.

Core features

• Built-in and custom validation
• Multi-criteria sorting
• Conditional formatting
• Multi-level headers
• Row trimming
• Cell comments
• Extendable via custom plugins

Strengths

• Spreadsheet capability + grid functionality
• Familiar interface
• High performance with virtualization
• Customizable design system (Figma → CSS workflow)

Pricing

• Free for non-commercial use
• Commercial license from $899

Best for: applications that need spreadsheet behavior on top of standard grid operations.

ZingGrid

ZingGrid is a framework-agnostic grid that works with plain JS or any modern framework without wrappers.

Core features

• Batch editing
• Conditional formatting
• Data source adapters (GraphQL, Firebase, Django)
• Crosshair row/column highlighting
• Drilldown views
• Accessibility compliance

Strengths

• Quick setup, minimal configuration
• Flexible APIs
• High performance via infinite scroll and server-side paging

Pricing

• Free for non-profit use
• Commercial license from $100/domain

Best for: fast integration and simple setups without heavy enterprise requirements.

Summary: Which Grid Should You Choose?

Each JavaScript datagrid solves a different set of problems:

If performance is your top priority in 2026, Webix Grid is a strong candidate. It’s fast, free, and well documented, making it a practical choice for teams that want a high-performance JavaScript grid without a steep learning curve.

We hear you. That’s exactly why we created Webix Grid.

For years, Webix Datatable has powered data-heavy applications around the world as part of the Webix UI library. But sometimes all you need is a standalone JavaScript data grid component and nothing else.

Good news: Webix Grid is here. It’s leaner, faster, and completely independent from the Webix Core. So whether you’re building dashboards, CRMs, or admin panels, or you need to integrate a solid data grid into your app, that might have been built with other frameworks, you can now drop in a data grid without bringing in extras.

What is Webix Grid?

Webix Grid is a high-performance JavaScript DataGrid designed for displaying, sorting, filtering, and editing massive datasets. It’s everything developers loved about Webix Datatable, but now a standalone product.

Why Choose Webix Grid?

Here’s why developers and teams are choosing Webix Grid:

• 🔄 Lightweight & Fast
  Webix Grid is a high-performance datagrid that loads quickly and handles large datasets with ease.
• 🔗 Standalone & Simple
  No Webix Core required. Start in minutes with a few lines of code. Check out the Quick Start guide to see how easy it is.
• 🌟 Focused Features
  Sorting, filtering, editing, pagination, localization, drag-and-drop, keyboard navigation, all the essentials, nothing unnecessary. Discover Webix Grid key features to see if it’s right for your web apps.
• 💼 Cost-Effective
  Use the free open-source Webix Grid GPL version or buy a commercial license. Webix Grid comes with flexible licensing options and no hidden costs. To make an informed decision explore comparison Free Webix Grid GPL vs. Webix Grid Pro.
• 🛠️ Dedicated Support & Friendly Community
  Get answers fast from a team focused on Grid. Join the Webix Grid community to swap ideas, share code snippets, and solve problems together.

When Do You Need Just a Grid?

A DataGrid is one of the most essential tools in web development. It organizes, sorts, and edits massive datasets in a way that makes sense to users.

Here’s when choosing a standalone grid makes perfect sense:

• Dashboards and Admin Panels
  Easily manage users, products, or content with responsive, editable tables.
• Enhancing Existing Apps
  Integrate powerful data tables without rewriting your whole codebase.
• Handling Large Datasets
  Real-time filtering, sorting, and pagination with thousands (or millions) of records.
• Sticking to Budget
  Avoid paying for features you don’t need. Get just the grid.

Launch Offer: Save 20% on Webix Grid

To celebrate Webix Grid’s release, we’re offering 20% off for early adopters.

• Use promo code: WEBIXGRID20 at checkout
• Offer valid: August 4 — September 3

Get Webix Grid today and build fast, reliable data tables without the weight of a full UI library.

The Bottom Line

Webix Grid is everything you need in a JavaScript DataGrid, it is fast, lightweight, and affordable.

If you’re tired of over-engineered solutions and just want to get stuff done, this grid is for you.

Download Free Trial and start building better tables today.

If you’re wondering about the difference between Webix Datatable and Webix Grid, check out our Webix Grid release article.

The JavaScript DataGrid You’ve Been Waiting For: Meet Webix Grid was originally published in HackerNoon.com on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

As real developers, we rely on facts and logic, but when you click on another “JavaScript trends” article, you might be looking for answers to questions that bother you:

Should I trust JS with my new app in 2025? Is it worth learning pure JS? What about Typescript? Svelte, Vue or maybe React is better? How are things going with Angular? In this article we will try to answer such questions without leaving you alone with dry facts.

Every year JavaScript trends present us with something exciting, but there’s always a catch. 2025 is no exception. In this article we share the latest news in the world of JS, and in order not to be unfounded, we asked Webix developers who write in JS more often than recruiters say “React is a plus”. `This is not another trends list, this is hands-on insight from developers who debug in their dreams.

📈 JavaScript Is Still Rising

I would say that I really appreciate a wide variety of JS technologies: they are updating, developing, changing. It’s hard to say which of them is better — each has its own advantages and specific features. And that is the beauty of the choice you have. When you master one of the JS technologies, it becomes easier for you to gain an understanding of a new one.
Anastasiya, Software Developer, 5+ years’ experience

Just like new frameworks popping up, flashy gadgets come into our lives with the same enviable frequency. But no technological boom will replace the thing. Every day we still have to rack our brains, which we inherited from the Cro-Magnon man. Vanilla JS is something like a foundation; as you develop your knowledge and upgrade your skills in it, you will easily understand any new framework.

According to the TIOBE Programming Community index that indicates the popularity of programming languages, JavaScript is ranked sixth in May, 2025 gaining +0.66% if compared with May, 2024.

So, the next time you are wondering “Is it worth learning pure JS in 2026, 2027, 2028?” remember my analogy about the Cro-Magnon Man.

⚠️ TypeScript Is No Longer Optional

I like TypeScript because typing prevents you from making mistakes both now and in the future as the development of the product advances.
Helga, Head of Webix Support Team, 9+ years’ experience

Do you think code typing is a white-collar whim? Not so, today and tomorrow it’s a core developer skill.

It’s not just about mysterious undefined issues at 3AM, but about reducing the long-term cost of errors. If you’re still writing plain JavaScript, you’re moving out of the ecosystem.

What should you do?

• Try converting your personal or internal projects to TypeScript.
• Most developers struggle with complex generics. Mastering them will level you up beyond 90% of your peers.
• Even partial gradual typing is better than none.

TL;DR: TypeScript makes your code smarter, your life easier, and your errors fewer. Use it and become the best version of yourself before the market throws you out of the race.

🔥 Svelte is the New Black

I appreciate Svelte for its reduced boilerplate code, convenience in working with reactivity, and overall development experience.
Dmitry, Software Developer, 5+ years’ experience

Over the past 5 years, interest in React, Vue, and Angular went through their drama. Svelte… just shows stable statistics. Quietly. Consistently. Like that introvert who ends up running the company.

Why does Svelte win the hearts of developers around the world? It’s all about performance and simplicity. Svelte’s philosophy — “less is more” is right on target. It compiles to vanilla JS — the output is fast, optimized and elegant. You write less and ship faster.

What to do with this info?

• If you’re ready to dive into Svelte, create a tiny-small app to understand its compilation-based approach.
• Follow the development ecosystems, don’t forget about ready-made components and libraries (hello, SVAR UI) or subscribe and read our blog, where we publish news and trends from the technology world.

TL;DR: Lightweight, fast code, fun to learn, no runtime overhead and no virtual DOM — that’s why Svelte caught the developers’ fancy. It’s topping framework and job listings for the next few years: you’ll see.

🧱 Micro Frontends: Flexibility or a Maintenance Nightmare?

Micro frontend is a really good approach to building large systems.
Helga, Head of the Support Team, 9+ years’ experience

If you like LEGO (and who doesn’t?), micro frontends might be your thing. Nowadays instead of one huge monolithic app, companies are breaking down monolithic UIs into micro frontends now.

The good thing is that this provides greater flexibility when scaling, but the downside is that it forces you to adhere to strict architectural rules.

What to do and where to start?

• Such core principles as isolation, independence and integration shouldn’t surprise you, explore them.
• Explore micro frameworks like Webix Jet or Module Federation.
• Understand when not to use microfrontends (spoiler: small project, shared logic, or your CI/CD is already struggling).

TL;DR: Microfrontends are cool. But poorly designed microfrontends = chaos and duplication of dependencies.

⚔️ Vite Is Winning the Build Tool War

Let’s talk about Webpack killer. If you compare the number of downloads, you can see Vite’s exponential rise on the chart. Let’s figure out what makes it a favorite:

• Instant start even on large projects.
• Hot Module Replacement (HMR), which means displaying all changes without page reloading.
• Built-in support for most modern stacks I mentioned earlier.

What should you do?

• Move at least one project to Vite and see how clear and simple Developer Experience (DX) is.
• Studying Vite plugins for TypeScript, React and Svelte will definitely not be superfluous.

TL;DR: Vite is not just about speed, it changes the way you think about the development process. Is your team still using Webpack? You might already be behind.

🤖 AI Coding Tools Are Helping — and Hurting

It’s great to implement AI, but not blindly — solutions offered by the neuronet depend on your request and require a critical approach. Personally, I don’t want to lose the “creative” part of the job. Today, tools like Codeium and CoPilot make life much easier, e.g. they are good at covering your code with basic tests.
Helga, Head of the Support Team, 9+ years’ experience

Let’s not pretend anymore — in the nearest future, AI is in your editor, your browser, your terminal, everywhere. GitHub Copilot, Codeium, Tabnine, you’ve better name it. They auto-complete your code, generate tests, and even just wrote this paragraph (well, just kidding). Developers who blindly trust all AI coding tools suggestions risk producing bloated, insecure, or simply incorrect code. AI boosts both skill and ignorance every day.

What to do?

• Don’t trust AI with complex architectural decisions, and use it to solve routine tasks.
• Start by learning how to debug AI output.
• Make AI your partner, not your replacement.

TL;DR: Let the AI handle boilerplate. You focus on the genius stuff (like naming variables better than thingy).

🧠 Final thoughts

And in the meantime, have you figured out what you should be doing? One last thing:

• Try converting your codebase to TypeScript, you’ll result in less bugs.
• Learn Svelte if you haven’t already, we are pretty sure you’ll fall in love with it.
• Dive into microframeworks to increase your development speed.
• Try the promising Vite instead of the usual Webpack to build your next successful project.
• Distinguish between you and AI. You are the developer, the AI is just your assistant.

Read more in the article Top 10 JavaScript Trends in 2025.

👀 What’s Next

Let’s be honest — nobody can predict the exact future of JavaScript. But we’ll keep abreast for you and every year, this article will be updated with new technologies that move from emerging to essential.
Follow our blog or bookmark this page to stay ahead of the curve — not crushed under it.

👇 Got a trend you’re watching? Let’s talk in the comments.

Thank you for being a part of the community

Before you go:

• Be sure to clap and follow the writer ️👏️️
• Follow us: X | LinkedIn | YouTube | Newsletter | Podcast | Twitch
• Start your own free AI-powered blog on Differ 🚀
• Join our content creators community on Discord 🧑🏻‍💻
• For more content, visit plainenglish.io + stackademic.com

What’s Actually Changing in JavaScript — A Webix Research Report was originally published in JavaScript in Plain English on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Building a web app sometimes feels like assembling IKEA furniture without instructions. Do you carve every piece yourself (Vanilla JS), or grab a pre-built set (frameworks) and hope for the best? Let’s break it down.

What is Vanilla JavaScript?

Vanilla JS is just JavaScript — no frameworks, no libraries, just raw power of code. Think of it like making coffee:

• Vanilla JS: Grinding fresh beans, measuring water, brewing with precision.
• Frameworks: Pressing a button on a fancy coffee machine.

Both methods give you coffee, but one offers more control (and more ways to mess it up).

Despite rumors of its demise, giants like Google, Netflix, and Amazon still use vanilla JS under the hood. It’s everywhere — even in 2025.

Vanilla JS vs Frameworks: The Ultimate Showdown

When Vanilla JS Wins

Let’s explore some cases when plain JS may be the right choice for your next great business or fancy web application:

• Simple projects (landing pages, basic interactivity).
• Performance-critical apps (no framework bloat).
• You want to flex your raw JavaScript skills (respect++).
• Working within CMS platforms where frameworks aren’t supported.

When Frameworks Are Worth It

Here let’s mention when embracing frameworks can be as good as drinking hot chicken broth when you get sick.

• Complex apps with dynamic data (think React, Vue).
• You’re working in a growing team (nobody wants to maintain spaghetti code).
• You need reusable components (DRY code > reinventing the wheel).

Why Learning Vanilla JS First Is a Big Brain Move

Frameworks are cool until something breaks. Then you’re stuck Googling “why React hates me” at 2 AM.

Here’s why mastering Vanilla JS first makes sense:

1. You’ll need it anyway.
   Frameworks are built on JavaScript. Knowing JS helps you tweak and extend them.
2. Debug like a pro.
   No more “why is this undefined” existential crisis.
3. Frameworks come and go.
   jQuery walked so React could run. Who knows what’s next? JS is forever.
4. Pure JS = Faster Apps.
   Less overhead, better performance, fewer headaches.

Key JS Concepts to Know Before You Touch a Framework

• The DOM (no document.querySelector? No party).
• Closures & Scope (the secret sauce of JavaScript).
• Async/Await (because callback hell is real).
• this (not that, THIS).
• ES6+ Features (arrow functions, destructuring, and other magic).

We’ve described it all more detailed in our article: Vanilla JS vs JavaScript vs Frameworks, and When to Use Them

Frameworks & UI Libraries: The Best of Both Worlds

Sometimes Vanilla JS feels like a hand-coding CSS grid in Notepad. That’s where UI libraries like Webix shine.

Why Webix?

⚡ Pre-built components (tables, charts, file managers).

⚡ Super fast (renders large datasets in a snap).

⚡ Works with or without frameworks (because choice is power).

Build a data table in 5 lines:

Final Verdict

Vanilla JS is your foundation — master it first. But when complexity calls, frameworks and UI libraries help you build faster and smarter.

Rule of thumb: If your project starts feeling like a chaotic meme, it’s time for a framework.

🚀 Want a shortcut to clean UI? Try Webix — 100+ UI components without framework bloat.

Thank you for being a part of the community

Before you go:

• Be sure to clap and follow the writer ️👏️️
• Follow us: X | LinkedIn | YouTube | Newsletter | Podcast | Differ | Twitch
• Start your own free AI-powered blog on Differ 🚀
• Join our content creators community on Discord 🧑🏻‍💻
• For more content, visit plainenglish.io + stackademic.com

Vanilla JS vs JavaScript vs Frameworks: When to Reinvent the Wheel (And When to Just Steal One) was originally published in JavaScript in Plain English on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Why Does JavaScript Remain So Popular?

In this article, we explore the evolving JavaScript technologies that are sure to become an integral part of its ecosystem in the coming year, further strengthening the language.

Webix engineers are strong advocates of JavaScript. This core web technology helps them create and refine Webix widgets, offering a wide variety of modern tools. And we are certainly not alone in this professional passion.

According to the TIOBE Programming Community index, which reflects the popularity of programming languages, JavaScript ranked sixth in December 2024, gaining 1.72% compared to December 2023. This is the highest position for JS in the ranking since 2001.

Additionally, JavaScript remains the most popular technology according to the 2024 Developer Survey conducted by Stack Overflow, maintaining its leading position since their first survey.

The popularity of JavaScript drives the rapid development of its ecosystem, leading to the emergence and expansion of modern JS-based solutions. Let’s see which of them were highlighted by Webix software engineers.

Why Is TypeScript Gaining Popularity Over JavaScript?

TypeScript continues to strengthen its position and gain popularity within the developer community. According to Stack Overflow, it currently ranks fifth among the most popular programming technologies: 38.5% of respondents indicated that they heavily use it on a regular basis and plan to work with it in the near future. We are confident that this upward trend for TypeScript will continue.

But what makes it so popular? TypeScript adds an additional syntactic layer on top of JavaScript, allowing developers to use data types. Why is this so important? It enables better control over data types within the code and makes it easier to identify errors that occur when they are used incorrectly. TypeScript checks types during compilation, reducing the number of potential bugs at runtime. As a result, developers find it easier to create scalable and maintainable applications.

Svelte’s Rise Among JavaScript Frameworks

React, Angular, and Vue will remain leaders among JavaScript frameworks in 2025, but Svelte is quickly gaining ground. Known for its lightweight and fast applications, Svelte compiles code into highly optimized JavaScript, offering better performance, a simpler learning curve, and lower memory usage. Since the release of Svelte 5 in October 2024, its ecosystem continues to grow, making it a strong contender for future web development.

Read the full article about JS Trends in 2025 in our blog and stay up to date with the latest JS development news.

Thank you for being a part of the community

Before you go:

• Be sure to clap and follow the writer ️👏️️
• Follow us: X | LinkedIn | YouTube | Newsletter | Podcast
• Check out CoFeed, the smart way to stay up-to-date with the latest in tech 🧪
• Start your own free AI-powered blog on Differ 🚀
• Join our content creators community on Discord 🧑🏻‍💻
• For more content, visit plainenglish.io + stackademic.com

Will JavaScript Dominate Web Development in 2025? was originally published in JavaScript in Plain English on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Greetings to all from the Webix Team! We are here with fantastic news!

Let’s start and move from one piece of good news to another considering all the great offers and Webix library cutting-edge updates we have carefully prepared for you.

Black Friday & Cyber Monday

We have announced Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales, offering exclusive 15% and 25% discounts on our products.

You can choose the Webix Custom Pack License or the Webix Company Pack License and get a 15% discount.

However, we suggest discounts that are even more impressive — the Webix DevTeam Pack License and the Webix Unlim Pack License are available with a 25% discount, which is a great bargain.

Don’t miss this opportunity — go to our website, read the details and get your promo code!

Let’s see what other good news we are happy to share with you.

Webix 11.0 Release

Webix 11.0 release is out! What is so special about the updated version of the Webix library?

Well, Webix engineers continue refining the library and its complex widgets providing users with more and more sophisticated tools for designing efficient file, data, report, etc. management solutions.

Here are the key features and the opportunities of Webix 11.0:

- the library received core updates that extend its export to Excel functionalities. Users are now able to export images, as well as frozen rows and columns. Another update allows using all the functionalities of the third-party library PDF.js when working with the Webix PDF Viewer. And one more improvement helps handling browser limitations and makes the page orientation option available in a browser when users need to print a document.

- a new feature appeared in Report Manager — it is now possible to show treemap, table and chart reports as standalone widgets, which can be very useful in case you have different access levels for different users and need to isolate some of your reports;

- File Manager is now equipped with extended filters for searching files — the feature was introduced to facilitate work with big data sets: now you can easily look for files and folders choosing locations and setting the time range for searching;

- a wider range of opportunities for exporting/importing to/from Excel are now available in SpreadSheet: export of images, frozen rows and columns (these features are also available in the core), import of filters. Users can comfortably work with math methods in SpreadSheet (filter them), easily search for and replace data in cells, get cell references from cell IDs in a table and more.

Read our release article to learn more about Webix 11.0 enhancement.

Updated Webix React Integration

Last, but not least important news for today — we never forget about React followers and have updated React integration demos on our github. Check this Webix-React demo with general guidelines, then go to the updated Webix-React demo with complex widgets and see the examples of function and class components. Use the repositories and see how you can integrate Webix widgets into your React app.

For more details, read our Mastering React Integration: Updated Webix-React Demos article.

We hope that this news will boost not only your mood but also your productivity, helping to improve existing projects and inspiring you to create new ones.

The Webix Team wishes you all the best and happy coding!

Top JavaScript DataTables performance comparison

We are sure you are well aware of what a data table is, so let’s meet the participants of our analysis. They are popular JavaScript grids known as modern and powerful tools for big data management (just hold on a bit, we are going to check their performance very soon): Webix JavaScript DataTable, AG Grid, Kendo jQuery Data Grid and Bryntum Grid.

Kendo jQuery Data Grid

An advanced grid that covers a gamut of features, including adaptive rendering, column interaction, aggregates based on the selected data, rows and columns spanning, virtualization, keyboard navigation, in addition to basic grid functionalities.

Webix JavaScript DataTable

A powerful JavaScript widget suitable for working with BigData, equipped with the full range of features for handling data sets of varying complexity: sorting, paging, filtering, validation, drag-n-drop between tables, clipboard support, etc. The Webix JavaScript DataTable has a responsive UI and provides a number of advanced functionalities, including area selection, grid grouping, sparklines, advanced editor, subrows and subviews.

AG Grid

An interactive table for large data sets capable of filtering, sorting, resizing, selecting, editing data, etc. Supports a number of frameworks, including Angular, React and Vue. Provides the users with wide customization opportunities.

Bryntum Grid

A professional tool that can be integrated with Vue, Angular, React or Salesforce. The list of the features includes, but is not limited to locked columns, cell editing, custom cell rendering, rows and headers grouping, filtering and sorting.

It is worth noting that the choice of the JS grids was not accidental. On the one hand, the above-mentioned tables identify themselves as high-performance solutions complying with modern standards for big data handling. On the other — they are widely known for their quality and have quite a number of loyal customers proving they can efficiently manage complex matters associated with large data sets manipulations.

We are going to have two rounds of the performance competition evaluating the results of the participants and unveiling the winner of the former and the latter. We called them “The Rows Round” and “The Columns Round” as we check how the grids tackle the increasing numbers of rows and columns. We identified the subject of our research as grid performance rates in big data handling.

Can’t wait to see the results? We are well on the way to checking them out, but need to specify the conditions first.

Conditions

To carry out the comparison in an impartial way we will observe the following conditions:

• use default and simple setting for all the grids (we will only define the size of the columns, by the way, the same for all the participants);
• generate local data (the same data set) and measure JavaScript table initialization speed;
• use timestamps of the performance.now() method for evaluating performance;
• make the measurements in the same browser and on the same device (Chrome web browser, 16GB RAM device).

The Rows Round: How About Handling Millions of Rows?

We populated the tables with records, gradually making the data set bigger and bigger reaching the final point of 1,000,000 rows. If you look at the details in the chart below you will see that for some participants growing data volumes mean increased rendering time and lower performance, while some of them are almost insensitive (in terms of rendering time) to the size of the incoming data.

But let’s look more closely at the details: as you can see, all the JS data tables have a good showing when handling small to medium-sized data sets. The figures differ, but this difference cannot be detected by a human eye, which means no delays in rendering.

But as the number of rows is coming closer and closer to the final estimation point of one million rows things change dramatically — while Webix and Kendo continue showing consistently good results, AG Grid rendering time goes up after it passes the 100,000 mark, Bryntum becomes slower and slower with lags perceptible to the eye even sooner.

Table 1. Data table initialization time (rows), ms.

Here is the ranking of the participants in accordance with the rows rendering time:

Number #1 — Webix DataTable with the best performance;

Number #2 — Kendo jQuery DataGrid with consistently good results and just a bit behind Webix;

Number #3 — AG Grid with good performance up to the 100,000 mark, but with delays when the mark is passed.

Number #4 — Bryntum Grid with good results related to small-sized data sets, but with the rendering time rapidly going up with medium-sized and large ones.

The Columns Round: How About Managing Thousands of Columns?

In the second round, we measured the participants’ capabilities to successfully handle big numbers of columns: starting again with small data sets and progressing to the final mark of 1,000 columns.

You can find the outcomes of the Columns Round in the Chart below.

Here we have the following results: three out of four participants — Webix, AG Grid and Kendo — successfully managed data sets of varying size, while Bryntum could not make a good showing operating with noticeable lags in the case of medium-sized to large ones.

Table 2. Data table initialization time (columns), ms.

Thus, the ranking of the participants in terms of columns rendering time is as follows:

Number #1 — Webix DataTable with the invariably excellent rates irrespective of the data set size;

Number #2 — AG Grid with very good performance and very close to Webix, but still a bit behind;

Number #3 — Kendo jQuery Data Grid with very good results for small data sets, but left behind by Webix and AG Grid when populated with a bigger number of columns;

Number #4 — Bryntum Grid with a significant downturn in performance as the number of columns rises.

Webix JavaScript DataTable: Revealing the Winning Formula

Is it unexpected that the Webix JavaScript DataTable outperformed its rivals in the competition? Not really. It comes as no surprise to us.

The key to success in the case of Webix is the innovative approach to data rendering that ensures exceptionally high performance irrespective of the size of the data set your application needs to manage. Let’s consider some details to understand how it works.

Webix JS DataTable uses a lazy drawing strategy for rendering both rows and columns, which means that only visible elements are included into the DOM, so the amount of items rendered is limited and always the same. This helps to avoid performance issues and ensures the same rendering time, whatever the size of the data set. You do not have to worry about the amount of information your table needs to process and it becomes simply impossible to overload your grid.

On top of that, the widget has an in-built mechanism (available by default) to get around browser limits (the size of the browser container is not endless): the issue is resolved by rendering a certain amount of data and a scroll UI separately.

The above-mentioned techniques are an integral part of the Webix DataTable enhanced logic ensuring the flawless functioning of the data grid: no worries about the data amount, complex technical details or browser limitations.

You can find detailed information about Webix strategies for designing highly-efficient grids in the article Webix JS DataTable Best-in-class Performance.

Conclusion

Our research illustrates the way modern JavaScript grids cope with big amounts of information: most of them do a good job of handling large data sets providing high performance and outstanding rendering speed, while some are not yet able to demonstrate the same prominent results. Anyway, today we have a wide variety of top-quality tools to fit every customer’s taste — just choose whatever is best-suited for your business app. You can use this article as a starting point of your personal study on the benefits and drawbacks of the existing instruments adding the most innovative and efficient of them on your list — now you are definitely aware of the things to focus on when making a decision.

Top JS DataTables in 2025: Performance Comparison was originally published in HackerNoon.com on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Let’s delve into the advantages of having a web application representing your business in terms of enhanced efficiency, customer engagement and increased profit as a result.

Why are Web Apps Vital for Businesses?

1. Enhanced Accessibility

Web applications ensure quick and easy access to the product for both — your employees and customers, providing the possibilities for seamless collaboration and effective work for the former and anytime interaction with your product for the latter.

2. Streamlined Operations

Web applications contribute to business processes automation, help avoid doing repetitive tasks manually and significantly reduce human error. From inventory management systems to customer relationship management (CRM) tools, web applications help streamline operations uniting a number of complex features on the basis of a single platform. As a result, you save your employees’ time giving them the possibility to focus on strategic goals.

3. Improved Customer Engagement

In an era where customers’ experience is the number one concern, web apps equip businesses with the necessary tools for enhancing interaction with their clients. Features such as chatbots, customer portals, and personalized dashboards enable companies to offer tailored experiences that satisfy individual needs. With the help of data analytics tools within web applications, businesses can keep track of customer behavior, allowing for more targeted marketing strategies and improved service delivery.

4. Cost-Effectiveness

When you decide on developing a web app rather than a mobile app or traditional software, you gain a number of advantages. Being platform-agnostic, web applications help businesses significantly cut on the expenses associated with app support on different platforms or software maintenance on personal devices.

5. Scalability and Flexibility

Web applications have one more notable advantage — they are easily scalable and flexible in case your business faces user demand upsurge or the necessity of adding new functionalities. As your business grows your expenses on web application enhancement will grow proportionately, as you do not need to make extra investments associated with the entire modification of the software to meet the increasing demands of the customers and the market.

6. Enhanced Collaboration

Web applications facilitate interaction between team members providing a centralized platform that encompasses possibilities of quick and efficient communication, seamless task and project management. Tools for scheduling, document editing and exchanging messages provide a favorable environment for successful team work irrespective of the physical location of the team members which results in higher performance and faster project completion.

9. Competitive Advantage

Introduction of modern technologies will definitely help you stand out from the pack giving you a competitive advantage in the market. Web applications can provide you with unique functionalities that contribute to positive customer experiences and improve internal processes.

10. Real-Time Analytics

Analytics tools web applications are often equipped with allow enterprises to carry out real-time tracking of performance metrics. This approach ensures companies make accurate decisions relying on current trends and user behavior. Being aware of how things are functioning helps businesses upgrade their strategies for better results.

As you can see, in today’s competitive and saturated market, it is not an easy task to achieve lasting success without a well-designed web app.

Many leading companies utilize web applications to enhance their services — Google (eCommerce web app), Amazon (Google Docs and Google Sheets apps), Netflix (streaming platform) — and it is the very beginning of the list.

We have just considered the main reasons why it is crucial to have a web application, but what to do next if we decide on implementing one in our business? Well, a good question. And the answer is — we need to choose the best-suited type of a web app for our particular case. Let’s dive in.

Types of Web Applications

In this article, we are going to analyze 11 types of web apps considering the tasks they are most suited for, their advantages and disadvantages, as well as look at a number of widgets that can be integrated into this or that kind of an app to fully meet the needs of your business.

1. Static Web Applications

The distinctive feature of static web applications is that they contain a number of ready-made web pages with static content (static HTML templates, CSS and JavaScript files) and do not involve server-side processing, which means they need no server-side (backend) as the files are delivered directly to the user’s browser from the web server.

The simple nature of static web applications provides a number of advantages: they are easier to design and host, they offer a high level of performance, including fast loading, contributing to positive user experience.

However, this simplicity brings about a number of disadvantages: static web applications have limited interactivity and are not suitable for dynamic content.

The most common use cases of static web applications include corporate sites, resume and portfolio websites, products or services landings, blogs, documentation websites.

The widgets that can be used to create static web applications normally include basic HTML/CSS elements, e.g.:

- layouts widgets: carousel, accordion, layout;

- control widgets: button, color selectors, select;

- navigation widgets: sidebar, menu.

2. Dynamic Web Applications

Dynamic web applications are not static and they do not supply every user with the same content like static web applications do. In case of dynamic web applications, the data are generated in real-time on the server-side as a response to users’ actions on the client-side. As you can see, this type of application uses a request-response scenario for generating content, so it cannot function without a server (backend).

The advantages of choosing a dynamic web application for your business include more engaging and personalized user experience, high level of interactivity, scalability and flexibility.

However, there is the other side of the coin — as dynamic web apps use backend languages to ensure interaction with data stored on a server in databases, creating this type of apps is more complicated and expensive and it involves more server resources. When choosing this kind of application you also need to take care about an enhanced solution for tackling performance issues that come with its complexity.

The most common use cases of dynamic web applications include calendar sites, document and data management, forums, chats, social media platforms.

Here is a number of widgets that can be included into your dynamic web application:

- file management solutions, like Webix JavaScript File Manager that provides a wide functionality for document management systems together with enhanced user experience;

- time management solutions, like Webix JS Scheduler that equips you with modern tools for planning, booking items and scheduling;

- solution for messages exchange, like Webix Chat enabling you to integrate chat and messenger functionalities into your business app using a single complex widget with all necessary tools for effective communication.

- solution for working with table data, like Webix DataTable — deeply optimized widget for working with large datasets providing exceptionally high performance regardless of your dataset size.

You can find a detailed analysis of Webix DataTable performance in the article Webix JS DataTable Best-in-class Performance.

3. Single-Page Applications (SPAs)

A single-page application (SPA) is an application that does not use the traditional scenario of reloading the whole page in response to users’ actions. In case of an SPA, only a small part of a page that needs to be refreshed is re-rendered, which means that the data are updated dynamically. Users benefit from this behavior experiencing very fast loading. What’s more, frameworks for creating SPAs utilize a reusable components approach to avoid building repetitive UIs with the same functionality.

The advantages of SPAs include enhanced user experience, high loading speed, and fast navigation with minimum lags, fast prototyping and development.

The disadvantages are associated with SEO challenges. Search engines are more used to html while SPAs use dynamic loading via JS — as a result, your app SEO ranking can be low and you will need some extra efforts to tackle the issue. One more distinctive feature of SPAs is that their initial loading time is higher if compared to a traditional web application, as the whole app with all the resources must be loaded initially.

SPAs are commonly used to develop project management solutions, communication platforms, email services, booking platforms.

The examples of widgets that can be using for seamless SPAs design include:

- task management solutions, like Webix Kanban — a ready-to-use component with rich functionality which is designed to be easily built into any project management solution;

- solution for Agile project management, like JavaScript Gantt Chart, enabling you to effectively manage and monitor your projects and resources.

4. Multi-Page Web Applications (MPAs)

Multi-page web applications are more traditional apps with separate pages created by the server and sent to the web browser. The pages are loaded each time the user carries out an action. However, the issue of the full page reload can successfully be solved using AJAX that allows to avoid reloading the whole page — only the needed part of it is re-rendered.

The pros of multi-page applications include better SEO opportunities if compared with single-page applications, quick initial loading, scalability, and tracking opportunities for data analysis.

The cons are as follows: slower navigation, performance issues (resulting from a higher strain on the server), and higher costs as multi-page web applications need more server resources.

The examples of multi-page applications include blogging platforms and e-commerce websites.

Use the advanced data filtering solution — Webix JavaScript Filter to carry out complex filtering in your Multi-page web application.

5. Progressive Web Applications (PWAs)

Progressive web applications look and feel like native mobile apps, nevertheless they are mobile-first websites by nature (they need a browser engine to run them). PWAs combine the benefits of web and platform-specific applications: they can run on both web and mobile platforms from a single codebase, can be accessed directly from the web or installed on the user’s device like platform-specific apps, can function offline and in the background.

Even though PWAs have quite a number of advantages combining the best practices of web and mobile apps development, they still have some disadvantages, as they cannot provide the same level of performance if compared to native apps, have limited access to device features and higher battery consumption.

The examples of PWAs include online stores (PWA introduction contributes to better mobile conversion rates), online travel agencies, and communication platforms.

PWA is a modern technology offering advanced features associated with both web and mobile development. To benefit from this technology even more and make your PWA app even faster, you can use Webix library with a wide range of JS widgets for speeding up your app creation, implementing solutions for easy handling of complex data and introducing UI components with attractive design. In case you decide on building your app with Webix UI components, please, check Webix Jet — a micro framework for Webix UI-based applications.

6. Portal Web Applications

Portal web applications can provide access to a wide range of information, services, and other applications.

They often use access points to make sure only registered users have access to this or that type of content. It means, different categories of users can be directed to a particular section of the website with a customized interface (e.g. via their account). One more advantage of this approach is that the application provider can monitor some activities of the users. This is perfect for websites with paywalls or other strategies such as logins.

Popular educational platforms are the perfect example of this kind of a web app.

Use Webix JavaScript Form UI widget to implement users’ registration into your app providing access to specific content for different categories of your customers.

7. Content Management Systems (CMS)

Content Management Systems (CMS) are platforms that allow the users to create websites and manage content without coding knowledge. You can easily create and modify the content through the Graphic UI provided by the CMS.

CMSs supply you with templates and layouts where you can post your digital content using the admin panel. All the data you populate your website with is stored in a database and you do not need to worry about the technical part.

The benefits of CMS include easy and fast development, no technical skills required for basic functions, good customer service (like forms and chats) and improved SEO capabilities.

The following points can be considered as the drawbacks: overdependence on plugins, limited backend functionalities, necessity to maintain your website on a regular basis to avoid security vulnerabilities. One more thing to add here is that CMSs are not suitable for large projects with multiple processes.

The most typical examples of CMS include WordPress, Joomla, Drupal, etc.

8. E-commerce Web Applications

E-commerce web applications are complex systems used by businesses specializing in selling goods and services. Their main purpose is to make the purchasing process seamless for the users and efficient for the business owners. E-commerce web applications need to be scalable to manage increasing traffic and sales volumes successfully. As this type of a web app deals with customers’ personal information it must protect personal data efficiently as well.

The advantages of E-commerce web applications are scalability and flexibility, enhanced user experience, speed and efficiency.

The disadvantages include security and privacy concerns, internet connectivity dependence, and the need for robust infrastructure.

Webix library is well suited for creating e-commerce web applications, you can check this E-commerce marketplace JavaScript template to find out how to build UIs with the help of it.

9. Rich Internet Web Applications (RIAs)

RIAs are advanced web apps that behave like desktop applications and incorporate a number of characteristics of both the Internet and Personal Computers making them efficient in terms of performance, enhanced user experience, real-time engagement and interaction.

The technologies involved in RIAs creation include AJAX, HTML5, Flash, JavaScript frameworks/libraries allowing to design appealing user interfaces which are managed by a browser.

The advantages of RIAs are cross-platform compatibility, rich user interfaces, offline capabilities, and high performance.

The disadvantages include dependence on plugins and frameworks that can sometimes cause accessibility and compatibility issues.

As an example of RIAs we can mention online gaming platforms, interactive maps and services.

Please, check the pros of integrating Webix JavaScript Map UI widget into your interactive RIA for displaying data related to a particular region.

10. JavaScript-Powered Web Applications

JavaScript-powered web apps are applications that use JavaScript for both the client side and the server side. They use JavaScript frameworks (e.g., React, Angular) to create dynamic applications and are characterized by high performance and efficiency.

The advantages of JavaScript-powered web apps are interactivity, dynamic content, rich user interfaces, server-side compatibility (JS can be used on the server with Node.js), and the possibility of creating SPAs.

The disadvantages include a steeper learning curve and potential code bloat.

The examples of JavaScript-powered web apps include shopping platforms, data visualization tools, browser-based games.

11. Animated Web Applications

Animated web applications use animations for boosting user experience and engagement. Such applications utilize animation techniques over the traditional web technologies such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to enhance the user interface.

The benefits of this kind of a web application are improved interaction and engagement, efficient guidance through processes.

Nevertheless, animated web applications must be carefully designed to avoid performance issues due to overuse of complex animations.

Animated web applications are utilized for creating entertainment, e-learning and e-commerce platforms, dashboards, interactive tutorials.

Check Webix JavaScript widgets for data visualization that provide dynamic data visualization with animation and interactive features for your app.

Conclusion

Nowadays, it is imperative for all businesses that wish to be successful to own a web application. To begin with, a good web app can improve user experience, increase sales and enhance customers’ loyalty. Off-the-shelf software like Webix library eases the pressure of designing, developing and testing by doing a part of the work.

Using innovative tools like Webix can help achieve an impressive web traffic, as well as revenue generation. Being committed to innovation is a good strategy that will for sure facilitate your way to success. Choose the proper tool and you will gain even more fascinating and rewarding experience in this way.

When we set out to build an app or a website, one of the first challenges we face is choosing the right tools for our specific context. This task becomes even more complex given the wide array of libraries and frameworks available to JavaScript developers, alongside the options that come with programming in Vanilla JavaScript.

As JavaScript developers, we often appreciate the simplicity and lightweight nature of Vanilla JS. It offers a clean and straightforward approach to developing web applications without the overhead of frameworks. However, as the complexity of our applications grows, relying solely on Vanilla JavaScript can feel like a Sisyphean task. In this discussion, we’ll explore what Vanilla JS is and when it might be beneficial to consider using JavaScript libraries like Webix UI.

What is Vanilla JavaScript?

Vanilla JavaScript refers to plain JavaScript — the core language that runs in web browsers and enables the creation of interactive web applications.

Using Vanilla JS means employing the language in its most basic form to build applications without relying on additional tools. As a developer, you’re likely aware of the benefits of using Vanilla JavaScript. Let’s take a closer look at the two approaches: one that involves building your app with Vanilla JS and another that leverages modern frameworks.

Vanilla JS vs Framework: Why Frameworks Can’t Fully Replace Vanilla JavaScript

The idea of completely eliminating Vanilla JavaScript is appealing but ultimately impractical. While we can certainly study the topic and make an informed decision about whether to use Vanilla JS or one of the frameworks or libraries as our primary tool for building an app, it’s highly likely that we’ll still end up writing at least some code in plain JavaScript.

So, let’s explore this further in the article Vanilla JS vs Framework: When To Consider Using JavaScript Libraries.

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Vanilla JavaScript vs Frameworks: The Inescapable Basics was originally published in JavaScript in Plain English on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

In our new article we compared the functionality of both versions, showed what changed in “before and after”, and also provided snippets, where you can try both old and new Webix File Manager versions.

We also described some scenarios and mentioned showcase from our client when choosing JavaScript File Manager were a great decision.

Read more about Evolution of Webix JS File Manager in our new blog article: https://blog.webix.com/evolution-of-webix-js-file-manager/