SWR

swr.vercel.app

React Hooks library for data fetching with cache, revalidation, and focus tracking.

Overview

SWR is a minimal React library for data fetching that keeps your UI fast, consistent, and always up to date. It provides a single hook (`useSWR`) that manages requests, caches responses, and keeps data fresh with built-in features like automatic revalidation, request deduplication, and error handling.

The library is lightweight and agnostic to your data source—it works with REST APIs, GraphQL, or custom fetchers. It includes native React ergonomics with support for Suspense, SSR, and SSG, plus utilities for pagination, streaming, and realtime updates.

SWR solves common data-fetching challenges by allowing components to independently declare their data dependencies, eliminating prop drilling and simplifying state management in complex applications.

Key features

  • Single React hook for data fetching
  • Built-in caching and request deduplication
  • Automatic revalidation on focus and network recovery
  • Suspense support
  • SSR and SSG compatible
  • Lightweight API surface
  • Works with REST, GraphQL, and custom fetchers
  • Optimistic UI mutations
Pros
  • Minimal API with powerful features
  • Automatic request deduplication reduces server load
  • Works seamlessly with any data source
  • Native React patterns and Suspense support
  • Eliminates prop drilling for data dependencies
  • Automatic background revalidation keeps data fresh
Cons
  • Requires understanding of React hooks
  • Learning curve for advanced features like middleware
  • Limited to React applications
Use this if
You're building React applications that need efficient data fetching with automatic caching and revalidation, or you want to simplify data management across your component tree.
Skip this if
You're not using React, or you need a full-featured state management solution beyond data fetching.

Best for

React applications needing efficient data fetchingBuilding fast and responsive UIsReducing API request overheadSimplifying data management in component treesApplications requiring automatic revalidation

Alternatives

React QueryApollo ClientAxiosFetch API with custom hooks

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