Endless Scrolling vs Paging Library

Developers should implement endless scrolling when building applications with large datasets or content feeds where users benefit from uninterrupted exploration, such as in social media platforms like Facebook or Twitter meets developers should use the paging library when building android apps that need to display large lists or grids of data, such as social media feeds, product catalogs, or search results, to prevent memory issues and ensure smooth scrolling. Here's our take.

Endless Scrolling

Nice Pick

Developers should implement endless scrolling when building applications with large datasets or content feeds where users benefit from uninterrupted exploration, such as in social media platforms like Facebook or Twitter

Pros

• It improves user experience by reducing page reloads and keeping users engaged, but requires careful management of performance and accessibility considerations like keyboard navigation and scroll restoration
• Related to: javascript, react

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

Paging Library

Developers should use the Paging Library when building Android apps that need to display large lists or grids of data, such as social media feeds, product catalogs, or search results, to prevent memory issues and ensure smooth scrolling

Pros

• It is particularly useful for handling network or database queries with pagination, as it automatically loads data on-demand and integrates seamlessly with LiveData, Flow, and ViewModel for reactive UI updates
• Related to: android-jetpack, recyclerview

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

The Verdict

These tools serve different purposes. Endless Scrolling is a concept while Paging Library is a library. We picked Endless Scrolling based on overall popularity, but your choice depends on what you're building.

The Bottom Line

Endless Scrolling wins

Based on overall popularity. Endless Scrolling is more widely used, but Paging Library excels in its own space.