Redux vs Redux Toolkit : Which is Better?

Redux is a popular state management library for JavaScript applications, especially in React. However, managing state in traditional Redux requires boilerplate code, which led to the introduction of Redux Toolkit (RTK).

In this article, we will compare Redux and Redux Toolkit, explaining their differences, advantages, and which one you should use in modern applications.

1. What is Redux?

Redux is a predictable state container for JavaScript applications. It follows a unidirectional data flow where the state is managed in a single store and updated through actions and reducers.

Key Concepts of Redux

Store: The central place where the application’s state is stored.
Actions: Plain JavaScript objects that describe an event (e.g., "USER_LOGGED_IN").
Reducers: Functions that take the current state and an action and return a new state.
Dispatch: The method used to send actions to reducers.
Selectors: Functions to retrieve specific data from the Redux store.

Problems with Traditional Redux

While Redux provides a structured way to manage state, it has some downsides:

Too much boilerplate code – Developers have to manually write action types, action creators, and reducers.
Complex configuration – Setting up Redux with middleware (like redux-thunk or redux-saga) requires additional effort.
Immutability handling – Developers must manually ensure state immutability, often using spread operators (...).

Because of these challenges, Redux Toolkit (RTK) was introduced.

2. What is Redux Toolkit?

Redux Toolkit (RTK) is the official, recommended way to use Redux. It simplifies Redux development by reducing boilerplate code, handling immutable updates efficiently, and integrating middleware by default.

Key Features of Redux Toolkit

Simplified syntax with createSlice().
Built-in Thunk support for async operations.
Automatic immutability handling with Immer.js.
Better developer experience with configureStore().

3. Key Differences Between Redux and Redux Toolkit

Feature	Traditional Redux	Redux Toolkit (RTK)
Boilerplate Code	High (manual actions, reducers)	Low (auto-generates actions, reducers)
State Management	Manual updates using spread (`...state`)	Uses Immer.js for easy immutable updates
Middleware Setup	Manual (`redux-thunk` required)	Pre-configured with Thunk
Async Handling	Complex (`redux-thunk`, `redux-saga`)	Built-in with `createAsyncThunk()`
Store Configuration	Manually set up `combineReducers`	Uses `configureStore()` for simpler setup
Performance	Standard performance	Optimized with automatic batching

Now, let’s dive into the implementation differences.

4. Code Comparison: Redux vs Redux Toolkit

Traditional Redux Example

Here’s how we define a counter feature using classic Redux:

Step 1: Define Action Types

const INCREMENT = "INCREMENT";
const DECREMENT = "DECREMENT";

Step 2: Create Action Creators

const increment = () => ({ type: INCREMENT });
const decrement = () => ({ type: DECREMENT });

Step 3: Define the Reducer

const initialState = { count: 0 };

const counterReducer = (state = initialState, action) => {
  switch (action.type) {
    case INCREMENT:
      return { ...state, count: state.count + 1 };
    case DECREMENT:
      return { ...state, count: state.count - 1 };
    default:
      return state;
  }
};

Step 4: Create the Store

import { createStore } from "redux";

const store = createStore(counterReducer);
export default store;

This requires multiple steps to set up actions, reducers, and the store.

Redux Toolkit Implementation

With RTK, the same counter logic can be written in fewer lines using createSlice():

Step 1: Define Slice (Actions + Reducers in One Place)

import { createSlice, configureStore } from "@reduxjs/toolkit";

const counterSlice = createSlice({
  name: "counter",
  initialState: { count: 0 },
  reducers: {
    increment: (state) => { state.count += 1; },
    decrement: (state) => { state.count -= 1; },
  }
});

export const { increment, decrement } = counterSlice.actions;

const store = configureStore({ reducer: counterSlice.reducer });

export default store;

✅ Why is this better?

No need to define action types manually (RTK does it for you).
Reducers modify state directly (RTK uses Immer.js under the hood).
Store setup is simpler with configureStore().

5. Handling Asynchronous Actions (API Calls)

Traditional Redux (With Thunk)

const fetchData = () => {
  return async (dispatch) => {
    dispatch({ type: "FETCH_REQUEST" });
    try {
      const response = await fetch("https://api.example.com/data");
      const data = await response.json();
      dispatch({ type: "FETCH_SUCCESS", payload: data });
    } catch (error) {
      dispatch({ type: "FETCH_ERROR", payload: error.message });
    }
  };
};

Redux Toolkit (With createAsyncThunk)

import { createAsyncThunk, createSlice, configureStore } from "@reduxjs/toolkit";

export const fetchData = createAsyncThunk("data/fetch", async () => {
  const response = await fetch("https://api.example.com/data");
  return response.json();
});

const dataSlice = createSlice({
  name: "data",
  initialState: { items: [], status: "idle" },
  extraReducers: (builder) => {
    builder
      .addCase(fetchData.pending, (state) => { state.status = "loading"; })
      .addCase(fetchData.fulfilled, (state, action) => { 
        state.status = "succeeded";
        state.items = action.payload;
      })
      .addCase(fetchData.rejected, (state) => { state.status = "failed"; });
  }
});

const store = configureStore({ reducer: dataSlice.reducer });

export default store;

✅ Why is RTK Better?

Handles async logic in a structured way with createAsyncThunk().
Reduces need for extra action types like FETCH_REQUEST, FETCH_SUCCESS, FETCH_ERROR.
Cleaner and more readable code.

6. Should You Use Redux or Redux Toolkit?

Use Redux If:

✔ You have an existing project built with traditional Redux.
✔ You prefer manually handling reducers, actions, and middleware.

Use Redux Toolkit If:

✔ You are starting a new project (RTK is now the recommended approach).
✔ You want less boilerplate and better performance.
✔ You need built-in async handling for API calls.
✔ You prefer easier store configuration.

7. Conclusion: Redux Toolkit is the Future

While Redux is still widely used, Redux Toolkit (RTK) is the recommended approach for modern applications. It simplifies state management, reduces boilerplate code, and improves performance with built-in tools.

If you are working on a new React project, using Redux Toolkit is the best choice. 🚀

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