flash-list

FlashList is a list component for React Native, the framework developers use to build mobile apps that run on both iOS and Android from a single codebase. It was created by Shopify to replace the built-in FlatList component, which is the standard way to display long scrollable lists in React Native apps but has known performance problems.

The main problem FlashList solves is blank cells. When you scroll quickly through a long list in a typical React Native app, the screen often shows empty white boxes momentarily while the app catches up. FlashList avoids this by recycling the row components that have scrolled off-screen rather than destroying and recreating them, keeping visible content ready at all times.

Version 2 of FlashList, which this repository now reflects, was rewritten to work with React Native's new architecture. A notable change from version 1 is that no size estimates are needed: the component figures out item dimensions automatically. The new version is also JavaScript-only, meaning it has no native code dependencies that would require extra compilation steps.

For developers already using FlatList, switching to FlashList is designed to take only a line or two of code: the API is intentionally close to what FlatList already provides. The library also supports more advanced layouts, including masonry grids similar to Pinterest where items can have different heights.

Installation is done via yarn or npm. The repository includes a full example app in the fixture directory, and documentation is hosted at the project's website. Version 1 documentation remains accessible separately for anyone not yet on the new architecture.