What is InteractionManager and How is it Used in React Native?
InteractionManager is a native module in React Native that allows developers to schedule long-running tasks to run after all ongoing interactions or animations have completed. This ensures that animations and user interactions are given priority, thereby improving the performance and responsiveness of the application.
Key Methods of InteractionManager
runAfterInteractions(callback):
This method schedules a function to run after all interactions have completed. It takes a callback function as an argument and returns a cancellable promise. This is the primary method used to delay tasks until after interactions are finished[2][3][4][7][10].
createInteractionHandle():
This method notifies the InteractionManager that an interaction has started. It returns a handle that can be used to manage the interaction[3][7][10].
clearInteractionHandle(handle):
This method is used to notify the InteractionManager that an interaction has completed. It takes the handle returned by createInteractionHandle() as an argument[3][7][10].
setDeadline(deadline):
This method sets a deadline for the execution of tasks. If a positive number is provided, tasks will be scheduled to run after the event loop running time hits the deadline value. Otherwise, all tasks will be executed in one setImmediate batch by default[3][7][10].
Usage and Benefits
InteractionManager is particularly useful for improving the performance of animations and user interactions in React Native applications. By delaying the execution of resource-intensive tasks until after interactions are complete, it helps in making animations smoother and the app more responsive. Here are some common use cases:
Smooth Animations:
When performing animations, you can use InteractionManager.runAfterInteractions() to delay tasks that might otherwise cause the animation to stutter or lag. For example, loading additional data or performing heavy computations can be delayed until after the animation is complete[2][4][7].
Improving User Experience:
By ensuring that animations and interactions are prioritized, the app feels more polished and professional. This can significantly enhance the perceived performance of the application[2][4].
Handling Complex Navigation:
In scenarios where complex navigation transitions are involved, InteractionManager.runAfterInteractions() can be used to delay the rendering of heavy components until after the navigation animation has finished, thereby avoiding slow transitions[12].
