The Google team chose to use Incremental DOM over Virtual DOM primarily for performance optimization, particularly concerning memory usage and the efficiency of updates on mobile devices. Here are the detailed reasons for their choice:
Optimized Memory Usage: Incremental DOM does not require the creation of a full virtual tree in memory. Instead, it updates the DOM in-place. This approach significantly reduces memory allocation and the potential for garbage collection thrashing, which is particularly beneficial for mobile devices with limited memory[1][2][4][6][7].
Tree Shakability: Incremental DOM allows for tree shaking, meaning that any unused instructions can be omitted at compile time. This reduces the bundle size because only the necessary code is included. Virtual DOM, by contrast, requires shipping the entire code necessary for creating and diffing virtual trees, regardless of what is actually used at runtime[2][6][7].
Efficiency on Mobile Devices: The decision to use Incremental DOM was also driven by the need to optimize applications for mobile devices. The smaller memory footprint and the reduced bundle size contribute to better performance on these devices, which often have less powerful processors and less memory compared to desktop devices[2][6][7].
Direct Updates Without Intermediate Representation: Incremental DOM updat...
