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    push vs concat performance large arrays JavaScript array methods immutability state management React state updates array manipulation benchmarks


What are the performance implications of using push vs concat in large arrays


The performance implications of using `push` vs `concat` in large arrays depend on several factors:

Performance Benchmarks

1. Concat:
- Slow: Creates a new array, which can lead to significant memory usage and slower performance, especially for large arrays.
- Example: Concatenating two arrays of size 10,000 each, `concat` performs at 0.40 ops/sec, while `push` performs at 378 ops/sec[1].

2. Push:
- Fast: Modifies the original array in-place, which is generally faster and more memory-efficient.
- Example: Pushing elements from one array to another, `push` performs significantly faster than `concat`[1].

Immutability and State Management

1. Immutability:
- Concat: Ensures immutability by creating a new array, which is essential for state management in React and other applications.
- Push: Mutates the original array, which can lead to unexpected behavior and bugs.

2. State Management:
- React: Uses immutability to ensure that state changes are properly detected and re-rendered. `concat` ensures immutability, making it suitable for state updates in React.

Best Practices

1. Use `concat` for State Updates:
- When updating state in React, use `concat` to ensure immutability and avoid unexpected behavior.

2. Use `push` for Performance:
- For performance-critical applications, use `push` to modify the original array in-place.

3. Avoid Mutating State:
- Avoid mutating state directly using methods like `push` or `splice`. Instead, create a new state object with the updated values.

Conclusion

In summary, when it comes to large arrays, `push` is generally faster and more memory-efficient, while `concat` ensures immutability. The choice between the two methods depends on the specific requirements of your application, including performance, state management, and immutability.

Citations:
[1] https://dev.to/uilicious/javascript-array-push-is-945x-faster-than-array-concat-1oki
[2] https://dev.to/uilicious/javascript-array-push-is-945x-faster-than-array-concat-1oki/comments
[3] https://stackoverflow.com/questions/25339803/javascript-concat-vs-push-benchmark
[4] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=19991339
[5] https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/merging-arrays-without-impacting-performance-gopesh-tiwari