How to Get More Results Out of Your JavaScript Grid Libraries

Showing a large volume of information at once on a website without affecting the loading speed while allowing users to do complex operations on the data is quite challenging. To solve this problem, web developers can use data grids that render data in rows and columns similar to an HTML table.

Today, several JavaScript grid libraries, such as Sencha Ext JS, allow users to load millions of records efficiently and do useful operations such as sorting, scrolling, filtering, and grouping. However, you must know how to get more results out of a JavaScript grid library so that users can get the maximum benefit and the best experience in table operations.

If you are a web developer looking forward to using our JavaScript grid library, follow this article to know how you can get the most out of it.

Why do you need to use pagination?

When there is more information to load, rendering it in one page may require users to unnecessarily scroll through the page, which will affect the user experience. In such cases, you can use pagination, allowing users to view the entire data set by navigating through pages. Most javascript grid libraries come with support for pagination.

Ext JS grid library also offers an automatic pagination option through its specialized toolbar that loads part of the data on one page. Therefore, always ensure to use the pagination option to make a web page less complicated and user-friendly.

How to integrate Widgets into your grid?

Sometimes data in a grid can show important information to the users, such as trends, patterns, progresses, and percentages. It will be really helpful if there is a way to visualize the patterns hidden on those data to better understand the story behind the numbers in grid columns. For such scenarios, some JavaScript Libraries provide the ability to integrate UI widgets for data visualization. For example, Ext Js Grid Library, allows you to add UI components or widgets such as bar charts, buttons, inline graphs, etc., into columns.

Why is Pivoting important?

If you want to show information summaries to your users, make the best out of pivoting in grid libraries. A pivot grid helps to show summaries from a large amount of information. It also enables users to understand the useful insights from the loaded data set. For example, suppose you are developing a web application for a company that helps management to understand which products have the most sales. In that case, you can easily show that information using pivoting.

Why do you need to make use of data export and import?

Clients are often required to export records into an external datasheet like an Excel sheet to separate references to the data. Allowing users to export the data in different formats, including CSV, PDF, and text format is a useful functionality you can offer. When exporting data, it is important to understand how much data, a specific format like an excel sheet, can contain to allow data export part by part. Users then can use the data for their analysis and as internal references.

In addition, importing data from external sources is very useful. Check if your grid library provides these features and use them whenever you want to build a dynamic grid from an external data source.

Why do you need to focus on themes?

If your grid has a dull look on the website, it will not get much attention. In a user interface, the look and feel of the grid can bring a positive user experience and promote user engagement with the grid. JavaScript grid libraries usually provide excellent themes to enhance the look and feel of the grid. 

Also, if you want to design your theme, most grid libraries offer that facility. Custom themes are important to apply business-specific themes for the data grids. For example, For the Ext Js Grid library, you can use Sencha Themer to develop customized themes for your grid, and you do not need to write any code. Therefore, do not forget to use themes to improve customer interactions with your grid.

Why is grid performance important

Focusing on the grid performance is important to get more results from your grid library. When building grids to render and operate a large volume of records at once, always focus on how you can do it more efficiently or what additional features the library provides for efficient rendering. Ext Js grid library, for example, provides a buffered store that lets you offer a large data set at once on-screen. The users can scroll through the data set without experiencing any delays in rendering the data. Using such functionalities will render the data only when the user scrolls to each area.

How can you get more results by supporting accessibility?

Accessibility support is important to offer a good user experience for differently-abled people. Developers need to ensure that every web page component, including the Javascript grid, meets the required accessibility standards. For example, you can provide interactive grid functionalities through keyboard shortcuts and use high contrast themes to support visually impaired people.  Providing accessibility support means you are increasing your user base. Therefore, get more results from your grids through accessibility support.

Are you excited to get started with Ext Js Grid Library?

Javascript grid libraries have become essential web page components for building robust grids with a large volume of information. Every grid library provides a range of features, from basic to advanced. However, developers may not take the best advantage of those functionalities. It is important to understand the more powerful grid capabilities you can use on many occasions to get more results. This article described how you could get more results from your grid library using features such as pivoting, pagination, data export/import, using themes, enhancing the grid performance, and providing accessibility support.

Take the best advantages of using Ext Js Grid to build high-performing JavaScript Grids!