What is code splitting in Gatsby?

What is code splitting in Gatsby?

Code splitting in Gatsby is a technique that allows you to split your JavaScript code into smaller chunks, which can be loaded on demand. This improves the performance of your application by reducing the initial load time.

How does it improve performance?

By loading only the necessary code for the current page, users experience faster load times and reduced bandwidth usage, especially on slower connections.

Can you give me an example of how to implement it?

Sure! You can use dynamic imports with React's React.lazy and Suspense to load components only when they are needed. For example:

const LazyComponent = React.lazy(() => import('./LazyComponent'));

<Suspense fallback={<div>Loading...</div>}>
  <LazyComponent />
</Suspense>

Are there any downsides to code splitting?

One downside is that it can introduce a slight delay when loading the split chunks, especially if the user navigates to a new page for the first time. However, this is often outweighed by the benefits of faster initial load times.