# Svelte 5 Performance Reference
## Table of Contents
- [Universal Reactivity](#universal-reactivity)
- [Avoiding Over-Reactivity](#avoiding-over-reactivity)
- [Preventing Load Waterfalls](#preventing-load-waterfalls)
- [Streaming Non-Critical Data](#streaming-non-critical-data)
- [Component Testing](#component-testing)
---
## Universal Reactivity
Svelte 5 allows runes in `.svelte.js` or `.svelte.ts` files for shared state outside components.
### Shared Counter State
```ts
// counter.svelte.ts
export const counter = $state({ count: 0 });
export function increment() { counter.count++; }
export function decrement() { counter.count--; }
export function reset() { counter.count = 0; }
```
```svelte
Count: {counter.count}
```
### Object State with Getters
```ts
// user.svelte.ts
const state = $state({ firstName: '', lastName: '', email: '' });
export const user = {
get firstName() { return state.firstName; },
set firstName(v: string) { state.firstName = v; },
get fullName() { return `${state.firstName} ${state.lastName}`; },
get isValid() { return state.firstName && state.email.includes('@'); }
};
```
### Reactive Class Pattern
```ts
// todo.svelte.ts
class TodoStore {
items = $state([]);
filter = $state<'all' | 'active' | 'completed'>('all');
get filtered() {
switch (this.filter) {
case 'active': return this.items.filter(t => !t.done);
case 'completed': return this.items.filter(t => t.done);
default: return this.items;
}
}
add(text: string) {
this.items.push({ id: Date.now(), text, done: false });
}
}
export const todos = new TodoStore();
```
### Important Notes
1. **File extension matters**: Must use `.svelte.js` or `.svelte.ts`
2. **No $derived in module scope**: Use getters for derived values
3. **SSR caution**: Avoid initializing browser-only state at module level
---
## Avoiding Over-Reactivity
Common mistakes with runes can cause unnecessary re-renders, infinite loops, or degraded performance.
### Anti-Pattern 1: Using $effect to Set Derived Values
**WRONG:**
```svelte
```
**CORRECT:**
```svelte
```
### Anti-Pattern 2: Circular Dependencies
**WRONG:**
```svelte
```
**CORRECT: Use separate effects or event handlers**
### Anti-Pattern 3: Not Using untrack
**WRONG:**
```svelte
```
**CORRECT:**
```svelte
```
### Anti-Pattern 4: Heavy Computations in $derived
**WRONG:**
```svelte
```
**CORRECT: Debounce expensive computations**
```svelte
```
### Anti-Pattern 5: Effect for DOM Manipulation
**WRONG:**
```svelte
```
**CORRECT:**
```svelte
{#if visible}Content
{/if}
Content
```
### Performance Tips
1. Use `$derived` over `$effect` for computed values
2. Debounce expensive reactive computations
3. Use `untrack` to prevent unnecessary dependencies
4. Group related state into objects
5. Let Svelte handle DOM updates
---
## Preventing Load Waterfalls
Sequential API calls multiply latency. Use parallel requests and streaming.
### Anti-Pattern: Waterfall
**WRONG (3 seconds total):**
```ts
export const load = async ({ fetch }) => {
const user = await fetch('/api/user').then(r => r.json()); // 1s
const posts = await fetch(`/api/users/${user.id}/posts`).then(r => r.json()); // 1s
const comments = await fetch('/api/comments').then(r => r.json()); // 1s
return { user, posts, comments };
};
```
### Pattern 1: Parallel with Promise.all
**CORRECT (1 second total):**
```ts
export const load = async ({ fetch }) => {
const [user, posts, comments] = await Promise.all([
fetch('/api/user').then(r => r.json()),
fetch('/api/posts').then(r => r.json()),
fetch('/api/comments').then(r => r.json())
]);
return { user, posts, comments };
};
```
### Pattern 2: Partial Dependencies
```ts
export const load = async ({ fetch }) => {
const user = await fetch('/api/user').then(r => r.json());
const [posts, followers] = await Promise.all([
fetch(`/api/users/${user.id}/posts`).then(r => r.json()),
fetch(`/api/users/${user.id}/followers`).then(r => r.json())
]);
return { user, posts, followers };
};
```
### Pattern 3: Streaming Non-Critical Data
```ts
export const load = async ({ fetch }) => {
const user = await fetch('/api/user').then(r => r.json());
return {
user,
recommendations: fetch('/api/recommendations').then(r => r.json()),
analytics: fetch('/api/analytics').then(r => r.json())
};
};
```
### Performance Comparison
| Pattern | 3 APIs x 1s each |
|---------|------------------|
| Sequential | 3 seconds |
| Parallel (Promise.all) | 1 second |
| Streaming | 0s initial, streams rest |
---
## Streaming Non-Critical Data
Return promises from load functions to stream non-essential data after initial page render.
### Basic Streaming
**WRONG (blocks on slow data):**
```ts
export const load = async ({ fetch }) => {
const user = await fetch('/api/user').then(r => r.json()); // 100ms
const analytics = await fetch('/api/analytics').then(r => r.json()); // 2000ms
return { user, analytics }; // Page blocked for 2.1 seconds
};
```
**CORRECT (stream slow data):**
```ts
export const load = async ({ fetch }) => {
const user = await fetch('/api/user').then(r => r.json());
const analytics = fetch('/api/analytics').then(r => r.json()); // Don't await
return {
user, // Available in 100ms
analytics // Streams when ready
};
};
```
### Component Handling
```svelte
Welcome, {data.user.name}
```
### When to Stream
| Data Type | Stream? | Reason |
|-----------|---------|--------|
| User info | No | Critical for layout |
| Main content | No | Users came for this |
| Analytics | Yes | Not user-facing |
| Recommendations | Yes | Supplementary |
| Comments | Maybe | Important but can load later |
---
## Component Testing
Svelte 5 components with runes require proper Vitest configuration.
### Option 1: Vitest Browser Mode (Recommended)
```ts
// vitest.config.ts
import { defineConfig } from 'vitest/config';
import { svelte } from '@sveltejs/vite-plugin-svelte';
export default defineConfig({
plugins: [svelte()],
test: {
browser: {
enabled: true,
provider: 'playwright',
name: 'chromium'
}
}
});
```
### Option 2: JSDOM with @testing-library/svelte
```ts
// vitest.config.ts
import { defineConfig } from 'vitest/config';
import { svelte } from '@sveltejs/vite-plugin-svelte';
export default defineConfig({
plugins: [svelte({ hot: !process.env.VITEST })],
test: {
environment: 'jsdom',
include: ['src/**/*.{test,spec}.{js,ts}'],
globals: true
}
});
```
### Basic Component Test
```ts
import { render, screen, fireEvent } from '@testing-library/svelte';
import { expect, test } from 'vitest';
import Counter from './Counter.svelte';
test('increments count when clicked', async () => {
render(Counter);
const button = screen.getByRole('button');
expect(button).toHaveTextContent('Count: 0');
await fireEvent.click(button);
expect(button).toHaveTextContent('Count: 1');
});
```
### Testing Props
```ts
test('renders with custom name', () => {
render(Greeting, { props: { name: 'Alice' } });
expect(screen.getByText('Hello, Alice!')).toBeInTheDocument();
});
```
### Testing Callbacks
```ts
import { vi } from 'vitest';
test('calls onclick callback when clicked', async () => {
const handleClick = vi.fn();
render(Button, { props: { onclick: handleClick } });
await fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole('button'));
expect(handleClick).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
});
```
### Testing Async Components
```ts
import { waitFor } from '@testing-library/svelte';
test('loads and displays user data', async () => {
global.fetch = vi.fn().mockResolvedValue({
ok: true,
json: () => Promise.resolve({ name: 'Alice' })
});
render(UserProfile, { props: { userId: '123' } });
expect(screen.getByText('Loading...')).toBeInTheDocument();
await waitFor(() => {
expect(screen.getByText('Alice')).toBeInTheDocument();
});
});
```