Oracle JET’s VDOM Architecture

ByLuc Bors

Introduction into Oracle JET’s VDOM Architecture

Introduction

Oracle JavaScript Extension Toolkit (Oracle JET) is a comprehensive collection of open-source JavaScript libraries that simplifies the process of building modern, responsive, and accessible web applications. One of the key features of Oracle JET is its Virtual DOM (VDOM) architecture, which plays a significant role in the toolkit’s performance and scalability. In this blog post, we will introduce Oracle JET’s VDOM architecture, exploring how it works and the benefits it provides to web developers.

What is the Virtual DOM (VDOM)?

Before diving into Oracle JET’s VDOM architecture, it is essential to understand the concept of the Virtual DOM. A Virtual DOM is an in-memory representation of the actual DOM (Document Object Model) of a web page. It serves as an intermediary between the actual DOM and the developer’s changes to the application’s user interface (UI). The main advantage of using a Virtual DOM is that it enables efficient updates and re-rendering of the UI, significantly improving the performance of web applications.

Oracle JET’s VDOM Architecture

Oracle JET’s VDOM architecture is built upon the open-source PReact library. This architecture enables developers to build high-performance web applications using a declarative approach. The main components of Oracle JET’s VDOM architecture are:

  1. Components: Oracle JET uses components to encapsulate specific functionality and UI elements. These components are self-contained and reusable, promoting modular and maintainable code. Components can be either functional or class-based and can have their own state and lifecycle methods.
  2. JSX: Oracle JET leverages JSX, a syntax extension for JavaScript, to describe the UI components’ structure and appearance. JSX allows developers to write HTML-like syntax within JavaScript, making it easy to visualize and work with the UI code.
  3. Rendering and Reconciliation: The VDOM architecture updates the actual DOM only when necessary, reducing the number of costly DOM operations. When a component’s state or properties change, Oracle JET’s VDOM will calculate the differences between the current and the new UI representation. This process, known as “reconciliation,” identifies the minimal set of changes required to update the actual DOM, leading to more efficient rendering.

Benefits of Oracle JET’s VDOM Architecture

  1. Performance: By using a Virtual DOM, Oracle JET can efficiently update the UI, minimizing the time-consuming DOM operations. As a result, web applications built with Oracle JET have better performance compared to those that use traditional DOM manipulation techniques.
  2. Scalability: The VDOM architecture makes it easier to build complex web applications, as it promotes a modular approach. Developers can create reusable components that can be assembled to form larger UIs. This modularity improves the maintainability and scalability of the applications.
  3. Flexibility: Oracle JET’s VDOM architecture is built on open standards and integrates with other popular JavaScript libraries and frameworks. This flexibility enables developers to use their preferred tools and technologies, tailoring the development environment to their needs.

Conclusion

Oracle JET’s VDOM architecture is an essential feature that helps developers build high-performance, scalable, and maintainable web applications. By leveraging the power of the Virtual DOM, JSX, and a component-based approach, Oracle JET simplifies the development process and makes it easier for developers to create modern, responsive, and accessible web applications. If you’re looking to improve your web application’s performance and scalability, consider exploring Oracle JET and its VDOM architecture.