React Query vs Redux
A modern state-management question. The key insight: they solve different problems, and you often use both.
The difference
React Query (TanStack Query) manages SERVER state — it caches API responses, dedupes requests, refetches in the background and tracks loading/error, keyed by query. Redux manages CLIENT state — a single store for complex, high-churn app state you own.
Why you might use both
Separate server state (async, cached, shared) from client/UI state (local, synchronous). React Query handles your API data; Redux (or Zustand/Context) handles complex client state. Using Redux for server data means re-implementing caching, dedup and refetch by hand.
Master server vs client state
React Query, Redux, Context and Zustand — when to use each, with interview context in the React Interview Kit.
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- Can React Query replace Redux?
- For apps whose global state is mostly server data, often yes. For complex client state, you still want a store — but a lighter one than classic Redux.
- What's the key distinction?
- Server state vs client state. They're different problems with different tools.