What is the difference between loadingIndicatorSource and defaultSource props in react-native?

Understanding LoadingIndicatorSource and defaultSource in React Native

In React Native, images are essential for enhancing user experience. While images load, a loading indicator provides visual feedback. Two critical props within the

Image

component govern this process:

loadingIndicatorSource

and

defaultSource

. This article sheds light on their distinct roles and how they influence the image loading behavior.

LoadingIndicatorSource

The

loadingIndicatorSource

prop dictates the source of the image to display while the main image is being loaded. This prop provides the ability to showcase a visual placeholder or spinner during the initial loading stage.

Use Cases

• Enhance user experience by providing instant feedback that the image is loading.
• Provide a visually appealing placeholder, such as a spinner or a generic image, during the loading time.

defaultSource

The

defaultSource

prop determines the source of the image to display if the main image fails to load. This prop safeguards against broken images, ensuring a consistent user experience in case of network issues or image unavailability.

Use Cases

• Prevent broken image placeholders, providing a visually appealing fallback in case the primary image cannot be loaded.
• Offer a placeholder image that is similar in style or theme to the intended main image.

Comparison

loadingIndicatorSource

defaultSource

Example

import React from 'react';
import { Image } from 'react-native';

const MyComponent = () => {
  return (
    
  );
};

In this example:

• A spinner will be displayed while the image from ‘https://example.com/image.jpg’ loads.
• If the image loading fails, the placeholder image from ‘https://example.com/placeholder.png’ will be shown.

Conclusion

The

loadingIndicatorSource

and

defaultSource

props are essential for enhancing image loading behavior in React Native applications. By utilizing these props effectively, developers can deliver a more polished and user-friendly experience, especially when dealing with potentially slow or unreliable image loading scenarios.