How can I minimize DOM reflows when updating a large list of items with JavaScript?

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How can I minimize DOM reflows when updating a large list of items with JavaScript?

Asked on Jan 03, 2026

Answer

Minimizing DOM reflows is crucial for performance, especially when updating a large list of items. One effective strategy is to use Document Fragments to batch DOM changes before applying them to the live DOM.

<!-- BEGIN COPY / PASTE -->
        const list = document.getElementById("item-list");
        const fragment = document.createDocumentFragment();

        for (let i = 0; i < 1000; i++) {
            const listItem = document.createElement("li");
            listItem.textContent = `Item ${i}`;
            fragment.appendChild(listItem);
        }

        list.appendChild(fragment);
        <!-- END COPY / PASTE -->

Additional Comment:

This example demonstrates how to use a Document Fragment to minimize reflows.
The Document Fragment is used to build the list of items in memory.
Only one reflow occurs when the fragment is appended to the live DOM.
This approach is efficient for large-scale DOM updates.

✅ Answered with JavaScript best practices.

Ask any question about JavaScript here... and get an instant response.

How can I minimize DOM reflows when updating a large list of items with JavaScript?

Asked on Jan 03, 2026

Answer

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