Debouncing in JavaScript - what it is and why you need it?

The article on FreeCodeCamp discusses the concept of debouncing in the context of React, particularly focusing on the implementation of autocomplete features. Debouncing is a technique used to limit the number of function calls in a short span of time. In applications that handle a lot of data, users often type in more information, which can lead to excessive load on the system. By utilizing debouncing, we can wait a specified amount of time before initiating a function, allowing us to reduce the number of queries that need to be processed. The article provides a detailed example of how to implement this technique within a React component, contrasting it with traditional methods. Additionally, practical tips and sample code are included to facilitate the adoption of debouncing in React projects, yielding benefits in both performance and usability. Implementing this technique leads to an enhanced user experience and a smoother application performance, especially when users interact with autocomplete fields in forms and searches.