Modern Angular applications often involve complex data flows, user interactions, asynchronous calls, and multi-step operations. As an application grows, managing state becomes one of the most challenging parts of development. Without a proper strategy, your codebase becomes harder to maintain, debug, and scale.
Enter NgRx, one of the most popular state management libraries for Angular. It provides a predictable state management architecture based on the Redux pattern, enabling developers to handle complex state transitions in a clear and scalable way.
However, NgRx is not a universal solution for every Angular project. Using it when unnecessary can add extra complexity and boilerplate.
This article explains what state management is, when you should use NgRx, when you should avoid it, and what alternatives exist.
1. What Is State Management in Angular
State is the data your application uses. Examples include:
State management refers to how this data is:
In small applications, state management is simple. But as apps grow, different components need access to the same piece of data, leading to shared state complexities.
2. Why State Becomes Difficult to Manage
Even with Angular's built-in tools like services and RxJS, larger apps face challenges:
Multiple components may need the same data.
Tracking who updated what becomes difficult.
State inconsistencies occur when components hold separate copies.
Nested API calls produce unpredictable change cycles.
Debugging becomes harder as logic spreads across components.
NgRx aims to solve these issues using a predictable and centralized store.
3. What Is NgRx
NgRx is a state management library for Angular based on the Redux pattern. It uses concepts such as:
Actions
Reducers
Store
Selectors
Effects
Together, they create a unidirectional data flow.
4. How NgRx Works: Unidirectional Flow
The NgRx flow can be summarized in four steps:
A component dispatches an Action.
A Reducer receives the action and updates the Store.
Components subscribe to the Store using Selectors.
Effects handle side effects like API calls.
Here is a simplified flow:
Component → Action → Reducer → Store → Component
↓
Effects → API → Action → Reducer
This predictable cycle makes debugging easier.
5. When You Should Use NgRx
NgRx is designed for large, complex applications. Use NgRx when:
5.1 Your application has complex state that many components share
Examples:
User data used across dashboard, navbar, settings, admin areas
Shopping cart shared across multiple pages
Preferences stored across the entire UI
5.2 You need predictable state transitions
NgRx provides:
This is extremely useful in enterprise applications.
5.3 You need time-travel debugging
NgRx allows you to:
Great for debugging large systems.
5.4 You have multiple asynchronous operations
Effects allow you to handle:
5.5 Large teams need consistent architecture
NgRx enforces a strict pattern.
This helps large teams avoid chaos.
5.6 Your application needs global caching
For example:
NgRx helps ensure minimal API calls and fast performance.
6. When You Should Not Use NgRx
NgRx is a powerful tool, but it introduces a lot of boilerplate and complexity. Avoid NgRx when:
6.1 Your application is small or medium-sized
If you have:
Then NgRx is unnecessary.
6.2 You only share minor state between components
Angular already provides:
Services
BehaviorSubject
RxJS Observables
These are often enough.
6.3 You do not need complex side effects handling
If you only fetch simple data from a single API endpoint, NgRx adds more overhead than value.
6.4 Team members are new to Reactive Programming
NgRx requires understanding:
Actions
Reducers
Selectors
Effects
RxJS operators
If your team is not ready, development slows down.
6.5 You want faster development with less boilerplate
NgRx requires a lot of files. For every feature you create:
action.ts
reducer.ts
selector.ts
effect.ts
model.ts
If you do not need all this structure, choose simpler state management.
7. Alternatives to NgRx for State Management
Angular provides multiple options that can replace NgRx in simpler apps.
7.1 Service with BehaviorSubject
This is the most common lightweight alternative.
Example
private userSubject = new BehaviorSubject<User | null>(null);
user$ = this.userSubject.asObservable();
setUser(user: User) {
this.userSubject.next(user);
}
7.2 RxJS Global Store (Standalone BehaviorSubject)
Useful for UI state.
7.3 NgRx ComponentStore
ComponentStore is a lightweight state management tool for component-level state.
It sits between services and the full NgRx Store.
7.4 Akita
A state management library that is simple yet powerful.
7.5 NGXS
Another alternative with less boilerplate.
8. Real-World Use Case: When NgRx Is Helpful
Example: An enterprise-level CRM dashboard:
User authentication
Customer management
Product catalog
Invoice generation
Role-based access
Notifications
Global caching
Offline states
Such applications require:
NgRx fits perfectly here.
9. Real-World Use Case: When NgRx Should Be Avoided
Example: A small appointment booking system:
This app does not require:
Central state store
Boilerplate
Effects
Actions/reducers
A simple service with BehaviorSubject is enough.
10. NgRx Implementation Example
Below is a simple NgRx example for loading users.
10.1 Actions
export const loadUsers = createAction('[Users] Load Users');
export const loadUsersSuccess = createAction(
'[Users] Load Users Success',
props<{ users: User[] }>()
);
10.2 Reducer
export const usersReducer = createReducer(
initialState,
on(loadUsersSuccess, (state, { users }) => ({ ...state, users }))
);
10.3 Selector
export const selectUsers = (state: AppState) => state.users;
10.4 Effects
@Injectable()
export class UsersEffects {
loadUsers$ = createEffect(() =>
this.actions$.pipe(
ofType(loadUsers),
mergeMap(() =>
this.userService.getUsers().pipe(
map(users => loadUsersSuccess({ users }))
)
)
)
);
constructor(private actions$: Actions, private userService: UserService) {}
}
10.5 Component
this.store.dispatch(loadUsers());
this.users$ = this.store.select(selectUsers);
This separates concerns cleanly but also adds complexity.
11. Advantages of NgRx
Predictable state changes
Excellent debugging tools
Centralized global store
Strict architecture helpful for large teams
Immutable state reduces bugs
Great for caching data
Clear separation of concerns
12. Disadvantages of NgRx
Significant learning curve
More boilerplate
Slower development for smaller apps
Requires knowledge of RxJS
Can become overly complex
Conclusion
NgRx is a powerful state management library, but it is not always necessary. It excels in large applications with complex, shared state and multiple asynchronous operations. It provides a predictable data flow that makes debugging, scaling, and team collaboration smoother.
However, smaller or medium-sized applications may not benefit from the additional complexity. Simpler solutions like services, BehaviorSubject, or ComponentStore may be more productive and easier to maintain.
Choosing NgRx should always be a strategic decision based on: